February 23, 2023

Greetings,

As Black History Month draws to a close, the Boston Women’s Fund team has been reflecting on joy, liberation, and how the strength of the collective always transcends what any one person can do alone. 

We celebrate the artistry we receive in gratitude from Black women like Janelle Monae, Michelle Obama, and Octavia Spencer. We celebrate the Black Arts Movement and the reflection inspired by Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni sharing their stories of Black life with the world. And when celebrating those who fought for equality, we’re reminded that the Freedom Riders, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and so many other groups driving historic change in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement were grassroots organizations! 

Grassroots leaders of color are still organizing and building power in their communities today to usher in a liberated world. We invite you to join us in supporting their work.

In Solidarity,
The Boston Women’s Fund Team


“No level of individual self-actualization alone can sustain the marginalized and oppressed. We must be linked to collective struggle, to communities of resistance that move us outward, into the world.”

— bell hooks
Black History Month:
Collective Resistance
All history is collective. The history of Black folks in this country and around the world has been one of gracious, triumphant, and sacred resistance to actions and systems that fail to honor the humanity of all people. This Black History Month, we’re shining a light on stories of collective resistance in Boston. 

Black History Month is more than a moment. For us, honoring Black history is a year-round celebration and practice of remembrance. It’s so important that we keep this history alive and on our minds as it is a roadmap in our movement toward collective liberation. 

In case you missed it, check out the movements and collectives we’ve highlighted this month on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and stay tuned for more.

And because this month is also about lifting up Black joy, check out our curated playlists celebrating phenomenal Black women and gender-expansive artists across genres! 

Take Action
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Name Change Clinic in Worcester

Join MTPC, Namesake, GLAD, AIDS Project Worcester, and Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center on February 25 for a legal name and gender marker change clinic to get advice, assistance, and more with your name change process! Register here.

Attend Essex County Community Organization’s Training “School of Prophetic Action Part I: Building Powerful Relationships”

This training teaches the principles of community organizing through a faith based perspective and leads participants through the community organizing cycle. All are welcome, regardless of your previous experience with ECCO organizing. The trainings will take place on Wednesdays starting March 8. Register here


Apply for Equitable Health Project’s Ambassadorship Program

The Equitable Health Project aims to promote health equity in the AAPI community through strategic resource creation and community outreach. The ambassadorship program is set to run from March to December 2023 and aims to empower young adults to become advocates for health equity and strategically lead outreach in their own communities. Learn more and apply here


Apply for a EmVisionary Grant

EmVision Productions offers 1-2 nonprofit organizations a pro bono, professionally produced video to further their growth. EmVision specifically supports small, local, BIPOC-led organizations because of structural inequities in funding and access to resources. Learn more and apply here


Apply for the Metrowest Women’s Fund Grant

The Metrowest Women's Fund is now accepting 2023 Grant Applications. The Metrowest Women's Fund accepts grant applications for programs that meet the needs of women and girls in Metrowest in the following three focus areas: Educational Opportunity, Girls: Our Next Generation, and Safety from Violence. Learn more and apply here


Attend a Screening of “At Your Cervix” 

“At Your Cervix,” a film by A’magine, will be screened March 1 at the Museum of Science. The Roxbury International Film Festival and The Wellness Collaborative’s The Healing Arts Film & Conversation series partners with the Triggered Project and the Museum of Science to share this revealing and thought-provoking film. “At Your Cervix” provides a history of gynecologic research on black women and the slow progress of addressing informed consent, especially for patients under anesthesia and for medical trainees. Tickets here. 
Inside BWF
What We’re Reading:White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad,” Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry,” and an anthology of essays edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown titled “You Are Your Best Thing.”

What We’re Watching: “The 1619 Project” and a drama series starring Octavia Spencer called “Truth Be Told.”

What We’re Listening to: For The Wild” and “Suspect” podcasts; “Marchita,” by Silvana Estrada; Sampa the Great; and Beverly Glenn Copeland’s 1986 album, “Keyboard Fantasies.”
*Disclaimer: The above media do not reflect the views of Boston Women's Fund and are not endorsed by Boston Women's Fund. These are the items our board and staff are currently engaging with to further their learning and/or rest and find joy.
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