This past week, a men’s rights advocate shot Ester Salas’ spouse and killed her son, in a failed attempt to assassinate the federal judge at her New Jersey home. This is only the latest of violent attacks on women by men who blame their personal failings and struggles on feminism. But we would be remiss to focus only on the misogynistic motivation for the deadly assault.
Judge Salas’ would-be assassin called her a "lazy and incompetent Latina judge appointed by Obama.” His writings are riddled with vitriolic rants that demonstrate the dangerous intersection of sexism and racism. Sadly, wherever we find sexism, racism will also be present. Why? Because these deadly fruits sprout from the same tree rooted in oppressive structural power.
Systemic racism and sexism can not be dismantled separately, rather, must be addressed through an intersectional strategy that includes remembering and acknowledging the history of racism within the movements for women’s rights. We know that white women leaders of the suffrage movement traded the rights of women of color in exchange for their own right to vote. White supremacy and homophobia are also well documented in the second wave of feminism. That legacy is with us to this day — making our role as funders for the movement for gender and racial equity and justice all the more vital. Together, we can intentionally uproot whatever vestiges of racism remain in our movement, our organizations, and in ourselves.
Thank you for joining us, and for having the courage to learn from our past to create meaningful impact and sustainable structural change for all. Our network has the power and opportunity to lead the way - both by stepping up to serve in this critical moment and by working to shift oppressive power dynamics that keep harmful systems in place.
Together, I’m confident that we can hold each other up, hold each other accountable, while also holding the highest standards for partnership and mutual respect.
Yours for equity and justice, Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
WFN BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS
The WFN Board of Directors is seeking nominations from the membership to join the governing body for a three-year term starting in September 2020. Please nominate one of our members who you know will bring forward the leadership, knowledge, and enthusiasm for our shared gender and racial justice mission, and work with the staff to better serve and support this fantastic community. You can find the link to a brief nominating form here.
WFN MEMBER INITIATIVES
How Women Lead presents "Our Separate Ways: Exploring the Different Career Trajectories of Black and White Women." In their follow-up discussion on race in the workplace, How Women Lead will sit down with two women executives - one white and one Black - to explore their 20+ career paths and the unique challenges in their professional journeys.
Featuring: Dr. Ella Bell
WFN members receive a 10% discount to this event. Email Megan for the code.
The Women's Foundation of Colorado
The Women's Foundation has released its 2020 Legislative Results Through WFCO's Lens. This session, the Supports for the Early Childhood Workforce bill passed with bipartisan support, the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Bill passed, and the CROWN Act was signed which will ban natural hair discrimination.
The Women's Fund Miami-Dade
The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade has launched “Domestic Violence in Times of COVID-19,” an extensive awareness campaign to let those who are experiencing abuse know that services are available 24/7, and to encourage them to escape, report, or seek the services they need. To raise funds to continue with the campaign, The Women’s Fund has also designed a custom Instagram filter to encourage people to spread awareness.
To learn more about the campaign and instructions on how to show support and donate, please visit here.
Join the Council on Foundations for a discussion with the chief tax counsels for the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means about the upcoming legislation on COVID-19 and its possible impact on our sector. For any questions, please reach out to [email protected].
Speakers
- Andrew Grossman, Chief Tax Counsel, House Committee on Ways & Means – Majority
- Randell J. Gartin, Chief Tax Counsel, House Committee on Ways & Means – Minority
- David Kass, Vice President, Government Affair & Strategic Communications, Council on Foundations (moderator)
The Council on Foundations has released a new position paper on a recent proposal to double the payout rate for private foundations and create a new mandate for donor-advised funds. Since COVID-19 began its devastating course, philanthropy has stepped up to provide new resources and increased flexibility to those organizations and communities most impacted. The paper discusses how the payout proposal would limit philanthropy’s ability to respond to future crises.
The Barbara McDowell Foundation encourages organizations to apply for a 2021 social justice litigation grant by August 1st. The Foundation expects to allocate $250,000 between five organizations for its 2021 grants.
The Barbara McDowell Foundation aims to improve the economic well-being, social conditions, and civil liberties of disadvantaged persons and groups in the United States.
Issue areas include: • Access to Benefits • Children’s Rights • Disability Rights • Discrimination • Domestic Violence • Homelessness • Housing • Native American Rights • Prisoners' Rights • Refugee and Immigration Rights • Voting Rights • Veterans’ Rights
The Foundation is accepting applications through August 1st, 2020, for grants to be awarded for the following fiscal year of the Foundation, which is October 1st, 2020, to September 30th, 2021.
To learn more about the application process, click here!
Beyond Recovery: Designing An Inclusive World
July 29th at 6:00pm CEST (12pm Eastern, 9am Pacific)
The "In Her Words" series, in collaboration with The New York Times, will be hosting a conversation with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund in conversation with Francesca Donner, Gender Director at The New York Times. The session will examine women's leadership in the post-pandemic recovery, and the role women play in achieving an inclusive sustainable global economy.
The International Monetary Fund warns that the pandemic recession is hurting women more than men. If lawmakers don't step up efforts to improve conditions for women, we are potentially undoing years of progress. - CNN
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to Rep. Ted Yoho's verbal assault on the House floor, discussing privilege and condemning "violent language against women." Watch her response here!
Read a New Yorker piece about black feminism and the Combahee River Collective.
Last week was the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit, an organization that encourages young females to advocate for the health, safety and education of girls and women around the world. Click here for 8 things teen girl activists want you to know about their pandemic life.
Why is working from home not necessarily good for women? Read more here.
Fifteen women have brought accusations of rampant sexual harassment against the Washington N.F.L. franchise. - New York Times
In Afghanistan, a new generation of women are taking leadership roles in security forces. However, women face daily harassment, insult and abuse. - New York Times
WATCH: Hilary Clinton spoke at an event organized by Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting young women in STEM. She explains how women can combat sexism. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
