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We’re Hiring

The Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona is hiring! We are currently hiring a Director of Operations ____ Position Summary This position is a seasoned professional with the experience and skills to provide support to the C-Suite and collaboration…

$325K in Grants Supports Southern Arizona Nonprofits

Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona Announces Five Annual Grantee Partners The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona today announced five nonprofit recipients of grants in Southern Arizona. This year, WFSA is investing $325,000 in these grantee partners with a three-year renewable commitment totaling up to $975,000. Each of the five…

WFSA Invests $325K in Arizona Nonprofits through First Statewide Fund

Women and Girls of Color Fund selects five grantee partners, spanning eight counties The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (formerly the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona) announced the five grantee partners for the Foundation’s inaugural Women…

Teen Philanthropists Open Grant for Marginalized Communities in Southern Arizona

Teen Philanthropists Open Grant for Marginalized Communities in Southern Arizona After-school program for teens will award $5,000 to a local non-profit serving BIPOC women TUCSON, Ariz., (October 12, 2021) Unidas, an award-winning after-school program has announced a request for proposals for a $5,000 grant to benefit nonprofits serving women and girls. This announcement comes during…

After 30 Years, Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona Changes Name, Expands Statewide Reach in Gender Equity Work

The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona announced today that it has changed its name to the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona and will expand the scope of its work to more formally include women…

White Paper: Women’s Economic Impact

At WFSA, we believe that financial empowerment is women’s empowerment. We continue to research socio-economic gender equity approaches and advocate to elected officials. WFSA continues to research, advocate, publish research and reports, and draft policies that…

2021 Arizona Legislative Recap

The 2021 Legislative Session was one of the longest sessions in state history and was flooded with unpredictability. In the end, the Governor signed a $12.8 billion budget. This year, we've seen progreshttps://www.womengiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Newsletter-Graphics-6.pngs in a few key…

WFSA Announces Board Changes

Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Announces Board Changes The Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) is pleased to announce new changes within the board of trustees. The incoming Board Chair is Gabriela Cervantes, a local business leader…

NEW: Women and Girls of Color Fund The first of its kind in Arizona, this Fund focuses on the sustainable growth and positive outcomes of organizations serving our state's most marginalized communities: women and girls of color. The…

Technical Training Program Equips Tucson Mothers for Self-Sufficiency

Single moms are beginning a new journey towards self-sufficiency with technical education training offered in partnership with the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) and Pima Community College. The Pathways Program began this week on May 24…

Young Teen Philanthropists Partner with Buffalo Exchange to Award $5K to Support LGBTQ+ Seniors

Unidas, the award-winning after-school teen program run by the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA), has awarded $5,000 in funding to Southern Arizona Senior Pride, a community organization dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community. The award, generously…

Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona Awards $10K to Local Non-Profits

Harriet Silverman Small Grants Fund Supports Small Organizations Expanding Access for Women and Girls The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) has awarded $10K in funding between two Arizona non-profits from the Harriet Silverman Small Grants Fund. Arivaca Action…

Single mothers now poised to fuel Arizona’s economic recovery with passage of affordable child care bill

TUCSON, Ariz. (April 28, 2021) – The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) reached a monumental achievement within state legislation with the passing and signing of HB 2016 supporting child care assistance, education, and training. Governor Ducey…

Our Bill Passed – We Changed the Law!

WE DID IT! Together, we changed the law! It’s official - House Bill 2016 was passed by the Arizona State Legislature, and was signed by Governor Ducey on April 28, 2021. Moms receiving child care assistance in…

Inner Circle Zoom

Wine Tasting with WFSA CEO & Inner Circle Partners APRIL 20 | TUESDAY | 5:00 pm VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

We’re hiring a Program Manager!

The Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona is hiring a Program Manager for our 'Pathways for Single Moms' program! Launched in 2020, this grant-funded program connects single mothers to high demand one-year CTE programs in fields that pay…

Support Women & Girls on April 6, AZ Gives Day!

WFSA is participating in Arizona Gives Day on April 6, 2021! Here’s how you can help. AZ Gives Day is a statewide campaign that invites us to collectively give a little to make a BIG impact, and WFSA…

Unidas is accepting Spring 2021 Grant Applications through April 1

Unidas, WFSA's award-winning after-school program for young women aged 14-18 years old, is accepting grant applications now through April 1, 2021 at 12 noon. This semester, the teen philanthropists have decided to focus their giving on…

Celebrating 30 Years of TrailblAZing Women

Thank you for joining us for WFSA Luncheon 2021! The event has ended but you can still watch! Where: Right here on our website and the WFSA Facebook page The program: >> Keynote conversation on gender and racial equity…

The Annual Luncheon is TODAY!

