Dear John,

As students return to school and the days get a bit shorter, September has been a time for planning and reconnecting. For coming together and thinking ahead. And there is a lot ahead for this country.

Women’s leadership on every level and everywhere is important to me and the Ms. Foundation. I recently returned from Brazil as part of the Black Women in Executive Leadership Global Fellowship, where I attended our final convening. I had the chance to learn alongside a group of brilliant leaders from around the world, and am entering the season with a new global perspective on leadership.

There's undoubtedly a sense of “gearing up” right now. Here at the Foundation, we’re taking the time to do scenario planning for the election and the larger moment we’re in. No matter what happens, we’ll be as prepared as we can be and ready to support our partners. 

As you think about your own planning as we head into fall, now is a great time to confirm your voter registration status and think about your voting plan. 

I often come back to our Co-Founding Mother Gloria Steinem’s wise words: “hope is a form of planning.” This season is a reminder that planning is also a form of hope.

In solidarity,

Ms. Foundation in the News

President & CEO Teresa C. Younger joined SiriusXM’s Lurie Favors Daniels Show to discuss the successful completion of our Creating the Future We Deserve campaign, larger trends in philanthropy, and how Ms. Foundation is navigating the current moment. 

“I've said this before: I'm a Girl Scout in my heart. I want to make the world a better place – period. And I know it will be a better place the more voices we have at the table,” said Teresa. Watch the full interview on YouTube!

Grantee Partner Spotlight: Women in the Room Production

Denise Pines is a storyteller, and co-founded Women in the Room Productions out of a desire to tell “stories that matter – ones that are often hidden in plain sight.” The organization uses film to shed light on issues that affect women and people of color, particularly Black communities, and drive social impact and foster a deeper understanding of these experiences, ensuring that these important stories reach the world. 

Read more about the dynamic media company in our latest grantee partner spotlight.

Ms. on the Move: Let’s Talk About Sex

Earlier this month, several members of the Ms. Foundation team traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend Let’s Talk About Sex, the nation’s largest reproductive justice conference, hosted by SisterSong. 

They had the chance to attend sessions that covered a range of reproductive justice issues – from community organizing to advancing abortion policy in red states to building narratives that change culture – and to spend time with and learn from folks doing work across the reproductive justice movement. Learn more on the blog!