Women's Impact Fund’s Post

Starting 2024 with gratitude for what's to come this year. A change maker is someone who rather than talk takes action, someone who advocates for others even when they are not in the room, someone who uses their social capital and influence to do the right thing. I hope to live up to that expectation and hold my values with integrity and humility. I am a servant, nothing more. Welcome 2024 and all the lessons ahead. #leadership #latina #gratitude https://lnkd.in/eqnec6PF

Learn more about The Reeves Organization for Growth & Leadership, a nonprofit dedicated to personal growth and development.

I met the most wonderful women as a panelist at last night's Leadership Women event on Women Leading in Sustainability and Equity! Thank you Melissa Lee for highlighting my comment about investing sustainably: "If resources continue to flow to problems, we get more problems. If resources flow to solutions, we get more solutions." #sustainability #sustainablebusiness #sustainableinvesting

"I believe that encouragement and education for women to effectively own their political power needs to start early, and that is why I support IGNITE, to ensure that the pipeline to political leadership is filled with savvy, motivated young women working to better our communities." Donors like Kathi Burke are igniting the spark for young women everywhere to stand up for their communities. Help us empower the next generation of political leaders by investing in their future today: https://bit.ly/47LmwDG

Check out some reflections (below) wrapping up our 3-year tenure as Co-Chairs (w/ Vidhya Shanker, PhD & Elizabeth T.) for the American Evaluation Association Working Group focused on (including, not limited to) “DEI principles,” advocating for a general statement in all policy documents, the need for systemic change within the evaluation profession, particularly in how knowledge is produced and controlled, and the decentralization of power to address historical inequities and to ensure that minoritized and marginalized groups have a say in the production and application of knowledge. As this group transitions to a Task Force, we submitted a final report to AEA’s leadership & Board of Directors, reflecting on the process of building, and creating this statement, the involvement of various individuals and groups, and the specific context in shaping the content and direction of such efforts within AEA. The report, intended for a broad audience beyond AEA's BOD, emphasizes collective action and grassroots movements over top-down decisions -- applicable to all organizations. It highlights the need for consensus decision-making, which values dialogue and deep listening across differences, rather than majority rule that silences dissent. The newly developed Statement on Oppression & Resistance calls for evaluation to recognize and change its systemic effects on social, political, economic, and natural systems. It advocates for a shift in narrative, questioning who controls knowledge production and suggesting a move towards transformative justice, which seeks to end cycles of oppression. Thank you to all working group members who contributed and served over three years: Asma M. Ali, PhD, Ayesha Boyce, Ph.D., Camille Lemieux, David Sul, Ed.D., Diana Lemos, Donna Mertens, Dylan Felt, Esther Nolton, PhD, MEd, James Groh, Jen Heeg, PhD, Kantahyanee Murray, PhD, Libby Smith, Lisa Aponte-Soto, PhD, MHA, Mark Parman, Stephen Maack, Zachary Grays II, Leah Peoples, Damon King, and Anisha Zimmerman-Lewis for your leadership. Vidhya Shanker, PhD & Elizabeth T. -- thank you for your friendship, affiliation, connection, support, memories, understanding, and laughter -- what a gift to serve with you and lay down the armor from time to time...and just "be." The first post during our designated week is below (from 7/28); a new post from our WG will be posted each day this week until Saturday.

Being lonely at the top doesn't need to be part of your story any longer. We know firsthand how impactful a business bestie is, transforming not just our careers but profoundly impacting our lives. At The Dames, we call them Power Partners, and they're a load-bearing pillar for every woman in our community. That's why we need more women just like you who: • Own/lead six, seven, or eight-figure businesses • Are senior leaders of large corporations or nonprofits (directors, VPs, and C-Suite executives) • Lead mission-driven organizations that make a positive impact • Appreciate meaningful connections and mutual support Together, we can create a space where every woman feels understood and supported. Let's make loneliness a thing of the past by connecting with those who truly get it. Reserve your spot at one of our events this July: → Virtual Roundtable: July 9 & July 25; https://lnkd.in/gkW4pAu → Denver Happier Hour: July 11; https://lnkd.in/g8WdKMHe → Wisconsin Happier Hour: July 16; https://lnkd.in/gpvhcV88 → Charleston Happier Hour: July 24; https://lnkd.in/gbVd4PVF

