Dear Colleagues,
First my sincerest hopes for your continued health and wellness. If you have struggled to stay focused, productive, creative and feel safe this week – know that you are not alone.
At WFN, we have also struggled with the images, stories and contradictions that have emerged from the attack at the U.S. Capital on January 6th. While searching for answers, and accountability, we are also holding deep sorrow for the lives lost, those injured physically, and those now dealing with the mental and emotional trauma of being hunted and attacked.
While we condemn the police officers who appeared to aid and abet the insurrectionists, we know we must resist oversimplification about those in uniform. The complicated truth is that for many people of color, the U.S. Armed Forces or a job in law enforcement are among the few paths out of generational poverty. As we saw last week, many officers of color served with honor despite facing imminent danger of white supremacists invading the Capitol, and also the danger of white supremacists within their ranks. One Black officer even contends that the breach of the Capitol happened because Black officers weren’t taken seriously.
This is not a new development. During the Clinton era, philanthropy-backed welfare reform forced low-income mothers to find work rather than stay home to care for their children in the name of “self-reliance.” This coincided with the 1994 Crime Bill, which enforced racist tactics under the banner of the “war on drugs” and expanded the prison industrial complex and law enforcement and corrections jobs. As a result, women of color and immigrant women remain overrepresented in the field of corrections, though hardly ever in higher-ranking positions, meaning they are more likely to face rampant harassment and abuse while on the job.
Before we can move forward, we must stop. Stop skipping over the hard and painful work of reflection and truth-telling about how philanthropy’s vested interest in perpetuating systemic racism and sexism has brought us to this moment.
Next week we will watch the first woman of color — who, herself, began her career as a prosecutor — sworn in as the U.S. Vice President. History has its eyes on us too. Thank you for continuing to center the voices of your communities and fighting for economic security and prosperity for women of color as a core element of a strong democracy and a more just society.
Yours for equity and justice,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
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WFN In The News! Our President & CEO, Elizabeth Barajas-Román has been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, where she discusses inequities in nonprofit pay and leadership opportunities in the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the article here!
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Thank you to the following members who renewed their WFN membership for 2021. Remember to renew your membership today.
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If you have questions about joining WFN, please reach out to Brianna Gaddy at [email protected]!
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The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation is hiring for their Executive Assistant/Program Associate role. This is a remote position; however, periodic post-COVID travel to Monterey and Santa Cruz is required.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to [email protected]. For more information, click here.
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At the end of 2020, The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) shared the first of a two-part podcast series, "Futures, Dreams, and Revolutions," featuring outgoing CEO Theo Sowa sharing her reflections on her time at AWDF. In this second part, our new CEO Françoise Moudouthe shares her vision for AWDF and what she hopes to see in the feminist landscape in the coming years. Check it out here!
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Join The Women's Foundation of California for their California Women Rising's Healing from Trauma workshop series, starting with a virtual yoga session: Staying Loyal to Your Soil. This yoga-focused session led by Misty Powell will address the roots of self-care for the benefits of healing, healthy living, personal growth, and sustainable communities.
January 19, 2021
5:00-6:30pm PT
Comfortable clothing is encouraged.
Register for the webinar here!
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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UN Women has released a new report, "From insights to action: Gender equality in the wake of COVID-19," which summarizes data, research, and policy work by UN Women’s Policy and Programme Division on the pandemic’s impact on women and girls, including the impact on extreme poverty, employment, health, unpaid care, and violence against women and girls.
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Freeform has released their 2021 policy recommendations, "Prioritizing Financial Security for Survivors." After speaking with 1300+ survivors, FreeFrom has detailed a set of comprehensive federal policy priorities that, when passed, will support survivors across the U.S. in building the financial security they need to stay safe during and after the pandemic.
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Apply for The Women Media Center's Progressive Women's Voices 2021! Progressive Women's Voices is the premier media and leadership training program for women in the country.
2021 Training Dates:
May 21 (10:00 a.m. EST) - 23 (5:00 p.m. EST) online or
June 4 (10:00 a.m. EST) - 6 (5:00 p.m. EST) online.:
To Apply: Complete this application form before March 14.
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For many women in the U.S., last week's riots at the Capitol were triggering. "It's a reminder of the everyday stresses that come with living in a world that's shaped by white masculinity." - USA Today
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The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request to reinstate restrictions for patients seeking to obtain a drug used for abortions early in pregnancy. - CNN
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New research finds that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, women were rated by those who work with them as more effective. - Harvard Business Review
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A year ago, women outnumbered men in the workforce. Now, they account for 100% of jobs lost in December of last year. - CNBC
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Pope Francis has changed Roman Catholic church laws to allow women to be Bible readers at Mass, serve at the altar and distribute communion, but they remain barred from becoming deacons or priests. - New York Times
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Coco Chanel changed the course of women's fashion. "She wanted women to move and breathe in her clothes, just like men did in theirs." Read more here.
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Check out the latest episode of The Bloomberg's podcast "The Pay Check," which investigates the gender pay gap.
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WATCH: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recaps the horror of the Capitol attack last Wednesday.
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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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