Please join us for WFSA Luncheon 2021 as we go big to celebrate TrailblAZers for our 30th anniversary! When: TODAY! Friday, March 12 at 12 noon Where: Streaming right here on our website and the WFSA Facebook page The…

A Story of Migration: My Tale of Two Cities

Gail E. Emrick. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was originally posted on the Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center website. "In this new documentary, SEAHEC Executive Director, Gail Emrick, gives her personal testimony on the root causes…

Local Opinion: The novel threat of COVID-19

Dr. Felicia Goodrum Sterling, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published on the Arizona Daily Star. "The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (known as SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly spreading across the globe. Hundreds of new cases are being…

How Do We Know What We Know?

Dr. Felecia Goodrum Sterling, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published on Scientific American. "Worldwide scientific consensus warns of climate disaster and has made an urgent call for action. Yet, the Trump administration has doubled down on…

Local Opinion: For Arizonans, war with Iran should be a top issue

Heather Mace, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "On Wednesday night, Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris debated many issues that are on the minds of Arizonans: COVID-19, racial…

Deep Breathing Could Help You Recover From Covid-19

Victoria Maizes, 2014-2015 Fellow. This person was first published on Medium. "At the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, we have been researching which evidence-based modalities may support recovery from Covid-19. As Covid-19 research…

What are you seeing? What are you not seeing?

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published on Medium. "My partner posted a picture of me on Facebook. We were hiking in Greer in the Arizona White Mountains. In the picture, I am looking out…

Congratulations to 2020 Laura Penny Community Impact Award Winners

The Laura Penny Community Impact Award was created in recognition of Laura’s many accomplishments as the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona’s CEO from 2004-2014. Laura is a true change maker, so in her name, this annual…

National service can transform our country again, in many ways

Elizabeth Slater, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on The Fulcrum. "National service programs are uniquely poised to address the significant challenges we face at this moment in our country's history."

We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund Workers & Families Grant Program

This application is now closed. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions. La aplicación está cerrada. Oprime aqui para respuestas a preguntas frecuentes.

We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund Workers & Families Grant Program

Online applications will be available HERE starting on Wednesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. PST and will close on Wednesday, September 9 at 5 p.m. For information about eligibility and FAQs, please click here. Las aplicaciones/solicitudes estarán…

Our address has changed

ANNOUNCEMENT: We have moved out of our physical office at 1661 N. Swan and will be operating remotely through the first half of 2021. Before COVID-19 hit, WFSA had outgrown our office space and were looking for…

Local Opinion: Dear white people: Don’t withdraw from tough conversations on race

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was originally posted in the Arizona Daily Star. "This message is for white people who are upset and feeling paralyzed right now. This message is not for people of color, black…

Social media — the 21st century’s strategic weapon of mass destruction

Erin Russ, 2019-2020 fellow. This piece was originally posted on The Hill. "According to researchers, almost half of the tweets discussing the virus appear to be bots, including approximately 620 of the 1,000 most active accounts and 41 of…

Local Opinion: Our America of action, progress

Kathleen Bethel, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Two hundred fifty years ago, our forefathers laid the groundwork for a revolution to establish a new nation. If we were building…

WHITE AMERICA HAS NEVER LEARNED TO CARE FOR BLACK PEOPLE

Jennifer Roth-Gordon, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Visible Magazine. "What makes it so difficult for white people to value black lives? What will it take for white Americans to view George Floyd not just…

How to save the class of 2020

Abra McAndrew, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on The Hill. "Thanks to a virtual commencement season, members of the Class of 2020 wondering “Now what?” could use some of their new found free time…

Tucson Opinion: George Floyd’s killing has white people appalled, black people exhausted

Arianna Sholes-Douglas, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published to the Arizona Daily Star. "Several of my white friends have reached out to me to ask how they can help during this time. Some suggested that I…

Tucson sixth-grader: The pros and cons of learning from home

Zachary Crimmins, 2020. This piece was originally posted in the Arizona Daily Star. "As a sixth-grader who has been participating in school from home for over six weeks, I have figured out that some things about…

4 Immune-Boosting Tips From an Integrative Medicine Expert

Victoria Maizes-2014-2105 Fellow. This piece was first published on Elemental. "While many scientists and researchers are fervently searching for the critical, targeted antiviral or anti-inflammatory approach that will effectively treat people who become ill with Covid-19, the…

FROM ONE WHITE WOMAN TO ANOTHER: SELF-CARE IS NOT FOR US

Lauryn Bianco, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Visible Magazine. "I’m not the only one sheltering in a self-care bubble. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to proliferate throughout American life, we have seen a ramp-up…

Statement: Silence is Complicity.

