ROCKLAND — Due to the efforts of the Midcoast Chapter of Maine Women's Network, more than 200 people were recently watched documentary, Miss Representation, at the Strand Theatre in Rockland.

Presented as a fundraiser for New Hope for Women, the event raised $1,300 which will go directly into domestic and dating violence programming in the 109 schools served by the organization.

Miss Representation challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful. In advance of the film, a collaboration took place between Maine Women's Network, New Hope for Women, local high school students, and community leaders.

New Hope for Women worked directly with students, exploring themes of leadership, empowerment, and healthy media images. The student planning committee, consisting of student volunteers from Camden Hills Regional High School, created a display for the event with examples of media that depicted healthy, realistic and inspiring gender roles.

They also identified 14 women leaders in the community whom they admired to feature in a post-film slideshow and panel discussion.

"The students were ready to assume the role of emerging leaders," said Meg Klingelhofer, New Hope for Women's Community Education Director, in a news release, "and it was an inspiration to have so many women from across our community help them on that journey."

The collaboration provided Maine Women Network members with the opportunity to further their mission by acting as role models in leadership for young women in the community.

"The whole thing was bigger than just showing a film," said Kim Palermo of the Midcoast Chapter of Maine Women's Network, in the release. "It ended up being much more far-reaching and all-encompassing than we ever could have imagined."

The project didn't end with the showing of the film. Students from other schools have expressed an interest in the project, and an official school club is being formed at Camden Hills Regional High School to engage peers in developing media literacy skills.

The group is interested in attracting females and males to the club and is considering a school-wide screening of Miss Representation as one of their first projects. The student group plans to attend the Midcoast Chapter of the Maine Women's Network meeting in October, one year after the project first began, to report on their progress.

The Miss Representation project was so gratifying to members of Maine Women's Network that the organization, with chapters in Portland, Lewiston and the Midcoast, has decided to add community outreach to its mission.

"While Maine Women's Network has always served women in business, this event showed us there's much more we can do," said Karen Brace, chair of the Maine Women's Network State Board, in the release. "We agreed that this type of work should be central to our role in the broader communities."

The community involvement will continue in March 2016 when Maine Women's Network brings The Mask You Live in to the Strand Theatre. From the director of Miss Representation, The Mask You Live In is an exploration of American masculinity. Once again, students from area schools will be invited to collaborate with New Hope for Women to develop a post-show presentation.

Event sponsors for Miss Representation included Elm Street Marketing Essentials, Machias Savings Bank, Crestwood Kitchens, Fox Hill Real Estate LLC, McLean Borden Cottage, and The Strand Theatre.

New Hope for Women offers support to people in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. It also provides educational resources to assist the communities in creating a safer and healthier future. Learn more at www.newhopeforwomen.org or call 800-522-3304.