Dear Colleagues,
Last month, I had the profound honor of representing the Women’s Funding Network at the International Gathering, “Together for the Restoration of Our Dignity,” hosted by Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez Mina, in commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent. It’s hard to articulate just how meaningful this experience was and the immense joy present in the gathering space in Cali, Colombia. The atmosphere was breathtaking. It also provided an important opportunity to learn and exchange ideas on key themes for our network, including gender justice, racial justice, and climate justice.
During the event, I participated in a panel discussion focused on economic justice for Black women, girls, and gender expansive people. A recurring theme throughout this session and the panels of the day was that in order to achieve economic justice, we must first ensure that basic needs—including housing, nutrition, healthcare, and employment—are within reach. Sadly, many people still lack access to food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. On a positive note, we also heard inspiring stories of Black women achieving economic success despite structural barriers, including entrepreneurship in Brazil and community-led ecotourism in Colombia.
I left the gathering feeling inspired by this remarkable group of feminist leaders, and it has re-energized me as I work alongside the WFN team to prepare for Feminist Funded ’25. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to register by Friday, August 15 at 11:59 p.m. PDT and join us.
Sincerely,
Mirenda Meghelli, Esq.
Women’s Funding Network
Director of Policy and Programs