We recently launched We Are the Backbone: Faces of a Child Care Nation, a campaign and ode to the everyday heroes, featuring photography by Lloyd Foster. Our goal is to shift the narrative around care work, providers, and the value of child care. Portraits of child care providers will be in cities around the country. Learn more about We Are the Backbone and where to view portraits of child care providers in a city near you. And don’t forget to thank a child care provider today.

Students Deserve Better, Here’s What We’re Doing About It

Schools are often the first places where people experience sexual harassment, but few students report it. Of those who do come forward, many are ignored, not believed, or punished by their schools. We believe schools can be institutions of transformative change. We launched the 100 School Districts project in partnership with Girls for Gender Equity on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment without using policies that harm students.

Must Reads:

• May was Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Joshua Tobing, Manager of Philanthropic Engagement, wrote about stopping white supremacy and Selina Tran, Senior Manager of Creative and Digital Strategies, wrote about belonging, traditions, and identity. 
• Abortion access is still under attack. Leila Abolfalzi, Director of Federal Reproductive Rights, and Heather Shumaker, Director of State Abortion Access, reflected on the last decade of their work, including barriers to abortion access before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing fight to keep abortion legal. Read their blog.
• We are celebrating several wins! “Because I can,” was Simone Biles’ remarks about pushing the dial on difficult moves that other gymnasts wouldn’t dare try, but it can also pertain to two other women—Kristen Clarke and Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Read about Biles in The New York Times, our response to Clarke’s historic confirmation to lead the DOJ Civil Rights Division, and Brooks-LaSure, who was confirmed as the first Black woman to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Feminist Moment of Joy

This month’s moment of joy comes from the Linda Lindas, a punk band based in California comprised of Lucia, Mila, Bela, and Eloise. Just before the pandemic, Mila, the group’s drummer, had a boy in her class back away from her because his dad told him to stay away from Chinese people. I would’ve responded in a way that definitely would’ve gotten me suspended, but she and Eloise decided to write “Racist, Sexist Boy,” which has since gone viral. The band has appeared in MOXiE!, wrote a song for the The Claudia Kishi Club documentary, and signed with Epitaph Records. That’s only a fraction of the band’s accomplishments, whose ages range from 10 to 16 and living up to the line “racist, sexist boy/we rebuild what you destroy.”

Rebuilding is a process and yes, it’s like being a plant parent. Being a plant parent isn’t only about showing off giant monsteras or bamboo palms. And you may not be able to tell right now but pictured above are my baby sunflowers. I know, I know. Most people wait to show off sunflowers until they are… well… flowers. But I think it’s also important to show off all stages of growth. Just this month, I’ve planted sunflowers, lavender, and rubenza cosmos. Nothing is in bloom, yet, but this greenery is a sign of progress and hope. What’s something you’re waiting to see bloom and how are you enjoying the process? Flowers don’t grow overnight so in the meantime, as you wait, I’ll leave you with a playlist I curated that is already in full bloom.

For justice (and joy) for her and all,
LySaundra Campbell
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center