Speaking Out- Summer 2023

Summer 2023

In my first 90 days as your new Executive Director, I strengthened the Women’s Fund’s reach to the diverse communities with which we collaborate and helped amplify the voices of SouthCoast women and girls in the State House and beyond. Our voices rang loudest throughout the halls of our legislature during the MA Commission on the Status of Women’s Advocacy Day in May where the SouthCoast was one of the highest represented regions throughout the state. In June, we welcomed hundreds of Women’s Fund supporters to our Wine on William event highlighting women-owned businesses on William Street in New Bedford. We held a Grant Ceremony during which we celebrated our 2023-2024 grantee partners in whose initiatives we invested over $70,000. Also, in June I was honored to be named “A Woman to Watch” in the SouthCoast Almanac among other inspiring leaders.

We still have so much work to do. From the recent Supreme Court decision that limits diversity on college campuses to the dozen states that are passing legislation to ban abortions to the plight of girls being sent home from school because they lack access to menstrual products - we won’t stop advocating until we achieve gender and racial equity.

I encourage you to visit our storefront office on 65 William Street in New Bedford or reach out to share your ideas and feedback with me.

In community,

Christine Monska

Executive Director

The SouthCoast Community Discussed Issues Facing Women and Girls at the Massachusetts Commission on The Status of Women’s Advocacy Day

On May 31 the Women’s Fund and our community partners went to the MA State House to advocate for community-driven solutions to issues affecting women and girls in our region. Our grantee partner, the YWCA of Southeastern MA, helped train participants to advocate for themselves and their communities. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people learned how to speak truth to power through telling their personal stories and discussing how policies and programs affect their lives. Advancing advocacy and leadership skills are critical to building pipelines of more diverse voices in all places of power.

Click the picture to read more about their work!

We Hosted a Forum with Dartmouth High School’s

Women’s Empowerment Group

A group of students met with the Women’s Fund staff to discuss their advocacy efforts that led their high school to provide free menstrual products! Their success story can help other youth activists pave the way for greater menstrual access in their schools. The Women’s Fund will continue to partner with youth groups to expand their advocacy efforts and leadership skills. Young people, especially girls and gender-expansive people, are encouraged to join our volunteer community, serve as interns, and fill future Board positions.

Women’s Fund SouthCoast

Celebrated Pride Month

On June 8 the Women’s Fund office served as a Green Room for performers at AHA! Night’s Pride Event. Thanks to all who came out to celebrate with us. While we celebrate pride for our LGBTQIA+ community all year round, Pride Month gives us the opportunity to highlight local leaders who are making a difference in our community. At a time when schools continue to ban books about LGBTQIA+ people, when drag shows, children’s story hours, and pride marches are being infiltrated by hate groups, and when transgender youth are being denied medical services, our advocacy is more important now than ever. We must remember that the fight for equity is far from over and that we must continue to advocate, educate, and support one another to create a world where every individual, especially BIPOC, transgender and those at the intersections, can thrive.

Throughout the month of June we focused on spotlighting remarkable LGBTQIA+ trailblazers who have triumphed over adversity and left a lasting impact on our world and communities. We invite you to check out our latest social media posts and stay updated!

Click the pictures below to see full post!

Thanks for Joining us for our First Wine on William Event!

Our Wine on William event raised over $10,000 to help fuel the Women’s Fund’s mission to address gender and racial gaps while highlighting women-owned businesses on William Street in New Bedford. Only 33% of businesses in Massachusetts are women-owned, and women founders get just 2% of venture capital funding in the United States. Therefore, it's important to shop at women-owned businesses and invest in their future.

We are Proud to Announce our 2023-2024 Grantee Partners

On June 26 we held a Grant Ceremony to welcome our new slate of grantee partners. We provided over $70,000 to organizations advancing gender and racial justice on the SouthCoast.

Click below to learn more about our grantee partners!

Coalition for Social Justice

Common Start Organizer

Child & Family Services

"Voices; A Young Women's Diary"

Community Economic Development Center

Mujeres Victoriosas

Fishing Heritage Center

Herstory

T.R.U.E. Diversity

TOGETHER & READY

YWCA SEMA

Menstrual Access and Economic Empowerment Program

Eventful Insights: Past Highlights and Upcoming Engagements

Inaugural Black Excellence Gala

Executive Director Christine Monska, Board President Carmen Amaral, Vice President Cynthia Cummings, and Board Member Celia Brito attended the Buy Black Gala on May 6th. This event served as the primary fundraiser for our grantee partner Buy Black NB's operations.

Click here to learn more:

Buy Black NB

Women's Alliance Networking Event

The Women's Fund SouthCoast joined the Women's Alliance for a night of socializing and networking with the community on June 1st at Rotch-Jones-Duff House.

Click here to learn more about how to get involved:

Women's Alliance of Southeastern MA

MCSW 25th Anniversary Gala

The celebration was a gathering of past commissioners, current partners, and leaders from across the Commonwealth committed to uplifting the lives of women and girls.

Click here to learn more:

Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women

Bristol County Commission on the Status of Women's Listening Sessions

The Women's Fund SouthCoast attended "Uplifting Women's Voices" a women's listening session and networking event hosted by BCCSW in Fall River on June 21.

The Women’s Fund Welcomed

Mrs. Cabral

Ana Maria Cabral’s visit to the Women's Fund Office on July 7th highlighted the role women played in the revolution to free Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau and explored partnerships between young women in Cape Verde and those living on the SouthCoast.

Click here to learn more: New Bedford Light 'Women Warriors' and the Fight for Cape Verdean Independence

Commonwealth Heroines

The MCSW hosted the 20th Commonwealth Heroines ceremony that identified and honored extraordinary women from across the state. We uplift women on the South Coast who received this honor. Stay tuned to learn more about them.

Join us on July 13 for AHA! Kids Rule Night

"Dream Big, Little One"

Join the Women's Fund SouthCoast's staff and volunteers for a night full of fun and reading. We will provide free books featuring diverse leaders! Books like Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison which is part of a series called, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History will be provided to all who come to celebrate our freedom to read. We will have a reading corner, coloring books and art projects for the whole family to enjoy. All are welcome to celebrate with us at this free event with book giveaways!