[link removed] [[link removed]]

Hi John—

I’ll admit, I was hesitant to write a newsletter and blog [[link removed]] about moments of joy this year. COVID cases and deaths are rising again, and as much as I sign off “for justice (and joy),” it isn’t always easy to choose joy when people are struggling and waiting for economic relief, relentlessly fighting against racist systems, and desperately wanting to be with loved ones. As I remind you, I have to remind myself: joy is resistance. It doesn’t mean we’re apathetic, it means we’re going to celebrate each other and not wait for the perfect circumstances to do so.
I reflected [[link removed]] on a handful of moments that have sparked joy this year. Everything from my favorite television series to Dionne Warwick’s [[link removed]] Twitter account, Zaya Wade to music recommendations, and women of color in Congress to Meghan Markle’s courage. I even got engaged [[link removed]] … yes, in the middle of a pandemic. Good things are happening in the middle of chaos, and it’s okay to enjoy those things.

I couldn’t choose one GIF to kick off this letter or summarize the year, so I’ll share a series inspired by the new Netflix movie, Jingle Jangle— must-see!

How 2020 started/took a turn in March:
# [#]
How it progressed throughout the summer:
# [#]
How I feel knowing the NWLC team and friends like you will keep fighting for justice:
# [#]

“It’s so possible! Watch me rise high above my obstacle!”

This year hasn’t been short of obstacles or pushback on gender justice. But across our issue areas and against all odds, we are pushing forward to fight for the future we deserve, and we made significant strides this year.

The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund released a report [[link removed]] highlighting how far we’ve come since #MeToo went viral in 2017 and what’s still necessary to create safer workplaces. We launched the Survivors’ Agenda [[link removed]] , a survivor-led platform driving policy and culture change to build a world free of sexual violence.

In partnership with the Education Trust and SMYAL, respectively, we released …and they cared [[link removed]] and Brick by Brick [[link removed]] to advocate for safer, inclusive education environments for girls and LGBTQ+ students of color. We launched Abortion Actually [[link removed]] and Birth Control Way [[link removed]] to challenge the public narrative around reproductive rights and health. And after advocating for nine years, we helped secure bipartisan passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in the House, which would require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers. We are at the forefront of informing the public, policymakers, and the new administration about how to center gender justice in the critical fights ahead. [[link removed]]

And we fought like hell to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and reaffirm our commitment to fight for gender justice in the courts. Read on [[link removed]] to learn more about other achievements and milestones this year.

I am confident we will see blooms next year.

# [#]
I thought I killed my orchid (pictured far right) this year. If you remember my first newsletter, you know plants are moody. (My basil is still thriving, however.) The petals fell off my orchid in the summer because the room I kept it in was too cold. I checked my Planta app to figure out how to bring it back to life and learned that if the stem was still green (which it was) that the plant wasn’t dead; I just needed to continue regular watering and care. Eventually, according to the app, the orchid would blossom again.

July turned to August, August to September, and then in the past week or so, small buds appeared (pictured above)—a sure sign that the flower will bloom again. It may be difficult to comprehend, but our movement and society continue to show signs of change. I hope the gains we’ve made this year as an organization and the moments of joy we’ve found—and my orchid—inspire a little hope for you as we move into the next year.

For justice (and joy) for her and all,

LySaundra Campbell
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center

DONATE [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Please forward this email to your friends and co-workers and encourage them to sign up to receive NWLC emails in their own inboxes. [[link removed]]
Privacy Policy [[link removed]] | unsubscribe: [link removed]
National Women's Law Center
11 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
United States