When we launched the Maine Women's Project at the beginning of 2023, our aim was to celebrate and elevate women who inspire us. We had no idea how profound this journey would become and how deeply connected we would be to each other through our experience in this project and our mutual commitment to our state and people. The first year of the Maine Women's Project culminated with a roundtable exchange that brought us together at the Portland Art Gallery for an inspiring night of shared ideas, shared frustrations, and shared passion for improving our communities.