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A Message from the Executive Director
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- Our second Women Mean Business is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at USM's Hannaford Hall. This exciting keynote and panel discussion will focus on investing in women at all levels. Local leaders will discuss how to literally invest in women-owned and -led companies for a higher rate of return, to create corporate cultures which not only attract women, but also ensure they have equal standing in their work environments by investing in training, leadership opportunities, and always including women in decision making. Pay equity, family leave allowances, and flexible work time are common examples of investing in women - but are not common practice in all workplaces. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring opportunities, call or write Megan.
- Our Swift Social Justice Grants program provides smaller grants on a rolling basis, and our second round of grantees will be celebrated September 13 - more below.
We are Guided by Strong Leaders
- We have had to say good-bye to three wonderful Board members, but are lucky to add four more! Marilyn Bronzi, Clara Porter and Robin Hodgskin brought their humor, intelligence, and passion to the Fund for many years, and we are a better organization for it. We wish them well, and know they are not far (especially Robin, who will continue her long - 20+ years - tenure on the investment committee.
- We welcome Aga Asbury, Devin Cook, Deqa Dhlac and Arabella PĂ©rez! I have known some of these fine ladies for many years, and one I just met, but I know I am ready to learn from them all.
The Drive for Equity
- Women's Equality Day, August 26, was declared to commemorate the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the right for women to vote. Now don't get me wrong, this is important, but given these times, it is at least as important to know that even though all women were granted the right to vote, Black women - and men - were kept from voting in many areas of the country until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Wabanaki peoples could not vote in Federal elections until 1954 and state and local elections until 1967, and still don't have a vote in the Legislature.
- August 7 was Equal Pay Day for Black Women, who earn 63-cents on the man's 2017 dollar. And we haven't even gotten to Native American Women (Sept. 27, or 57-cents) or Latinas (Nov. 1, or 54-cents).
Help Us Grow
- Hey, I hate to say it, but with September and school, we all seem to feel like its back to some sort of work. Here at the Fund, we're gearing up our committees for events, marketing, and others. Did you come to the Leadership Luncheon this year? Help plan for next year! Yes, we're starting now, so please call me for the scoop on getting involved in that or others.
Until next time,
Megan Hannan
Executive Director
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In a Flash: Come Hear What is Driving Our Work
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| Attendees at last year's Swift Celebration in Falmouth. |
Where: COESPACE, 48 Columbia Street, Bangor, ME
Who:
Organizations sharing their grant work will include Mano en Mano;
MaineTransNet; For Us, By Us with Rise and Shine Youth Retreat;
Gedakina and the Somali Community Center of Maine
We can't wait to see you!
RSVP
If you can not attend, but would like to help fund or sponsor a
Swift Social Justice Grant,
you can do that
here
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| All the Rage |
Maine summers are all the rage!
This month many will be focused on celebrating the 19th Amendment, which gave white women the right to vote in this country. This month we celebrate the ongoing work to create greater equity for all of us.
We are so pleased to have supported
Maine Community Integration's summer-long girls leadership program in Lewiston called Isku Filan, where participants learned about their culture, engaged in their interests (sewing beautiful long skirts out of fabric they got to choose, playing soccer, cooking and dancing), gave back to their community, and formed a strong bond with other girls. We had the opportunity to see their celebratory fashion show and awards ceremony. Here is a peak at the girl power!
A Company of Girls has been running their summer art program open to all in Portland parks and we are so pleased to support that work, too! This year, they have also been
thrilled to provide leadership training sessions to 18 Community Hope through Education Empowerment Training and Action (CHEETA) Youth Interns from four Portland Housing Authority sites. These students have been learning foundations and habits of good leadership and working to identify their own leadership style. They are bringing this knowledge back to their communities through a variety of activities and community projects including
presentations at a final celebration open to all at SPACE Gallery on August 22 from 2 - 4pm!
Gedakina spent two days sweetgrassing in Machiasport last week with 30 indigenous women and girls from ME, MA, CT, and RI participating! Ages of participants spanned mid-70's to 2 1/2 years old. Participants also visited the petroglyphs at Picture Rocks in Machiasport. Gedakina held a seed saving workshop during these two days as well. The demand is so high for opportunities like this that they will have another expedition at the end of this month.
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On behalf of the staff and board of the Maine Women's Fund, thank you for
investing in the power of women and girls!
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The Maine Women's Fund thanks MaineShare for its ongoing support. MaineShare makes it easy to donate to more than 30 statewide organizations working every day to make Maine a better place to live.
For more information, please visit the
website.
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