Tag Archives: Economic and Social Justice

Grantmaking

BWF joins Philanthropy’s Promise

The Boston Women’s Fund, Inc.

“Philanthropy’s Promise” Statement

The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) is a progressive foundation that supports community based organizations and grassroots initiatives run by women and girls in order to create a society based on racial, economic and social justice. We strive for a world free of racism, sexism, poverty and other oppressions.

At least 95% of our grants support low-income women; women of color; women with disabilities; lgbtq community; immigrant women; elder women and girls who are working to create a society based on racial, economic, and social justice. The Boston Women’s Fund raises money from a broad base of donors across economic backgrounds to provide grants and develop programs that strengthen the grassroots initiatives and leadership of women and girls.

Continue reading BWF joins Philanthropy’s Promise →

Uncategorized

Who Needs Sun at a Summit

Greetings from sunny California! Although, I’ve just realized that the entire day has gone by and I’ve yet to step outside to actually feel the sunshine. That’s because I am here for what, so far has been an absolutely amazing experience—the Women’s Funding Network’s 2012 Summit: Women, Economics and Peace.

I am joined by women from all over the globe—Kenya, Amsterdam, Australia, as well as from every corner of the U.S. And we are all here for the same reason: women everywhere are disproportionately impacted by the challenges rooted in conflict and economic instability.  But there is strength in numbers. Together we can build community; think of new ways to bring people together; and solve problems by realigning our thoughts and processes.

My day started with listening to incredibly talented and brilliant women share their knowledge, expertise and motivation. But the underlying theme everyone seemed to touch upon was about collective impact. Ours. Together. Change can be made. Continue reading Who Needs Sun at a Summit →

Uncategorized

Channeling Anger at the Gender Pay Gap

Doesn’t it infuriate you that women could be making thousands of dollars more each year?! Think of what you could do with extra money each year – pay off a debt, save for retirement, or donate more to your favorite nonprofit. Even though President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, American women in the United States who work full-time, year-round are paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to white men (National Women’s Law Center.)

April 17th was equal pay day. Equal pay day is a symbolic marking of how much longer it takes (white) women to earn as much as white men in the previous year.  Continue reading Channeling Anger at the Gender Pay Gap →

Events

3rd Annual Men Take A Stand event a Resounding Success

Men Take A Stand awardees with Executive Director Josefina Vazquez
David Moy, Josefina Vazquez, Paul Marcus & Jarrett Barrios

Thank you to all who attended our event, Men Take A Stand on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.  It was a wonderful evening of performances, speeches and networking, all while celebrating the importance of men’s commitment to promoting nonviolence through women’s leadership within our struggle for a just society. Continue reading 3rd Annual Men Take A Stand event a Resounding Success →

Our Voices, Uncategorized, Winter 2012

Executive Director’s Letter from Winter/Spring 2012 Newsletter

Dear Community,

As a people from diverse cultural backgrounds mostly identifying as part of the 99%, we historically find ourselves witnessing unimagined poignant times. Across this country we witnessed how those of us, trained in watching and waiting, decided to take a stand and created a movement from coast to coast on our own terms. The Boston Women’s Fund maintained a close look at Occupy Boston, from day one up to December 10 and beyond, by seeking information as to where our grantee community of activists’ stood: where were those organizations and groups led by women and girls in relation to Occupy? How were they now envisioning their grassroots efforts in relation to Occupy, if at all? In our lead article, Beth Levanthal of The Network, La Red grappled with the issues of a movement still seeking to understand its common ground.

Chelsea Tenants Association at Occupy Boston
Chelsea Tenants Association at Occupy Boston

Continue reading Executive Director’s Letter from Winter/Spring 2012 Newsletter →

Our Voices, Winter 2012

The Network/La Red and the Occupy Movement

By Beth Leventhal, Executive Director of TNLR

Inspired by the Egyptian Tahrir Square uprising and the Spanish acampadas massive demonstrations by young workers, the Occupy Movement began in September 2011 on Wall Street as a nonviolent, leaderless resistance movement to end corporate greed and corruption in the United States. In the few months since its inception, the movement spread to hundreds of cities world-wide. The main slogan of Occupy, “We are the 99%”, refers to the fact that those in the top 1% income bracket control almost half of the wealth in the country. While those who occupy the encampments are activated around a wide variety of social and political issues, the “99%” campaign focuses first and foremost on capitalist-based oppression.

Women's Speakout at Occupy Boston

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Uncategorized

Komen/Planned Parenthood Controversy Shines Light on Women’s Health Inequality

The recent actions and reactions of the Susan G. Komen Foundation give us pause here at the Boston Women’s Fund. Certainly we were pleased when the Komen Foundation changed their stance on funding for Planned Parenthood, and more so by the extraordinary outpouring of support Planned Parenthood received from the masses. But this controversy really brought to light the politics that continue to infiltrate and impede access to and advancements in women’s health care. Breast cancer; reproductive health; heart disease; the list can go on– every woman’s personal health is at risk because of the politics that permeates the health care system, and women’s health care overall.

Continue reading Komen/Planned Parenthood Controversy Shines Light on Women’s Health Inequality →