Women In Law Foundation hosts benefit concert

On Sunday, March 8 at 5 p.m. at The Little Theatre in St Andrew, Women In Law Foundation (WILF), in conjunction with Riverside Open Bible Church and Mona Open Bible Church, and in association with Company Dance Theatre (CDT) Jamaica, will be hosting ‘An Evening of Excellence’, as part of CDT 2026 season of dance, called ‘Streams’, and in observance of International Women’s Day.

Under the theme, ‘Give to gain’, part of the proceeds is to benefit seven female Hurricane Melissa victims of Sign Irwin in St James, who lost their home or business in the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 last year.

Sign Irwin is one of the hundreds of communities in western Jamaica that were ravaged by the Category 5 storm. It is also the community in which prominent attorney-at-law King’s Counsel M. Georgia Gibson Henlin of Henlin Gibson Henlin, attorneys-at-law, grew up.

WILF was formed in 2019 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Henlin Gibson Henlin, attorneys-at-law. It is a brainchild of Gibson Henlin, supported heavily by her law partner, Stephanie Williams, and former students and associates of Henlin Gibson Henlin.

Gibson Henlin felt that having gone through 10 challenging years of practice successfully, “it was time to give back to other women who could benefit from encouragement and advice, and otherwise navigate the challenging world of work”.

WILF staged its first event the year when it was founded under the distinguished patronage of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, as well as Janet Nosworthy, a judge in the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and member of the International Association of Women Judges. Since then, it has hosted several conferences, all geared at “encouraging women to celebrate themselves, get involved, and be more assured and encouraged to rise,” Gibson Henlin told The Gleaner.

The foundation, notwithstanding its name, is made up of men and women, and has been supported over the years by several people who are not lawyers. It has partnered with many individuals and entities, such as Ashley Furniture Home Store, as well as Scotiabank’s Women Initiative.

While its main beneficiary has been the Women’s Centre, a governmental charity that reintegrates young mothers into high school, Women In Law Foundation had adopted the oncology ward at the Bustamante Hospital For Children over the past two years and had carried out a Christmas toy drive for its patients. It has also mentored and worked with the children at Jamaica National Children’s Home, and has provided scholarships for high school girls and a current student at Caribbean Maritime University.

The Women In Law Foundation has also held conferences and seminars geared at encouraging women to celebrate themselves, and has also been providing various advice, such as on “self-improvement and acquiring financial wealth”. Gibson Henlin said Company Dance Theatre “is excited to partner with Women In Law Foundation and “has substantially donated their performance” to WILF in the name of “partnering for purpose”.

Company Dance Theatre Jamaica is a legacy company formed to honour the late Tony Wilson. Its purpose is to continue Tony Wilson’s legacy of bringing dynamic, highly technical, cutting-edge modern dance to Jamaican stage and beyond. Its mission is to further the pioneering work of Tony Wilson, and his contribution to Jamaican arts and culture by continuing to provide modern dance-focused training, inspiring performances, and community outreach in Jamaica and to the world, CDT Jamaica says.

Tickets for the show may be obtained at 876-908-355, womeninlaw@henlin.pro and womeninlawja.com.