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** JANUARY 29, 2021
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Elizabeth Headshot

Dear Colleagues,

This week Women’s Funding Network hosted a discussion with public policy experts and economic security advocates Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center and Gloria Perez, president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Key Policy Approaches to Women's Economic Mobility ([link removed]) was presented as part of WFN’s Economic Justice Speaker Series.

Panelists both noted that any investments in COVID relief and recovery must address the exodus of women from the paid workforce, such as policy proposals that focus on investing in the caregiving sector and expanding universal access to child care ([link removed]) . They also emphasized that public officials should immediately implement policies to provide paid family leave and paid sick days for all workers.

Fatima pointed out that we find ourselves in a time of both “deep opportunity and risk,” as power shifts to a new administration and new Congress. As we all know, women and girls – especially women and girls of color – are at greatest risk and shouldering the greatest burden of the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

At this pivotal juncture, Fatima encourages us to ask ourselves, “What does it mean in our advocacy and policy to keep a laser focus and attention on women of color?”

Gloria noted, women’s funds, foundations and gender justice funders can and must play an important role in centering public policies on women and girls. “At the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, we always say that problems and solutions are found in the same place,” Gloria said. For women’s funds and foundations, that means taking a deep partnership approach that includes deep listening. Unfortunately, that is in stark contrast to how policy is developed inside the Beltway and inside state capitals across the U.S.

The work you do every day is a blueprint for how government and philanthropy writ large must center gender equity and racial justice. That means including those impacted – women and people of color – at decision making tables and transferring power to grassroots communities, as exemplified by participatory funding models and our Women’s Economic Mobility Hubs ([link removed]) .

Thank you for your continued ingenuity and your stalwart commitment to advancing women’s and girls’ rights. Indeed, we have much work to do, but this network of leaders is more than up to the task. We will persevere and we will achieve transformational progress.

Yours for equity and justice,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
JOIN US! ([link removed])
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Women's Funding Network, Funders for Reproductive Equity, and Funders for LGBTQ Issues have partnered to host a virtual conversation, "FCAA CONNECT: COVID-19 At the Intersection of Black & Brown TGNC Lives." ([link removed]) The event will explore the impact of COVID-19 on Black and Brown TGNC lives, as well as opportunities for funders to partner with TGNC-led organizations to make meaningful, positive change. WFN President & CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román will be moderating the conversation.

February 18, 2021
11am - 1pm ET

Register here ([link removed]) !
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Borealis Philanthropy reflects on the first three years of the Racial Equity in Philanthropy Fund, in which Women's Funding Network is a member. Read more here ([link removed]) .


** WFN MEMBER NEWS
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Aurora Women and Girls Foundation along with women's funds across Conneticut have released a new report, "Essential Equity: Women, Covid-19 and Rebuilding CT." ([link removed])

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The Women's Fund of Rhode Island is officially launching their Women's Well-Being Index ([link removed]) , which explores five dimensions of well-being to show how women compared to men in the state, including health, personal safety, employment & earnings, economic security, and political empowerment.

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Meet the young women Girls Education Collaborative is working with in Tanzania in this short video ([link removed]) .

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Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Executive Director Anna Beth Gorman and Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub Executive Director Dr. Chris Jones have written an op-ed ([link removed]) regarding concerns for Arkansas' image on diversity, equity and inclusion.

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WFN Member Sienna Baskin with the NEO Anti-Trafficking Fund provides an update ([link removed]) to the work they plan to accomplish this year to fight human trafficking.

RENEW YOUR 2021 MEMBERSHIP TODAY! ([link removed])
Thank you to the following members who renewed their WFN membership for 2021. The deadline for renewals is January 31. If you haven’t renewed, please be in touch with staff about an extension or a needs-based dues waiver. These are financially uncertain times and our priority is keeping our membership strong and united!


** OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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[link removed] New Cohort of Invest for Better Circle Leaders

Invest for Better Circles are designed to bring women together for informed and empowered impact investing. The next Invest For Better Circle Leader Cohort is enrolling now. Join the movement and lead or co-lead a circle of women who are eager to learn more about values-aligned and impact investing and activate their money for good. No expertise needed, just an appetite to learn and support one another on the journey to impact. For more information on becoming a leader, go to [link removed] ([link removed]) .
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The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) has released a new report, "Centering the Student Voice: Community Colleges and Sexual and Reproductive Health Access in Texas and Mississippi ([link removed]) , which highlights noteworthy themes around access to care and students’ thoughts on what they want from their community colleges with regard to their sexual and reproductive health needs.

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Women Deliver ([link removed]) and Focus 2030 ([link removed]) have released the results of a first-of-its-kind international survey on gender equality opinions and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that the global public overwhelmingly supports gender equality. Read more here ([link removed]) .

[link removed] conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat), MASHAV (Israeli Agency for International Development Cooperation) is offering an online English course on "Building Sustainable Communities: Leadership, Gender, and the Environment." ([link removed])

The course will take place from March 1-24, 2021, Mondays and Wednesdays, and will include 8 sessions, from 13:00 to 14:30 Israel time.

To apply, please email a completed application form ([link removed]) to by February 4, 2021.


** WEEKLY READ
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More women than ever before ran for office in 2020. Here ([link removed]) are some of the most notable advancements in women's leadership and several policies that would ensure the U.S. continues on a path to gender parity.
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Kamala Harris made history last week, but Black women in the House haven't held elected positions in leadership in more than four decades. - Politico ([link removed])

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Forbes and Know Your Value are teaming up for a special "50 over 50" featurem wgere Mika Brzezinski will highlight women who have achieved notable success at mid-life and beyond. - NBC News ([link removed])
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Women's health is better when women have more control in their society. - The Conversation ([link removed])

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According to a report by the National Women's Law Center, all of 156,000 jobs lost last month were women's jobs, with Asian American women accounting for the highest rates of long-term unemployment. - NBC News ([link removed])
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Click here ([link removed]) for nine books to help young girls build a positive body image.

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WATCH: In Hondoruas, lawmakers voted to lock in a sweeping abortion ban, including in the cases of rape, incest, and medical risk. Somos Muchas attorney Grecia Lozano explains the impact and why the fight for reproductive justice must go on.


** Browse the New WFN Website!
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