Our hearts are broken. They break for George Floyd, and Dion Johnson, and Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other Black lives lost to police brutality and the oppressive racist systems…

Tucson teacher: Re-imagining schools in the wake of COVID-19

Heather Mace, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Since the outbreak of COVID-19 forced Arizona schools to close their doors in March, I’ve heard many folks lament that schools as we…

STEM Equity and Inclusion (Un)Interrupted?

Beth Mitchneck, 2014-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published on Inside Higher Ed. "The pandemic will negatively impact the careers of women in STEM, particularly those of color, and failure to respond could jeopardize years of…

More is not necessarily better….

Paloma Beamer, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published on Medium. "The failure of the paycheck protection program underscores the issues and barriers that prevent federal programs and regulations from benefiting the local small…

You can take the person out of the natural area…

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Springer Nature Sustainability Community. "...But you can’t take the nature out of the person. Citizen science phenologists are persisting in observing, despite COVID-19 disruptions in site…

Gratitude in the Time of COVID-19

Aileen Dingus, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was originally published on Thrive Global. "I’m going to voice a surprising opinion. I am grateful for COVID-19. Don’t get me wrong, I loathe the fact that it’s wreaked so…

Ayurveda and the Sofa

Amita Nathwani, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was originally published on Thrive Global. "Last week, I proceeded to perform half of my friend’s online Yoga class and then spend the second half eating dinner and watching it…

I (Don’t) Want A Wife

Maggie Trinkle, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "I’ve been on the single motherhood scene a while now, not all that fresh from my years ago divorce. I have two teenagers who…

In Challenging times, We Can Find Comfort in the Wisdom of Animals

Michelle Renzetti, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Thrive Global. "It’s a beautiful spring in Tucson and we are on day idontknow of staying home to do our part in a global pandemic. Who knew I…

Love in the time of Corona

Amita Nathwani, 2019-2020. This piece was originally published on Thrive Global. "Being a provider who helps people understand the deeper meaning of life through psycho-spiritual counseling, I have been training for this very moment most of…

What do allergies, blueberries and the Masters Tournament have in common? Early spring

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020. This piece was first published on The Hill. "If you live in the Southern or Mid-Atlantic states, you are most likely well aware that this winter was very mild. January 2020 was the…

Driving While Brown

Patricia MacCorquordale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published on Latino Rebels. "My daughter is a young Latina mother. I adopted her as an infant from Peru, so, technically, she is an immigrant. A mother of small…

Lessons learned from my adopted Latina daughter

Patricia MacCorquordale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Washington Post. "I learned many lessons about racism from raising an adopted, Latina girl. It began when people would stop me as I was pushing the…

Responding to COVID-19

Our 27th annual luncheon is ON - in your living room! Join the Living Room Luncheon at noon on Tuesday, April 28 on Facebook live or right here on our website. The event is free to…

Why aren’t we in a rage that Arizona gets a D+ in education?

Patricia MacCorquordale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "What would you do if your child brought home a report card with a D+? Scream, yell, throw a fit?So why aren’t we…

Sex Doesn’t End at 40, and Other Reasons to End Silence About Menopause

Arianna Sholes-Douglas, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Women's eNews. "Our national silence on menopause has lead to misdiagnoses, mistreatment and needless suffering for millions of women."

Mirror, Mirror in the Solarium: Learning from Karen Carpenter’s Death as an Act of Self-Love

Lauryn Bianco, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published on Thrive Global. "Despite Karen Carpenter's very public, painful death due to complications from anorexia - we continue the cultural narrative of what a body "should" look…

Science, book fairs will make for exciting weekend

Kathleen Bethel, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Science and festivals and books — oh my! March seems to be the month of several large events in Tucson."

