In All Resilience: Women Stories of Strength and Achievement

As part of our March celebrations of femininity in all its facets, join us for an exploration of the meaning of success and fulfillment against all odds in the company of two amazing women: poet, translator and musician Carrie Hooper, who overcome visual impairment to become a brilliant linguist and an expert in Romanian, and Romanian-Sierra Leonean human rights activist and writer Nina Smart who is using her own experiences to fight injustice in Africa and elsewhere. With virtuosic musical interventions by pianist Sorin Frișan of the New York City Ballet.

Carrie Hooper is a poet, translator and musician. She has been blind since birth. She received a B.A. in vocal performance from Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania. She went on to receive an M.A. in German and an M.A. in vocal performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her studies, she spent a year at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden as a Fulbright scholar. Carrie currently lives in Elmira, New York. She taught German, Italian, and Romanian at Elmira College. An amazing polyglot, she is also proficient and translates from in Swedish, Spanish, and Albanian. Music also plays an important role in Carrie's life. Carrie not only loves music and languages, but also enjoys poetry. She has published two books: Piktura në fjalë (Word Paintings), a bilingual collection of poetry (Albanian-English), and My Life in My Words. She has also translated several articles, short stories, and a book from Albanian to English. 

Born in Romania, Dr. Nina Smart is a non-violent human rights activist, sociologist, and author who educates people about about female genital mutilation (FGM) and works to eradicate the practice in Sierra Leone, West Africa.  In 2004, Dr. Smart founded SWF International, a Los Angeles based non-profit NGO that raises awareness about FGM through lectures for students, immigrants and socially conscious groups. She works with local SWF partners on effective solutions to end FGM and her book Wild Flower – The True Story of a Romanian Girl in Africa educates audiences worldwide about the fear and secrecy associated with FGM.  Chosen as 2016 ‘Woman of the Year’ for her non-profit work by Senator Mendoza of California, Dr. Smart’s educational efforts were also honored by the United States Congress. Dr. Smart straddles many cultures—Romanian, American, West African, academia and activism. She has built bridges between these worlds and through her tireless efforts is educating people and is creating a safer space for women in the communities she works and lives in.