What began as a few sporadic classes turned into a movement as word spread about the empowerment that came through stitching.

In a small corner of Gresham, a dynamic movement is taking shape, one stitch at a time.

Dr. LaVerne Lewis founded the Women-Sew Global Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is not only teaching women to sew, but also crafting a movement of empowerment, economic independence and leadership skills.

Lewis’s journey into the world of sewing began at the age of eight, when she learned the art from her mother. Over the years, her passion for using fabric to create art has moved into an array of textiles and styles, from embroidery to quilting to crochet.

Her love of sewing intersected with her desire to give back in 2017. While working at the Rockwood Center, Lewis was approached by women who noticed her creations and asked if she could teach them how to do the same. Thus Women-Sew Global was born.

“I think it was maybe 2017 I was working at one of the centers in Rockwood and a few of the women had noticed something I had on that I had made, and they asked, ‘Do you teach sewing?’” said Lewis.

Lewis said she had not taught sewing but did not agreed to show them how.

“I brought one of my small machines in and showed the ladies an overview of some basic sewing. They said well, can we have a second class and at the second class they brought friends. And so it kind of grew from there.” she said.

With a couple of sewing machines and a willingness to share her expertise, Lewis embarked on a journey that would shape the lives of countless women. What began as a few sporadic classes turned into a movement as word spread about the empowerment that came through stitching.

Lewis says she personally delivered the first 100 machines to women to help them begin their journeys.

One of the foundation’s core missions is to empower women through what’s called Sewing Collectives. Groups of women, often with a shared affinity, come together to learn, collaborate and create. These collectives provide more than just sewing skills; they offer economic empowerment and a sense of community.

According to Lewis, the power of sewing is transformative for these women.

“The experience for men is different. For women, you’re entering into a country, with your children and what you have on your back or what you’re able to bring with you. Many of the women in their own country were the ones who were the earners … and the balance was pretty much equal. But coming to America that changes,” said Lewis.

She believes the Sewing Collectives provide a space for women to regain their voice and economic agency. Lewis says she has seen countless women who live in isolation come together to sew, share resources and exchange stories at these community events.

“The first 10 minutes everyone’s talking because they haven’t seen each other. They’re sharing resources, one’s telling the other where to go for better fruit … it provides social stimulation, resource exchanging,” Lewis said.

But the impact doesn’t stop at empowerment within the sewing room. Through these collectives, women are gaining practical skills that extend beyond sewing machines. They learn marketing, salesmanship, financial literacy and even English. And as the women bring in income, the power dynamics within their households shift, too.

Lewis shares stories of Fazia, a remarkable Afghan woman who started as a student in the sewing classes and has now become a driving force in the Women-Sew Global Foundation. Fazia, who began as a quiet student, is now an empowered leader within the foundation.

“She’s pretty much my right-hand person,” said Lewis.

The Women-Sew Global Foundation’s reach goes beyond local borders. The foundation’s mission embraces a global perspective, with sewing collectives extending into countries like Tanzania and Cuba.

“The goal is not to stay sewing with me,” Lewis said, “but to learn to sew, get decent new machines [so] that [they] can sew, learn skills … so that they can be economically independent.”

The Women-Sew Global Foundation’s mission is not just about teaching women to sew. It’s about equipping them with the tools to transform their lives and the lives of their families. Through this initiative, Lewis is weaving together a tapestry of cultural unity — one thread at a time.