December 2017 Newsletter: Count Me in Calendar for 2018
Photo: A look back at Women's Foundation events in 2017.
A NOTE FROM EMILY
Hi Everyone,
For many of us, 2017 has been a year marked by crushing developments at the national level: widespread revelations of sexual assault by men in power, the reversal of Title IX on college campuses, sharp increases in hate crimes across the country -- the list goes on.
I sometimes find myself struggling not to feel powerless and inconsequential in the face of the massive, corrosive forces of sexism, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia. And I'm not alone. Over the past three years, the question the Women's Foundation team gets asked the most is: "What can I do, personally, to make a difference?"
The 2018 Count Me In Calendar is our answer to that question. It's a weekly desktop calendar with 52 weeks of personal, powerful, specific ways to support gender equity in Oregon and beyond. If every person who cares about women and girls in Oregon took these 52 actions, our state would be one of the best places on earth for gender equity.
If you're already a member, you'll be receiving your calendar soon. If you're not and you can't wait to get your hands on this calendar, join us, renew your membership, or order the calendar directly:
We are thankful for you and for all that you'll do in 2018 to make Oregon a better place for women and girls. This holiday season, we wish you and your loved ones rest, warmth, and love.
With deep gratitude,
Emily Evans
Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Oregon
STAT OF THE MONTH
There are 2.1 million women and girls living in Oregon.
FOUNDATION UPDATES
IMMEDIATE IMPACT FUND
We've awarded our November Immediate Impact grant to Oasis Shelter Home, a shelter and outreach program serving women, their children, and elders in Curry County. The funds will be used to make long-needed improvements to their shelter kitchen, including making it accessible to their survivors with disabilities. This grant reflects our commitment to supporting survivors of violence, rural communities (Curry County is a rural community on the Southern Oregon coast), and folks with disabilities.
This month's Immediate Impact Fund deadline is approaching on December 31st. For those interested in being considered, please remember to submit your application in the next two weeks.
2017 IMPACT STATEMENT
We reached over half a million Oregonians with our groundbreaking Count Her In report, sparking statewide urgency on behalf of Oregon’s women and girls.
We released a companion report, “Promising Policies for a State That Can’t Wait,” and saw remarkable progress for women and girls in the 2017 Legislative Session.
We awarded a total of $75,000 in member-chosen grants to four exceptional organizations, improving the lives of thousands of women and girls across the state.
We hosted our “Eight That Can’t Wait” Discussion Series, where thought-leaders and community members explored the root causes and potential solutions of the most pressing challenges facing women and girls in Oregon today.
We brought together 800+ members to collectively invest in making Oregon a great place for women and girls.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Name: Anita Yap
Age: 57
Occupation: Founding Partner, MultiCultural Collaborative
Member of the Women’s Foundation since: 2014
Gender pronouns: she/her/hers
What’s your favorite spot in Oregon? I've lived in many places in Oregon, including Halfway, Sisters, Bend, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, and Portland. Portland is definitely my favorite place to live because of the racial diversity and active, welcoming community.
What quality do you most admire in others?Courage, optimism, and compassion.
What was your first volunteer experience? I volunteered at the Fairview Hospital in Salem when I was in a Red Cross leadership camp. I had never heard of the place before and was overwhelmed at the number of children living there with a wide range of disabilities. I had no idea that kids would live somewhere without their parents. We played with the kids, read to them, and had lunch with them. At the end of our visit, they were crying wanting to go home with us. We were crying too.
Which woman (living or dead) do you most admire?I most admire my mother. She was fierce! She was a nurse, artistic, a great cook, did plumbing, auto body repair and was wise. She lived in Oregon when it was not welcoming to Asian Pacific Islanders after World War II. She was courageous and resourceful and stood up for what she believed in: fairness and respect.
What thought or intention do you want to leave with Foundation members? I'd like to tell members of the Women's Foundation that we need to stand together, especially now, where so many women are needing support in the state. Having lived most of my life in Oregon and experienced sexism and racism in the workplace, it's time to bring these issues to the forefront of our advocacy. I am looking forward to working with you all to do that.
What question would you liked to be asked right now? What's your next adventure?
Thanks so much, Anita!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Do you have a sewing machine hanging around that you never use? Donate it!
Verde Sews provides sewing workshops for low-income women of color living in the Cully neighborhood. The program helps women build the skills needed for starting a sewing business or business partnership.
