Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // JUNE 27, 2024
Above The Fold releases will pause for the month of July for its annual hiatus and will resume in August.
// FROM THE DESK OF MIRENDA MEGHELLI, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROGRAMS, WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK
Championing Reproductive Justice: Two Years After Dobbs
Dear Colleagues,
It has been two years since the Dobbs decision radically changed access to abortion in the United States, but it still feels a bit surreal. Though a leaked draft opinion confirmed what many reproductive justice leaders have been saying for years, that Roe v. Wade would be overturned, it is still difficult to consider that my daughter will have less access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare than her grandmother.
This week, news of another leaked draft opinion on abortion was again in the headlines, though this time around it offers more positive news for pregnant people for whom receiving an abortion may be a matter of life or death. Today’s Supreme Court decision to protect emergency abortions offers some temporary relief in the context of a more dire reality where we see pregnant people having to choose between getting an abortion and paying rent. In response to this dire reality, women’s funds are playing an active role in the fight for access to abortion and working to advance reproductive justice for all. As an example, the Women’s Fund of Omaha is engaged in advocacy work to protect access to abortion in Nebraska. Women’s Fund Miami-Dade is amplifying the stories of pregnant people who experience restrictions in abortion access. The New York Women’s Foundation has a long track record of partnering and investing in reproductive justice movements.
Women’s funds understand that their efforts to protect abortion and broader bodily autonomy is long-term and key to our work to advance gender equity. I remain hopeful and inspired by this incredible community.
In solidarity and with gratitude,
Mirenda Meghelli, Esq.
Women’s Funding Network
Director of Policy and Programs
News from WFN
NEW MEMBER
Our network thrives on the strength and diversity of our members. Please join us in welcoming new WFN Individual member Rashmi Yadav Marya.
If you have questions about joining WFN as a new member, renewing your membership, or would like to learn more about WFN membership, please contact us.
News from WFN Members
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Co-Founders and Co-Directors of the Metrowest Women’s Fund, Rachel Sagan and Rebecca Parkhill, were honored as 2024 Commonwealth Heroines by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. The duo founded the Metrowest Women’s Fund in 2019 to invest in Metrowest women and girls through community building, education and grant making.
Seventeen years after its founding campaign, Women Moving Millions has grown to become the largest philanthropic community dedicated to cultivating women’s bold, collaborative leadership. This inaugural report, Catalyzing Change: Powering the Movement through Community & Collaboration (2024), is a compilation of WMM's community learnings and insights. The results of this survey not only confirmed the validity of WMM's updated theory of change, but also provided a deeper understanding of how WMM's work influences members’ personal growth, philanthropic leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking.
MEMBER EVENTS
Join NewMexicoWomen.Org for their free summer lunchtime learning series to explore healthy masculinities and parenting. During five sessions, starting July 10, they will explore topics including queer/trans affirming parenting, anti-violent parenting, and labor distribution in parenting. Participants can join for one session or multiple. Register in English or Spanish (there will be bilingual interpretation).
July 10, 2024 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. MDT | Register here
Join The Women's Fund Miami-Dade for their July Impact Collaborative to discuss the vital role of gun safety in fostering a violence-free community for children and teens in Miami-Dade and beyond.
July 11, 2024 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EDT | Register here
Nurturing Wāhine Fund is hosting a screening of a film and a discussion with its real-life subject, Kemba Smith, who received a 24 1/2 year prison sentence due to her boyfriend’s crimes. Held at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, the only women’s prison in Hawaiʻi, the event aims to highlight issues of justice reform. When Kemba turned herself in, she was seven months pregnant. By sharing Kemba’s story, the event seeks to spark awareness and to reduce recidivism. The film premiered on BET+ in February and was also honored at the Sundance Film Festival.
July 24, 2024 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. HST
VidaAfrolatina is hosting an event, Celebrating Our Griots, to celebrate an Afro-Puerto Rican literary giant, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa.
August 3, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. PDT | Register here
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s Annual Luncheon is the state’s largest fundraiser and community building event benefitting Colorado women. Buy your ticket today for an afternoon of inspiration, ideas, and impact.
September 27, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. MDT | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
UN Women Asia-Pacific is excited to launch the 2024 Asia-Pacific Care Forum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This in-person forum will build an understanding of care and its intersections with pressing issues in Asia-Pacific such as the need for job creation, practical solutions for financing and implementing care delivery models, and inter-linkages with issues of migration, climate change, and social protection to advance women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. The deadline to sign up is June 30, 2024.
August 27 - 29, 2024 | Register here
Mark your calendars for Council on Foundation's Leading Locally 2025 happening June 10-12, 2025 in Minneapolis, MN. Connect with community and place-based funders and dive into the trends, topics, and tools to strengthen local impact. Registration will open in late 2024 and you can sign up here to get updates about the event.
Global Philanthropy Project released the 2021–2022 Global Resources Report: Government & Philanthropic Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Communities.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues published the 20th iteration of their work documenting the scale of philanthropic support for LGBTQ communities and issues in the United States. Read the report to learn the latest numbers and context to inform grantmaking and encourage the wider field of philanthropy to prioritize increased strategic investment in LGBTQ communities.
What We're Reading
The Supreme Court’s EMTALA Ruling Leaves U.S. Women at Risk — Ms. Magazine
What We're Watching
'Women are mentally and physically drained across the country' — Let's talk about the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
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