This Fall, we'll welcome the 8th cohort of amazing business moms to The Wise Women's Council.⁠ ⁠ I was just looking back at some of the earliest cohorts. Here's a snapshot of memories and quotes from the members of the 2020 cohort—a year that was wild beyond what anyone could have expected.⁠ ⁠ "Sometimes all I want is just ONE place to talk about all the things—business, babies, being a woman, your career." — @thedecisiongeek⁠ ⁠ "People are not talking about the intersection of work and parenting enough." — @BreaStarmer you are talking about it! ⁠ ⁠ "I had so much to process and I didn't realize it." — @sharonstolt your ability to be real and grounded and honest is world-changing. It's the leadership we need so much more of.⁠ ⁠ "The group of women you put together was great. They made the program." — Katie, it's people like you and your ability to be so open that make this so great.⁠ ⁠ "I realized that if I ever wanted to have a family, live the life I wanted, I was going to have to make something new and build it myself." — @erinmarysimpson⁠ ⁠ "Sarah was a thoughtful and committed guide through the process. I found the monthly rhythms and check-in calls with her to be wildly helpful." — Amy! I loved spending time with you.⁠ ⁠ What I've learned as the creator of the program, and from all of you in WWC, is how much more we need each other. We need to be able to share how much changes when our identity shifts. We need a space to be able to express our grief, our anger, our rage, our bewilderment, our confusion.⁠ ⁠ WWC is a leadership incubator, yes.⁠ ⁠ It's a place for leaders to come together in an authentic, brave, and trusted space, so we can make sense of just how much we have going on in all of our lives—and find ways to craft new narratives and paths forward.⁠ ⁠ Apply to join us this Fall. The deadline to apply is September 14th.

Joining Amplify Her to distribute one million dollars in its inaugural grant year was a true honor. I became part of a small group of diverse women leaders, evaluating and learning alongside others from NYC. Our mission resonated deeply: to provide one million dollars in impactful funding to organizations centering women and girls. Philanthropy often sets its own rules so our challenge emerged—how do we provide funding in collaboration? How can we ensure that resources are distributed justly and inclusively? Equity in philanthropy isn't merely a goal; it's a dedicated commitment to breaking down barriers. It's about scrutinizing power dynamics, confronting biases, and turning funding into a catalyst for positive change. As donors navigate the assessment landscape using multiple tools, we're witnessing a shift towards more comprehensive program evaluation approaches—going beyond surface-level metrics. Join me in congratulating these amazing organizations who are supporting and centering women and girls. $1 million allocation for women and girls—a transformative leap in reshaping the philanthropic landscape. #amplifyher #Equitable #philanthropy #nyc #inaugural

By investing in mentorship, we can accelerate progress toward more confident and inclusive futures for girls and young women. 👏✨ Être Girls is a mentorship ecosystem on a mission to close the confidence gap by connecting girls with global female leaders. Following Être Girls’ recent survey launch measuring the current state of girls’ confidence and the direct link shown between early mentorship and higher confidence, Nasdaq’s Kristina Ayanian sat down with Illana Raia and the Être Girls to discuss the power of mentorship and how we can work together to empower girls and young women to achieve their goals. Learn more about the Etre Girls survey findings: http://spr.ly/6045ZFdn5

BEYOND DEI Are you committed to diversifying your board, but need help getting started? Following the events of the past few years, organizations in the United States and around the world have begun to commit to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their organizations, and are seeking to realize these ideals in their workplace. They recognize that this must include their board of directors. But where to start? How do you introduce the topic and the work? This webinar will examine DEI through an intersectional lens as it applies to nonprofits and their board members. • Current Board make up and equitable work force. • Inclusivity and the extensiveness of diversity. • Defining equity and how it takes shape in different cases concerning diversity. • Strategies to make our organizations more equitable and that allow for continuous learning and improvement. The speaker, Izabella Martin, is a Manager at the New York Council of Nonprofits. She has a graduate certificate in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) Leadership from the Harvard Extension School and a BA from Russell Sage College. DETAILS: When: Wednesday, December 20th, 2023, Noon - 1:00pm, EDT Where: Online. A link will be sent to all who register. REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eVqKf3HZ