February 15, 2025
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Bangor activist a Hartman award winner

ORONO – Ilze Petersons of the Bangor-based Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine has been named one of three winners of the Maryann Hartman Award, given by the Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Program at the University of Maine.

The other honorees are Catherine Beller-McKenna and Kirsten Walter. Codi Booher of Portland will receive the Young Women’s Social Justice Award.

All three will be recognized during a ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Buchanan Alumni House on College Avenue. The ceremony will start at 5 p.m.

The Maryann Hartman Award is named for the late Dr. Maryann Hartman, associate professor of speech communication. The awards recognize Maine women whose achievements in the arts, politics, business, education, health care and community service provide inspiration for women.

Petersons has been the coordinator of the Peace and Justice Center for the past 15 years. She organizes efforts for citizen activism, writes about social issues, organizes demonstrations and vigils against the war in Iraq, and facilitates discussion and education programs.

Before her current job, Petersons worked as the local coordinator of the Displaced Homeworkers Project, now known as Women, Work and Community.

McKenna is the music director of Women in Harmony, a Portland-based women’s chorus, which seeks to build bridges among women through singing.

Walters, a Bates College graduate, created the Lots to Gardens program eight years ago in the Lewiston area. The program since has expanded to 16 gardens at seven sites, several downtown park projects, and a variety of community programs.

Booher is a University of Maine freshman who was active in community and environmental issues while she was a student at Biddeford High School.

For more information, e-mail Mazie.Hough@umit.maine.edu or call 581-1228.


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