It is the end of August. We are looking ahead to the fall season, to new projects, and the beginning of the school year. Whether we follow an academic schedule or not, many of us in the NMW.O community are lifelong learners. In our work for gender justice and healing, it is critical to stay abreast of an ever-evolving discourse and quickly changing terms. What do we mean by intersectionality, for example? Should we still use the term “woke”? What do we do when we get confused, miss a term, or as a teacher of ours used to say, when we “get caught learning”?
At NMW.O we aim to create spaces to reflect, self-educate, and engage the larger community in discussion. For example, our Back-to-School #SaywhatNM campaign was an effort to share key definitions and current terms used frequently in gender justice work. We unpacked the concepts of “patriarchy” and “structural racism”. We sought to get grounded in collective definitions and language that reflects our values and better describes the structures of oppression we aim to dismantle. If you have not seen this campaign or feel like you need a refresher, check it out here.
Speaking of lifelong learners, keep reading to hear reflections from NMW.O staff members who helped convene a recent gathering for, Fostering Gender and Racial Justice and Healing, a community of practice for funders exploring race and gender issues in our sector. As a funding partner in the movement for gender justice and healing, we are always being pushed to our growth edge. Thank you for joining us on this learning journey!
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At beginning of the year, in partnership with the McCune Foundation and Community Connects Consulting, NMW.O launched, Fostering Racial and Gender Justice and Healing, a community of practice comprised of 10 foundations and grant makers in New Mexico. This spring, cohort members explored key concepts around gender justice and healing, and reflected on organizational and sector-wide practices regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility.
After taking a summer break, cohort members attended an in-person gathering where they discussed how the philanthropic sector has contributed to gender and racial harm in NM, the responsibility of staff and boards in disrupting this, and how philanthropy can move the sector toward healing and justice in our state.
A panel made of three incredible community leaders working with and for people directly impacted by racial and gender inequalities grounded the discussion. Oliva Roanhorse, Regis Pecos, and Eduard Tabet Cubero shared their firsthand experience and wisdom and invited us to reevaluate certain sector practices.
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We reflected on key questions around power and inequity in philanthropy:
How do white supremacy structures devalue indigenous systems and values? Is there parity of accountability between foundation and grantee partners? How might we be silencing crucial voices through program evaluations? How do we define power and where are we in our individual and organizational power analyses?
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We are incredibly thankful for our panel speakers and, specifically, to Tauz TamuPovi, a community leader, clinician, and facilitator of healing, who helped us explore how we embody racial or gender-based trauma and what is calling to be reconciled and healed. |
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In case you missed it: August was National Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Month! We proudly celebrated with partners across the state to empower parents with knowledge about lactation rights, benefits, and essential resources. In our 2017 "Heart of Gender Justice" report, we highlighted the numerous advantages of breastfeeding, from food sovereignty to improved health for both infants and lactating parents. Access to education and awareness around breast and chest feeding is important for families so that they can make informed decisions.
At the start of the month, we paid tribute to Indigenous Milk Medicine Week, commemorating the ancestral wisdom of breastmilk as a healing elixir. This week is Black Breastfeeding Week, celebrating connection and community in a context of persistent birthing inequities. Throughout the month, we've been sharing updates and inspiring events—check out some of the highlights below. Together, we're fostering a healthier and more equitable future for our babies and familias!
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