Dear Colleagues,
As a global organization, we remain committed to the struggles and achievements of our members everywhere.
Because twenty-five years since Beijing’s historic World Conference on Women — where United Nations (UN) member states pledged their commitment to action toward equal rights and power for women — not one country has yet achieved their goal of gender equality, according to a new UN report. The findings also indicate that COVID-19 is not only interrupting gender equality efforts worldwide, but also threatening to reverse decades of hard-won gains, even as women are disproportionately those fighting on the front lines of the pandemic, representing 70% of health care and social workers worldwide.
“Women are far from having an equal voice to men,” said Liu Zhenmin, chief of the UN’s economic and social affairs department. “And in every region of the world, women are still subjected to various forms of violence and harmful practices.”
As you are aware, gender inequality and misogyny have been helped along by the concurrent global epidemics of systemic racism, colonialism and white supremacy. The resurgent power of right-wing white nationalist groups in the U.S. and Europe jeopardize the lives and autonomy of women and girls — especially women and girls of color. From a Polish court ruling this week that amounts to a near total ban on abortion to reports that nearly 550 deported parents of migrant children who were taken from their families at the U.S. border cannot be found, we’re seeing mounting attacks on women’s basic human rights. And these examples are far from outliers in harmful, restrictive abortion laws and barriers that remain on the books in many European nations, including Germany, Spain and Italy.
There are bright spots. We have to remember that the leadership of women and girls, especially women of color, have powered every major social, political and civil rights movement throughout history. Providing resources, expertise and the connective thread within and across our communities, you and your organizations are the fuel that help propel women and girls forward. Thank you for your steadfast leadership and courage. Onward.
Yours for equity and justice,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
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WFN In The News: Women’s philanthropy leaders within Women’s Funding Network urge the debate moderator to put gender and racial justice at the center of discussion. Read the full letter here and highlighted in Philanthropy Women here.
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Arizona Foundation for Women (AFW) has launched SHE Leads!, a women-centric leadership program dedicated to advancing Arizona’s women. Women interested in honing their personal, professional and organizational leadership skills by taking part in this inaugural program are encouraged to apply before Oct. 30.
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Rise Up will be holding this year's Breakfast Gala virtually, where they will honor the strength of the visionary Rise Up Leaders around the world, who are rising up in this moment of crisis to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and advance gender equity and racial justice.
December 10, 2020
9:00am PST
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The Women's Foundation of Colorado has released the 2020 Womanifesto, a nonpartisan ballot guide with statewide input from a diverse group of Coloradans committed to elevating opportunities for women to strengthen our state.
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For the month of October, the Canadian Women's Foundation has launched a new campaign, #ShowUpForGirls, with Christine Sinclair to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on girls. The cast of Lockdown, a YouTube Originals series by Sinking Ship Entertainment, released a YouTube video, asking: What are you doing to #ShowUpForGirls in the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Texas Women's Foundation launches the Army of Advocates. TWF advocates for policies and practices in local communities and at the state level where innovation and investment can help empower women, lead to positive economic and social change, and achieve equity for Texas women and girls, and their families.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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The Women's Forum for the Economy & Society will be hosting their Global Meeting virtually this year. It will be a unique occasion for stakeholders across regions and sectors to engage for impact and continue their collective design of a more inclusive world. Speakers include Halimah Yacob, Sahle-Work Zewde, Valerie Jarrett, and more.
November 18-19, 2020
11:30am to 4:00pm (CEST)
Register here!
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Justice for Migrant Women will be hosting a virtual event in honor of Latina Equal Pay Day, "Let's Make Change: Pay Us The Full Dollar!," where you will hearing from Latinx voices across the country to celebrate Latinx empowerment.
October 29, 2020
3:00-4:30pm ET
Register here!
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This past Saturday, thousands of people gathered in Washington D.C., and in hundreds of cities across the country for the fifth Women's March. - NPR
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Meet Austin Quinn-Davidson - Anchorage will have its first woman and openly gay person serving as mayor. - NBC News
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In a "Women in Baseball" text chain, dozens of women working in professional baseball have a rare space for support, brainstorming and understanding in a male-dominant industry. - New York Times
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Fortune released its 2020 Most Powerful Women List. Check it out here!
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Kamala Harris' nomination highlights the issues women in politics have faced for decades, and how things are changing. Read more here.
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Even the most successful women pay a big price in the pandemic. Read more here.
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Statues are a signal of who is valued in society, but in 2017, only 10 percent of public outdoor sculptures in the U.S. were of women. But now, public monuments are coming under increased scrutiny and beginning to represent women. - New York Times
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WATCH: Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin received backlash for an "inappropriate" magazine cover. Thousands of women stood up for her with the hashtag #ImWithSanna, highlighting the ongoing sexist double standard that women in politics face.
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Browse the New WFN Website!
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If you have a story to share, email Megan at
[email protected]
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