Lessening the Economic Toll of the Coronavirus

Martha Gilliland, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The New York Times. "To Secretary Steven Mnuchin, President Trump and Congress: Please do not argue about who receives the cash during the coronavirus crisis."

Call for Nominations

The Laura Penny Community Impact Award was created in recognition of Laura’s incredible accomplishments as the Women’s Foundation’s CEO from 2004-2014. Laura was a true change maker, so in her name, this annual Award recognizes a…

Marriage Story: What Heterosexual Relationships Can Learn from Queer Divorce

Lauryn Bianco, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in We News. "As Marriage Story grasps for an Oscar, this weekend we are reminded that the story of a heterosexual couple going through a painful, cruel divorce…

No one should have to pay to access a Pride celebration. Ever.

Lauryn Bianco, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "Tucson’s Pride month just came to a close, but not everyone in the LGBTQ community was able to celebrate."

Preventing maternal mortality: We have to address the racism first

Bryna Koch, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "New standards to address the maternal mortality crisis will go into effect July 2020 and aim to improve how hospitals prevent, identify, and treat maternal…

Hanging Out with Plants Can Do Us a World of Good

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "With the U.S. handing in its notice on the Paris Agreement this week, at the same time that 11,000 scientists warned that without prompt…

Give One Minute to Add Healing into Healthcare

Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Health Care Blog. "I am a naturopathic doctor, and because I operate outside of insurance-based medicine, I have, what most healthcare providers would…

Congress, Take Back Your Power

Heather Mace, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "It’s Congress’ job alone to declare war, and it’s time they took back that solemn responsibility."

“Hymen Checks?” Sounds Like T.I. Needs Sex Ed

Maria Rodriguez, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "It was the ridiculous anecdote heard ’round the Internet: on a (now deleted) episode of Ladies Like Us podcast, rapper T.I. discussed his practice of…

Youth Homelessness Isn’t What You Think

Elizabeth Slater, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in U.S. News. "Recently, I met Sammi, a homeless teen who was kicked out of her house when her mother remarried and her new stepfather decided he didn't…

The imbedded feminism of a Universal Basic Income

Michelle Renzetti, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "Recent polls show Andrew Yang may not be one of the top three Democratic contenders, but as a woman, a mom and a…

Holiday Advice if You’re Struggling with Infertility

Kerri Lopez-Howell, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Lily. "If you are struggling with infertility, the holidays can be a tough time of year: Children and babies are everywhere and social media feeds are…

Better Thanksgiving questions than ‘What are you going to do with that major?

Abra McAndrew, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hechinger Report. "As the spoon enters the cranberry sauce, every college student at your Thanksgiving table is dreading one inevitable question: “What are you going to…

Who Are You Really Helping on Giving Tuesday?

Lauryn Bianco, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in U.S. News. "Do you have a piece of paper somewhere, scrawled with the names of the organizations to which you're planning to give on Dec. 3 for…

US wastes 30 percent of the food supply annually — how can we fix this?

Barbara Eiswerth, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Imagine your only monthly supply of food during the holidays is five meager food rations consisting of cereal, legumes, fortified flour, oil and salt. This…

Rebuilding Trust in our Doctors: An Option for our Broken System

Amita Nathwani, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Health Care Blog. "As Americans increasingly seek out non-pharmaceutical ways to address wellness, they need doctors who can talk to them about such alternatives."

The Five Holiday Gifts Feminist Moms Really Want

Heather Mace, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "Last week, my husband popped a question that always leaves me speechless: What do you want for Christmas? As a working mother of three, plenty…

Arizona–and American–Need to Cover Fertility Treatments

Kerri Lopez-Howell, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "On Dec. 17, Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing to decide whether to move forward on legislation requiring insurance providers to cover…

Real Tree or Fake? Reducing Your Holiday Carbon Footprint

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "Planting trees is trendy right now. A study published in the journal Science earlier this year proposed that massive-scale tree planting efforts, on the…

No home for the holidays: Why colleges should stop forcing students to leave campus during breaks

Elizabeth Slater, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Washington Post. "While parents across the country are welcoming their college-going children home for the holidays, Rashel Olalde and other students who are homeless are dreading…

Let’s Make Holiday Giving a Year Round Thing

Melissa Benjamin, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "It’s the holiday season, and along with the holidays comes the holiday spirit — and, for some, the spirit of giving. Surprisingly, this can…

Southern border wall is destroying natural habitats

Maggie Trinkle, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Americans love cute critters, whether it’s our pets or the endless stream of cat and otter videos on Twitter."

