Dear Friends,
March is Women’s History Month, a celebration of women and their contribution to our culture and our society.
Here at the Women’s Foundation of Montana, our history dates back to 1999 when founding donor Merle Chambers had the foresight to establish a permanent resource for women and girls in Montana, where her family’s oil business previously operated. With a $500,000 challenge grant from the Chambers Family Fund, WFM was established at the Montana Community Foundation. The challenge was met in January 2005, creating the initial $1 million permanent endowment for WFM.
Now, more than 20 years later, WFM continues to provide Montana women and girls with the training and opportunities they need to thrive while pushing for cultural and institutional changes to break down barriers in their way.
In Montana, women currently make about 73% of what men make. At WFM, we remain committed to working alongside our partners on the road to equity and increasing opportunity for women and girls in our state.
Together we can do more.
Sincerely,
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Kali Wicks
WFM Committee Chair
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We Want to Hear from You!
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Over the last year, women have stepped up, even more, to support their families and communities during this unprecedented time. We want to hear your stories and see your pictures of how you or a woman you know has helped others in your community, in your family, or at your workplace. If you have a story or photos to share, please email them to wfmontana@mtcf.org with the subject, Montana Women Helping Out.
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HB 624 will establish a task force of business leaders to make recommendations to incentivize employer-supported early childcare and improve childcare access and affordability for employees enhancing business performance and workforce development. Funder for Montana’s Children, a group of Foundation leaders, has committed to covering all costs of the work task force so there is no financial impact to the state within the bill. Learn More.
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Why Do We Celebrate Women’s History Month?
“The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.”
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Looking for a powerful IWD #ChooseToChallenge conversation starter?
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“We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.”
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PowerHouse Montana Events Calendar
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Stay up-to-date on our offerings as they're scheduled by liking or following our page on Facebook! To see our events page, click here.
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Have You Updated your Powerhouse Profile Lately?
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Deb Haaland Confirmed As 1st Native American Interior Secretary
“Her confirmation is as symbolic as it is historic. For much of its history, the Interior Department was used as a tool of oppression against America's Indigenous peoples. In addition to managing the country's public lands, endangered species and natural resources, the department is also responsible for the government-to-government relations between the U.S. and Native American tribes.” Read on.
Meet Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, The Viral Immunologist Who Co-Developed The Moderna Vaccine
“Dr. Corbett, a viral immunologist and senior research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center (VRC), has been instrumental in developing one of the first two successful COVID vaccines, a triumphant accomplishment that was actually six years in the making.” Read on.
WHO Signs MOU with Women in Global Health on International Women’s Day
“On March 8th, International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,’ Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Dr. Roopa Dhatt, Executive Director of Women in Global Health, signed a memorandum of understanding. This MOU aims to further the shared goals and objectives of women’s economic empowerment, gender transformative change in Universal Health Coverage and the health workforce on a global level.” Read on.
Oscars Nominate 2 women for Best Director for First Time Ever, Including First Woman of Color
“For the first time in its 93-year existence, the Academy has nominated two women for Best Director in one year. The Nomadland and Promising Young Woman helmers received the nods on Monday morning, becoming the sixth and seventh women to ever appear in the category.” Read on.
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Leadership Opportunity Roundup
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Governor Greg Gianforte continues to seek women leaders to fill board positions. Find available openings here and email Liane Taylor, the State Boards and Appointments Advisor, for more information.
The Governor is also looking for Montanans who are interested in serving the state in an official capacity in the next four years. If you have an interest in being a part of the new administration or serving on a state board or committee, you can apply to serve through a new website, servemontana.com.
At the Women's Foundation, we are always advocating for more women in leadership and we would be thrilled to see a large number of women in leadership for Montana in the new administration. Please consider applying yourself, and sharing with the powerhouse women in your life!
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Check out our Webinar Page for recordings of our most recent webinars!
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Together we can empower Montana women and girls to pursue their dreams.
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