Last week, as we watched a multi-racial, mixed gender leadership team assume power in the United States, those of us working for justice and cultural healing collectively exhaled.
After holding our breath through four years of toxic leadership and policies that wreaked havoc on the health and well-being of many communities and the planet, the change of administration was a welcome relief.
Yes, there is much work ahead on the road to justice and healing. But as we assess the need, let’s give ourselves permission to feel all that we have experienced these past four years. From the Muslim ban to harmful immigration policies, from the rolling back of reproductive and LGBTQIA rights to on-going cycles of racialized police violence, and the acceleration of climate change, many of us, in varying degrees, have endured sustained attacks on our humanity.
As we look to the promise of a “new day”, we must remember that true justice cannot be achieved without collective and community healing. Centering healing in a culture where it is devalued requires a deep imagination and commitment to a broader vision for change. Our grantee partners, whether they are advocating for their communities at the legislature, or are focused on gender justice and healing, root their work in this vision.
Learn more about our grantee partners in this newsletter where we announce the fourth round of Gender Justice and Healing funding, and also share some important legislative highlights. As always, we are grateful for your support, without which our work would not be possible!