Let’s not turn our backs on refugees

Orhon Myadar, 2019-2020 Fellows. This piece was first published in The Hill. "President Trump signed Executive Order 13888 on Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee Resettlement with the hope that states and local jurisdictions would deny…

To ease climate anxiety, reconnect with the rythm of the seasons

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Scientific American. "Climate-related anxiety and depression is an increasingly common malady. Reestablishing a conscious awareness and a bodily connection with the ebb and flow of the seasons…

The Struggle for Civil Discourse

Melissa Benjamin, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "According to Weber Shandwick’s Civility in America Survey, 75% of Americans surveyed in December of 2016 believed that incivility in American had risen to crisis…

Women outweigh men in the workforce. It’s time to take the plight of working moms seriously.

Heather Mace, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Lily. "It’s official: Women now hold the majority of jobs in the paid workforce. When employment numbers from the latest Labor Department report were calculated, they…

Dark days are leading to something greener

Theresa Crimmins, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "January: gray, dull, sluggish. Dark. The longest, dimmest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Stark, lifeless tree branches scrape a dull, sunless sky…

Experience the Grassroots Power of Women’s Giving Circles

Elizabeth Slater, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "February 13 is Galentine’s Day. This relatively new and unofficial holiday was founded by the fictional Leslie Knope from the Parks and Recreation television series…

Teacher performance pay based on unrealistic metrics

Michelle Renzetti, 2019-2020 Fellow. This piece was first published in Arizona Daily Star. "Last week the Invest in Ed movement announced a 2020 ballot initiative that would raise funds for Arizona schools. Along with new funds, we…

New Research on Self-Sufficiency

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Arizona 2019 examines the relationship between income, the recession, and costs to determine the ability for families across Arizona to meet basic needs. It goes beyond federal poverty guidelines to show us…

You’re Invited to my Blender Reveal Party!!!!

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first publish in Medium. "Exciting news! 37 minutes ago I took an “What did I order on Amazon” test and learned I’m receiving a blender — and I couldn’t be more…

School’s out for summer — keep kids learning at museums

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "It’s summer vacation. The birds are migrating, the grad caps are tossing, and parents are wondering: what am I going to do with my…

America has no time to wait for impeachment

Frances Lynch, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Congress and the American people are grappling with the question of impeachment. Even though every American lawyer studied constitutional law, which includes a long…

One Small Step: A New National Project

Hilary Van Alsburg, 2018-2019 Fellow. This radio appearance was on Arizona Public Media / StoryCorps. AZPM is partnering with StoryCorps to bring together people who hold different political beliefs for a respectful, meaningful recorded conversation. The…

Mi Mejor Amigo es una Jirafa

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This children's book was published (in Spanish) in May 2019. Dylan tiene un mejor amigo llamado Druzy, una Jirafa quien solo el puede ver, quien lo acompaña en sus aventuras…

Interdisciplinary Teams to Address Inequality With Innovation Farm Grants

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. this piece was first published in UA@Work. "Three interdisciplinary teams led by UA faculty will undertake projects to address issues related to inequality – locally and on the other side of the…

Institutional racism in health care

Linda Phillips, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Last week, Sens. Kamela Harris (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), both presidential candidates, called attention to the alarmingly high maternal death rates among black women. Both…

Climate crisis can’t break through noise of trade war and Mueller probe

Amy McCoy and Dr. Felicia Goodrum Sterling, 2018-2019 Fellows. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Combined with recent United Nations announcement that 1 million species are at risk of extinction and an early start to the…

Climate change destroys insects like Daenerys in King’s Landing

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Climate change will burn us all. Last week the UN released an ominous report: nature is disappearing at unprecedented and rapid rates. "

The Illusion and Peril of Food “Choice”

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Sapiens. "It’s easy to blame obesity, diabetes, and other conditions on people’s poor diets. But the real culprit is multinational corporations that profit from limiting our…

Active shooter drills are scaring kids and may not protect them. Some schools are taking a new approach. – copy

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in NBC News online, followed by an appearance on Daily Mail TV. "From calling them "buddy room drills" to making school psychologists available during the…

Grief Can Awaken Moments of Profound Joy

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "I’ve been forced to learn that if we give ourselves permission and time to process grief in all its forms, and if…

For People Fleeing Central America, Hunger May Not Look Like Hunger

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino Rebels. "Public support for Central American migrants is waning, the Associated Press reported on Monday. Yet the plight of Central Americans grows steadily worse. The number…

Active shooter drills are scaring kids and may not protect them. Some schools are taking a new approach.

