Storytelling, Sisterhood, and Strength: The SHE-Roe Mega Event Comes to Central State University

As Women’s History Month begins, a powerful celebration of women’s voices, resilience, and leadership will take center stage in Ohio.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the SHE-Roe Storytelling Series will host its highly anticipated SHE-Roe Mega Event at the Paul Robeson Cultural & Performing Arts Center at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. The full-day gathering will bring together entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, students, and community leaders for an immersive experience centered on storytelling, empowerment, and connection.

Founded by Dayton entrepreneur and community builder Juanita-Michelle Darden, the SHE-Roe Storytelling Series began in 2015 in an unexpected way — as a creative lunchtime marketing idea inside her business, Third Perk Coffeehouse.

What started as a small event designed to increase foot traffic quickly turned into something much bigger.

Women began sharing authentic stories about their journeys through entrepreneurship, leadership, motherhood, faith, and personal transformation. The room would fill with energy, inspiration, and sisterhood. It didn’t take long before SHE-Roe grew beyond a coffeehouse event into a regional platform dedicated to celebrating the voices and visions of women across generations.

Today, the SHE-Roe Storytelling Series has become a movement.

The 2026 SHE-Roe Mega Event represents its largest expansion yet. Attendees will experience a full day of live storytelling, curated conversations, reflection moments, and opportunities to connect with women who are making an impact in business, education, health, social justice, and community leadership.

“SHE-Roe is more than an event. It is a movement,” says Darden. “We create spaces where women are seen, heard, and celebrated — and where their stories become catalysts for confidence, connection, and transformation.”

Throughout the day, guests will hear powerful personal narratives from women whose journeys reflect perseverance, purpose, and impact. These stories are meant not only to inspire but to encourage attendees to recognize the power of their own stories.

In addition to storytelling, the event will include networking opportunities, vendors, and community engagement experiences designed to build meaningful connections among attendees.

The event also reflects a strong commitment to the next generation. During the program, a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Central State University student, reinforcing the organization’s focus on education, leadership development, and economic mobility.

Hosting the event at Central State University adds another layer of significance. As one of the nation’s historically Black universities, the campus represents a legacy of leadership, resilience, and academic excellence that aligns with the spirit of the SHE-Roe movement.

The SHE-Roe Mega Event arrives at a time when storytelling is increasingly recognized as one of the most powerful tools for community building, healing, and leadership development. When women share their stories openly, they create spaces where others can find encouragement, validation, and inspiration to pursue their own purpose.

Events like this remind us that the extraordinary often lives inside the everyday journeys of ordinary women who choose to lead, serve, and rise despite challenges.

And on March 7, those stories will take center stage.

The SHE-Roe Mega Event is open to the public and tickets are expected to sell out.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: Paul Robeson Cultural & Performing Arts Center
Central State University | Wilberforce, Ohio

Tickets are available now through Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/she-roe-storytelling-series-mega-event-tickets-1976535058567?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=89941471dd5e252bd21a1320935d524f8ec4f904ec882ecaa843bd47b95f578d0c54a380408a672a27b4bf672cfa9f4497bd62ff216e5807806b951abccb6cfbec9604466c63e581b3deb9714f