Each workshop is led in Spanish by a local master seamstress and includes meals and childcare.
Verde Sews needs dozens of sewing machines so that they can provide a sewing machine to all of their participants. To donate, please contact Melissa Palavecino at (503) 290-8570 x 221 or melissapalavecino@verdenw.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Dec 19: Portland Women in Tech (PDXWIT) Holiday Party
Join the Women + Tech Holiday Party, co-organized by PDXWIT and WWC Portland in partnership with Lesbians Who Tech, ChickTech, PyLadies, and Girls Inc. This event is hosted by OMSI and sponsored by Nike, Cambia, the University of Washington Foster School of Business Hybrid MBA, and ClientJoy. (Portland)
Dec 31: Last day to make your year-end tax deductible gifts to the Women's Foundation of Oregon and other nonprofits you wish to support.
Jan 6: Know Civil Rights - Race, Gender and the Right to Vote
Local historian Michelle Seiler Godfrey will explore the intersection of gender and race in current politics at Downtown Bend Library. (Bend)
Jan 8: League of Women Voters' Ballot Measure 101 Forum
Be an informed voter! Attend this Washington County event and hear arguments for and against Ballot Measure 101, Oregon Healthcare Insurance Premiums Tax for Medicaid Referendum. (Beaverton)
Jan 10: YWCA Social Justice Training: Supporting Immigrant & Refugee Survivors
This training explores traditional cultures of Immigrants and Refugees and how it can impact access to services that may be crucial for survivors of domestic violence. (Portland)
Jan 20: Women's March Southern Oregon 2018
Women's March Southern Oregon 2018 is part of a national movement to empower everyone who stands for women’s rights, human rights, civil liberties, and social justice for all. We are unified in our goal to respond to misogyny, arrogance, and the abuse of power, and we will not be silent. (Medford)
Jan 21: Salem Womxn's March
Led by a diverse and inclusive group, the Salem Womxn’s March is committed to amplifying womxn’s voices to empower and enable each other in the fight for womxn’s rights and political involvement within our communities. (Salem)
Jan 25: Benefit for Women's Justice Project with Aramis Ayala
Elected as State Attorney for Orange-Osceola, Florida in 2016, Aramis Ayala will be coming to Portland to talk race, gender and justice in an event hosted by the Oregon Justice Resource Center. (Portland)
Feb 21: Apply to NEW Leadership Oregon by February 21st!
The award-winning women's leadership development program is housed at the Center for Women's Leadership at Portland State University. Open to college women enrolled at any college in the state of Oregon. (Portland)
News to Know
Urban Institute: Native Americans deserve more attention in the police violence conversation
Police violence against Native Americans is highly problematic and rarely discussed.
The Telegraph: World Economic Forum asks seven women to co-chair Davos - and zero men
Seven women will co-chair the four-day event in January under the theme "creating a shared future in a fractured world."
Time: What Happens When Women Reach a Critical Mass of Influence
When women comprise 20% to 30% of an institution, things begin to change.
The Nation: Tarana Burke Says #MeToo Should Center Marginalized Communities
An interview with the woman who launched the Me Too campaign over a decade ago.
OPB: Oregon Will Continue CHIP Coverage, Even If It Means A Budget Shortfall
The Oregon Health Authority has been asked to find the money to keep the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) going — at least until April — even if that creates a budget shortfall. That means 80,000 children and 1,700 pregnant women will keep coverage for the time being.
emergeOregon: Announcing the Emerge Oregon Class of 2018!
The nonprofit organization that trains and supports women running for office introduced their class for the upcoming year -- their largest class to-date.
Washington Post: #MeToo? In 80 years, no American woman has won Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ by herself
Time's person of the year, "The Silence Breakers,” is a reference to the extraordinary women who have spoken out about their experiences of sexual assault and harassment.
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
As a Women’s Foundation of Oregon member, you’re joining a community of over 800 individuals who donate their time, efforts, and/or funds to improve the lives of women and girls in Oregon.
Become a member or renew now, and you'll receive our annual membership gift - the Count Me In Calendar! The calendar offers 52 weeks of powerful actions to bolster your capacity as an agent of change for women and girls in your community.
Join us and strengthen our collective force for gender equity in Oregon.
For details about our Give What You Can program, contact info@w-for.org.