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in NBC News online, followed by an appearance on Daily Mail TV. "From calling them "buddy room drills" to making school psychologists available during the…

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT In ‘Game of Thrones,’ Daenerys Targaryen taught Jon Snow not to fear dragons. You can learn not to fear snakes.

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in NBC Think. "Once you understand a creature, it makes no difference if that animal is soft and cuddly, or if it sports scales and a split…

Financial Toxicity is Hurting my Cancer Patients

Leila Ali-Akbarian, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Health Care Blog. "As news of Tom Brokaw’s cancer diagnosis spreads, so does his revelation that his cancer treatments cost nearly $10,000 per day. "

Want to Be a Better Scientist? Take an Improv Class

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Scientific American. "Active listening and a sense of humor offer benefits for both communication and research."

What Joe Biden Doesn’t Get

Frances Lynch, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Garnet News. "I find myself having to explain repeatedly to my male colleagues that the issue is not actually a sniffing or kissing problem, but a…

Io Sono Qui, a film that upends narratives of “crisis” through the voices of migrant youth

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Youth Circulations. "Since early 2013, I have been studying local responses to migration in the Mediterranean with a regional focus on Sicily."

US school shootings: Have drills gone too far?

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published on BBC News. school in Indiana has been criticised for apparently shooting teachers "execution style" with pellets as part of an "active-shooter drill". The case…

Friendly springtime reminder to leave snakes alone

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Spring has sprung in the Southwest and evidence is everywhere. Gambel’s quail are calling, brackets are busted and the first fearful snake…

A child’s chronic illness should prompt your support, not pity

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "People around the world gather to raise awareness about epilepsy on March 26, which we observed two days ago. Known as Purple Day…

https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/435211-vaccine-exemptions-create-problems-for-states

Drs. Heidi L. Pottinger and Felicia Goodrum Sterling, 2018-2019 Fellows. This piece was first published in the Hill. "The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed six measles outbreaks so far in New York State, New…

How Border Communities Support One Another

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino Rebels. "I grew up in the small town of Nogales, Arizona next to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, also known as Ambos Nogales (or “both…

No Responsibility Without Equality

Dee Maitland, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "The National Coalition for Men, a male supremacist group, recently convinced U.S. District Judge Gray Miller in Texas that that the male-only draft was unconstitutional…

The International Politics of Gut Health

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece first published in Scientific American. "For immigrants to the U.S., we need to focus on political and economic structures that ultimately affect the microbiome."

Supporting Teen Moms; Vaccine Exemptions; New Tax Reforms

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This TV appearance first ran on PBS AZ360.

Kathleen Bethel: SARSEF helps kids to make a better world

Kathleen Bethel, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "As the CEO of the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation, a nonprofit that teaches critical thinking through science and impacts…

Masculinity Needs to Learn Kindness as a Skill | It’s time for traditional norms of masculinity to change.

Laura Gronewold, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "Pixar’s new short film “Purl” highlights the negative power of toxic masculinity in the workplace. The main character, Purl, initially participates in the unhealthy…

Food insecurity is a legitimate basis for seeking asylum

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. " In debates about whether to give asylum to the thousands of migrants at the southern border of the U.S., one crucial issue has…

Koch Network Pushes Deceitful Textbook on Cash-Strapped Schools

Dee Maitland, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "I was one of a number of community residents who reviewed the textbook, Ethics, Economy and Entrepreneurship (EE&E), proposed for use in Tucson Unified School District high schools."

How Anti-Abortion Laws Hurt Pregnant Women

Louise Marie Roth, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. "Celebrating diverse families is important. Real reproductive justice, though, requires woman-centered reproductive health laws."

Everyone Has a Part to Play in Ending Vaccine Hesitancy

Felicia Goodrum Sterling and Heidi Pottinger, , 2018-2019 Fellows. This piece was first published by The Health Care Blog. " The measles outbreak in Washington state this week has brought new attention to the anti-vaccine movement…

Children Like Jayme Are All Around Us

Hilary Van Aslburg, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published Thrive Global. "Trust your instincts, take a moment, look more closely. My husband and I were walking a friend to her car near the University of…

Cockroaches are better than any of your exes. So why let a zoo name one after a person you hate?

