Hi John,

With one hand typing this newsletter and the other one swirling around a bowl of candy (Kit Kat and Starburst supremacy!!!!), I’m shocked that Halloween is finally here and that November is tomorrow.

I eagerly awaited and welcomed fall. Sweaters and ciders couldn’t come fast enough. I'm remembering how hard it is to embrace the change as we transition into late sunrises and early sunsets, the way too cold mornings, and how the season begs us to slow down as the world continues to ramp up.

Everyone reading this knows that change, good or bad, is a part of life. It’s not easy or simple, but the only consistent thing in the universe is that things will and must change. I’m reminded of that fact this month, and how important it is to be adaptable, check in with myself, celebrate wins, and take time to process hardships.

Honoring and Remembering Lilly Ledbetter 🕊️♥️

We are grateful to have known and worked with Lilly Ledbetter who never stopped advocating for equal pay and the importance of pay transparency. Lilly’s courage in the face of her Supreme Court loss inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Act that was signed into law by President Obama in 2009. We will always treasure this quote from a speech Lilly gave in 2012:

“In the end, I didn’t get a dime of the money I was shortchanged. But this fight became bigger than Lilly Ledbetter. Today, it’s about my daughter. It’s about my granddaughter. It’s about women and men. It’s about families. It’s about equality and justice. This cause, which bears my name, is bigger than me. It’s as big as all of you. This fight, which began as my own, is now our fight—a fight for the fundamental American values that make our country great.”

In honor of Lilly, NWLC will continue the fight to close the gender wage gap until there is equal pay for all. Read the statement from our President and CEO, Fatima Goss Graves, here, and read Lilly’s last interview with NPR here.

What Does Project 2025 Have to Do With You? 📕🏛️

I wish I could ignore Project 2025 like I ignored Dots and Whoppers after trick-or-treating as a kid. But since there is so much at stake, I have been trying to stay educated on how it would threaten my livelihood (even if it’s hard to swallow.) If you’re like me and not trying to brush up on Project 2025 by reading all 900 pages, my colleagues created a series of blogs about how the extreme right-wing agenda plans to dismantle protections and rollback rights for women, Black people, people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ people if implemented.

HEARSAY IS AWARD-WINNING!!!!!! 🏆🎙️

Our podcast Hearsay won TWO Signal Awards in the Activism, Public Service & Social Impact category—a Gold award, and thanks to your votes, the Listener's Choice Award!! We are so grateful to be recognized with our first awards as a show, as we have been honored by the opportunity to work on such a meaningful project that shares NWLC’s work with listeners around the world. The first two seasons are just a taste of what's to come, but I promise it'll be just as sweet as a bottomless candy bucket.

Must-Dos and Must Reads✅📖

• LAST DAY TO SUPPORT NWLC’S WORK! ☑️ Today is the last day to vote for NWLC as one of CREDO Mobile’s October grant recipients! Resources from this grant will be critical to fuel NWLC’s work and ensure that NWLC's committed staff of dedicated experts, lawyers, and advocates can identify and address key issues that affect women and their families including child care, reproductive rights, education, and more. Please support us by casting your vote today!
• Treat Yourself (with more than just candy) 💅Check out our collaboration with Transparent Black Girl to get calming advice for election season, including why it’s important to stop and take care of ourselves (the eldest daughter slide really spoke to me) and what some of our staff does during their self-care routines.
• Don’t Boo, Vote! 👻 It isn’t too late to make a plan to vote by November 5! Whether you want to mail in a ballot, vote in person before Election Day, or abide by tradition and stroll into a voting booth on the first Tuesday in November, make sure you know what is on your ballot and where you can submit it.
• Our State Playbook for Gender Justice is live! 📕States offer some of our best and most immediate opportunities to improve the lives of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people. Unfortunately, they are also where we’ve seen some of the ugliest attacks against gender justice and our democracy. Read our State Playbook for Gender Justice to get inspired on what’s possible at the state level!

Person That Lived Rent Free in My Head in October: Megan Thee Stallion 😜🔥

Megan Thee Stallion has been having a moment for all of 2024, but she just released an extension of her “MEGAN” mixtape called “MEGAN II” with even more collaborations and bangers. One of my favorites is “BIGGER IN TEXAS” where she opens with “I’m at the top of my game,” as it is an affirmation of the importance of recognizing your accomplishments and how far you’ve come.

Her art has really stuck with me over the years, but I have especially loved how Meg has been open about her mental health and the challenges that she has faced as a Black woman and a celebrity. Her evolution is a sight to behold, and I am so glad to have a front-row seat.

Feminist Moment of Joy: Taking a Deep Breath! 🍃☀️

Things have been really nutty on a societal and personal level. As someone who has been trying to stay on top of my mental health for years, it has felt harder than ever to make sure that I am doing everything I possibly can to manage my anxiety. In the spirit of self-care, I have been trying to get more fresh air and feel the sunlight on my face.

When things feel too chaotic, I am able to look up and soak in the foliage-lined streets, the earlier but still beautiful sunsets, and even the northern lights as they grace the Eastern Corridor.

There's beauty in the consistent and familiar as well as beauty in change. Without change, we wouldn’t have any of these things to savor, and I try to remind myself of this as the world is constantly, drastically changing. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always Kit Kats.

Stay sweet,

Jessica Baskerville
she/her/hers
Media Relations Manager *and* Award-Winning Podcast Host
National Women’s Law Center