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Dear John, On Tuesday, we had the chance to fill a room with feminists and leaders in the movement for gender equity at our annual Ms. on Martha’s event. Thank you to everyone who joined us on-island! I had the honor and privilege of having an incredible, timely conversation with the legendary Bylle Avery, a reproductive justice foremother and founder of the Black Women’s Health Imperative. Byllye reminded us that we do this work for the love of our communities. Her life and legacy building the reproductive justice movement demonstrates the remarkable power of Black women organizing other Black women to change the conditions of their life. Today, when reproductive justice is a widely adopted framework, the immeasurable value of Byllye’s work feels obvious. It’s infuriating that 40 years ago, Byllye had to walk around New York City all day – in heels no less – being rejected by larger funders before she arrived at the Ms. Foundation and received her first grant. If we want the future we deserve, we have to create a world where funders see and invest in the vision of our communities on the decades-long timeline it can take to transform society. When asked what advice she would give to nonprofit leaders, Byllye said she would encourage them to find a cohort to collaborate and share experiences with. The power of community transcends generations and movements, and Tuesday night was a reminder of the interconnected nature of this work. We’re able to do this work with support from our community, enabling us to strive for a world where equality and justice prevail. When you donate to the Ms. Foundation, you’re helping to strengthen movements and resource leaders for years and decades to come. If you’d like to make a gift, or didn’t get the chance to at the event, you can do so here. Thank you for being a part of the Ms. Foundation community. We look forward to continuing this journey with you by our side. In solidarity,  P.S. Event photos will be available on our Facebook in the coming days, so keep an eye out! |
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