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by NBC Think. "In an effort to help animal lovers exact a modicum of revenge from their terrible exes during a season that celebrates couplehood, a number…

Drug costs impact the financial well-being of older adults

Linda Phillips, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "The Senate Committee on Finance recently invited pharmaceutical executives to testify regarding high drug prices. Many declined the invitation, offering a variety of excuses..."

Life Gender Isn’t Binary In The Animal World, Either

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by RoleReboot. "Gender isn’t binary with humans. With identities such as gender-fluid, genderqueer, and gender-nonconforming, we as humans need to remain aware that the traditional boy and girl labels are…

Toddler Tantrums, the National Parks, and Shutdown Woes | Why We Must Begin Shutdown Recovery Efforts Now, Beginning with Our Parks

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Thrive Global. " During the final days of winter break, my family ventured to one of our nation’s most visited and cherished destinations, Zion National Park…

Making Salty Water Drinkable Also Makes Brine

Margaret Wilder, 2018-2019 Fellow. This Expert Quote was published by Inside Science. "There are now almost 16,000 desalination plants in the world. Although the majority of plants worldwide are located in the Middle East and North…

Recession Coming? For Millennials, it Doesn’t Matter | Control spending, look for fees, and pay yo’ self: a financial retirement plan for Millennials

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Thrive Global. "There is an economic downturn projected for 2019. This recession follows years of a bull market but here’s a secret I learned: for Millennials, this…

Letter to the Editor: House Bill 2002

Dee Maitland, 2018-2019 Fellow. This letter was first printed in the Arizona Daily Star. "Re: the Dec. 31 article 'AZ bill would ban teachers from raising controversial topics in class.' Who gets to decide what is…

The carbon footprint of Christmas: More trees, please

Amy McCoy, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "Today, there are 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year. What role do trees play in the overall carbon…

Countries that welcome refugees and immigrants are happier

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "The Department of Health and Human Services recently reported that nearly 15,000 children are being held in immigrant detention centers across the United States."

Employers must do more to support foster parents

Laura Gronewold, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hechinger Report. "Even in family-friendly workplaces, foster families don't get as much flexibility and understanding as biological families, to the detriment of kids in foster…

Spirituality as a Clinical Target

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Thrive Global. "Addressing the spirit as an aspect of health-related quality of life is a vital, often neglected, clinical target."

Challenges to health equality go beyond having insurance

Rhonda Gonzalez, Felicia Goodrum Sterling, Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellows. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. "As open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act comes to a close this year…

Culture + Politics Young And Homeless: Remembering LGBTQ+ Teens

Claudia Powell, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Role Reboot. "Though LGBTQ+ youth make up about 7% of the general population, they disproportionately comprise 40% of homeless youth."

Only Women Should Own Guns

Dee Maitland, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Medium. "So far this year, more than 13,400 people have died from gunshots in the U.S. In one recent 72-hour period, 74 people died and 152 people…

Older people make extraordinary contributions

Linda Phillips, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. "Excitement abounds. Rumor has it that Santa Claus is coming to town. As a gerontologist who has been in the field for…

Do active shooter drills for preschoolers do more harm than good?

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first aired on Phoenix (3TV/CBS 5). "Next week marks six years since Newtown in which 20 first graders were gunned down inside the walls of their school."

Exploring the Ecosystem of the U.S.–Mexico Border| Nature is fluid; walls are not

Margaret Wilder, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Scientific Amerian. "The wetlands are springing back to life in the Colorado River delta located mostly in Mexico just at the border with the United States…

A Holiday Card to the Fallen (Brown) Soldier

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Latino Rebels. “Thanksgiving commemorates the idea of the native peoples of North America sharing their harvest to save recently arrived immigrants from starvation.”

As American troops install razor wire in Arizona, images of the Berlin Wall resurface

Frances Lynch, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by USA Today. "My Arizona home is an hour’s drive from the U.S.-Mexico border. Residents of border towns are not strangers to the concept of a border…

At Thanksgiving, Trump’s public charge policy threatens food security

Megan Carney, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "Thanksgiving commemorates the idea of the native peoples of North America sharing their harvest to save recently arrived immigrants from starvation."

