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Dear John,
This year Women’s History Month has seen progress and heartbreak for women and girls. We were horrified by the violent attack in Atlanta in which six Asian women were murdered by a white man. We strongly condemn the inherently racist and misogynistic violence against AAPI women that has been fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism. This violence is a growing crisis of domestic terrorism that transcends race, gender, and class, and must stop. The Ms. Foundation remains committed to supporting women-led movements and organizations that are working to protect AAPI women across the country.
There were also moments worthy of celebration. The White House passed executive orders that established the White House Gender Policy Council and ensured education free from sexual violence. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill signed into law on March 11th included a child tax credit as well as support for childcare, two critical issues underlying women’s economic security. Goldman Sachs announced their historic 1 Million Black Women Initiative, a major initiative to address racial disparities that will invest $10 billion over the next decade. It’s about time and the right time.
Ms. Foundation CEO & President, Teresa C. Younger has been lifting up the importance of gender and racial equity this month. She spoke with Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! News and Bloomberg Quicktake about the serious shortfall of investment in women and girls of color. She also talked with Ford Foundation EVP Hilary Pennington about how to center women of color to address systemic racism in our organizations and about what real investment in women and girls looks like with CNN.
At the Ms. Foundation for Women, we are committed for as long as it takes to build power and sustain the movements that address the issues impacting the lives of women and girls. This month we extended invitations to finalists in the $1 million Ms. South grantmaking initiative. We look forward to announcing our new grantees next month. Your continued support of the Ms. Foundation makes it possible for us to continue this and many other critical initiatives.
UPCOMING EVENT. . .
SAVE THE DATE. We are bringing 33rd Annual Gloria Awards to your favorite viewing device on May 20th with livestreaming to start at 8pm Eastern. The theme JOY UNMUTED invites us to reflect the importance of tending to mind, body and soul as an act of resistance and resilience. As our foremother, Audre Lorde puts it, “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.” Stay tuned for more information about the show and how you can share your JOY UNMUTED with us on May 20th.
In Solidarity,
 
Ruth McFarlane, VP, Advancement
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