WE RISE & WIN Together! Friend

Songs of Our Ancestors:

Celebrating What our Black Ancestors Offer Us in this Moment

In the last two weeks, we have witnessed a wave unprecedented attacks on communities of color and the people and programs that who support them, LGBTQ+ communities, women, the environment, and federal workers. In this moment, it is essential that we take a moment to pause and remember that our ancestors have been here before and have given us tools and paths to survive and thrive.

In this issue, we honor and reclaim the past and embrace ways our Black ancestors have shown about how to live boldly, joyfully, and in the face of overwhelming oppression. This Black History Month, we celebrate the gifts of our Black ancestors, ones that prepare us to resist injustice and build a just future for everyone over generations. In reclaiming Black history as part of our collective history, regardless of the color of our skin or the origin of our parents, we reclaim tools for our own joy and liberation.

Spotlight: Changemakers to learn from

Today we often celebrate the contributions of Black women in our democracy. Velma Hopkins, a labor organizer, was one of the earliest to show the power of Black women to organize, in a strike against RJ Reynolds Corporation. Read her story–and the story of many other unsung heroes in 28 Days of Black History, a special series by Nicole Cardoza from Reimagined.

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The Role of WE RISE and WIN together in Oppressive Times

Over the last three weeks, we have been listening to and part of countless conversations as a movement about how we might respond in this time. As a movement, our mission is to advance intergenerational well-being and equity on a foundation of racial and economic justice by:

Reclaiming and healing the past to build the future;

Creating the vital conditions we all need to thrive–without exception. We remain clear and resolute in our commitment to advancing a fair world that works for everyone.

Podcast Picks

We are founders

As we approach 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we find ourselves at a critical inflection point for democracy. The promise of equity demands that every policy and investment provide significant, sustained support to those most in need. What if we could imagine ourselves as founders of the next 250 years?

Tate Chamberlin hosts distinguished author and Duke University history and public policy professor Nancy MacLean, PolicyLink president and CEO Michael McAfee, and RepresentUs co-founder and CEO Josh Lynn in a discussion of the messy truths about democracy and getting things done.

Check it out

Deep Dive: Must-read article

How Black Citizen Teachers Built Civic Capacity in the South by Harry Boyte

In a moment when books and words about equity are being banned, librarians and teachers have a special role to play. The Jeanes citizen teachers, who created 5,300 libraries and over 10,000 schools across the South.

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Policy pulse

This month executive orders, court challenges and changes are dominating policy news. This tracker includes both a tracker for current and rescinded executive orders from a legal team.

Check it out

Get involved

WE RISE and WIN Together - As a collective, we remain resolute and steadfast in our mission to advance intergenerational well-being and equity on a foundation of racial and economic justice. People across the WE, RISE, and WIN Networks are coming together in this moment in grounded, practical and powerful acts of solidarity, sensemaking and resilience.

Take this survey to let us know how you’d like to be involved: https://forms.gle/2kWRkggGnob7diNo9
Let us know if you need to change your contact information with us.

Video

Andra Day “Bricks”

Opportunity Hub

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Type: Foundation

Funding: Up to $200,000 in funding over 1 year

February 24, 2025, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. ET: Applicant Webinar. Registration required.
June 4, 2025 (3 p.m. ET): Deadline for application submission.

Mellon Foundation |Call for Proposals to Community-Based Archives

Funding: $25,000 to $100,000 for a two-year period

Due date: March 28, 2025, 5:00pm ET

Overview: This program aims to provide general operating support to community-based archives that preserve and celebrate the histories of under-documented communities. These archives play a crucial role in affirming community identity, combating misinformation, and preserving cultural traditions.