Attitude of Gratitude

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Medium. "It can be easy to get caught-up in the stress of the holidays. However, this is a great time to stop, take a…

Single-payer health care is better than ObamaCare

Louise Marie Roth, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "I was in Canada this past June when I broke my wrist and had to go to the ER. They were fast and…

Science education must reflect reality: We only have 12 years to stop climate change

Dr. Felicia Goodrum Sterling, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "A number of states had education bonds on Tuesday’s election ballots. Voters approved bonds to increase funding for education..."

The post-election hangover cure

Hilary Van Alsburg, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published the Arizona Daily Star. "The election is over. What’s next? The energy leading up to the election carried with it an undercurrent of urgency by voters…

LGBTQ+ youth need our support

Em Martin Brott, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published The Arizona Daily Star. "A few weeks ago, I came out as genderqueer. Like everyone coming out of closets, I peppered myself with anxious questions..."

Mom: Thanks to active-shooter drills at school, my 4-year-old thought fireworks were gunshots. Enough already.

Dr. Heidi L. Pottinger, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Washington Post, followed by an appearance on CBS radio. "Eleven people were murdered at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in another mass…

This Is What Voter Suppression Feels Like

Rhonda Gonzales, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Latino Rebels. "I’d just moved to Colorado from Arizona for graduate studies and it was voting time. Although young, I felt extremely prepared and proud to…

Death, Día de los Muertos, and an Invitation

Lupita M. Chavez, , 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino Rebels. "Last year my brother called to ask, “Did we ever celebrate Día de los Muertos when we were growing up? I don’t…

Help make sure SB 1173 is heard

Please contact House members now and let them know how important SB 1173 is and that it does NOT cost any money. As you know, SB1173 would help single moms get the education they need while making…

What a day! They can DEFINITELY hear us now.

Thank you for making the 26th Annual Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Luncheon such a success! Over 1000 people attended our Annual Luncheon on April 24, 2019 - nonprofit partners and grantees, philanthropists, community leaders, Unidas participants…

Scared by Spiders? Get Over It! You should be grateful to have Halloween’s creepiest creature around

Catherine Bartlett, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Scientific America. "Halloween is for celebrating the scary: imaginary monsters—ghouls, goblins and ghosts—along with real but scary-seeming creatures such as bats, black cats and spiders. It’s…

From preschoolers to presidents, thinking critically is a critical skill

Kathleen Bethel, 2018-2019 Fellow. This piece was first published by Tucson.com. "Who said what? Critical thinkers know it is vital to check the source of information. After mommy already said “no” to more play time, what preschooler…

Louise Glasser Named 2019 Luncheon Honoree

Each year we select an extraordinary woman to honor at our annual luncheon that brings more than 1,000 people together to celebrate. This year, on April 24, 2019, we will be celebrating Louise Glasser. The Women's Foundation…

Amalia Luxardo Named Chief Executive Officer

Amalia Luxardo has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA). As WFSA’s CEO, Luxardo will provide strategic leadership in community engagement, mobilizing key stakeholders in advocacy and public policy, and…

Your Support Changes Lives

When you support WFSA, you help achieve long-lasting change. Every dollar you invest multiplies more than six-fold for women in Southern Arizona through new housing and employment opportunities; increased income, assets and savings: and decreased debt. Behind every…

“How can I help?” “Who should I help?”

“How can I help?” “Who should I help?” With thousands of non-profits in Southern Arizona and an ever-increasing need for our community, it can be overwhelming to determine the best place to provide support. However, as Women’s…

Donor Advised Fund Recommendation

Thank you for visiting, this page if for donors who have established Donor Advised Funds held at the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona. Submit your secure Donor-Advised Grant Recommendation Form.

Every $1 invested creates $6.62 for women in So AZ

In April, the Women’s Foundation released our 2018 WFSA Impact Report, quantifying how we are making measurable changes in the lives of women and their families. In 2017, through our grantmaking program, WFSA invested over $700,000 that…

How the embassy move widens the partisan divide over Israel

Maha Nassar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. "It was fitting that evangelical pastors John Hagee and Robert Jeffress participated in the ceremony marking the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem."

For Palestinians, The Nakba Is Not Just A Tragedy But A Triumph

Maha Nassar, 2017-2018 Fellow. "In 1948 my mother was three years old and living in the middle-class Ajami neighborhood on Jaffa’s coast. In April, Hagana and Irgun forces began mortaring the city, pushing Palestinians further and further towards…

For some migrant mothers, there’s no rest on Mother’s Day

Melanie Gleason, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Thursday was Día de las Madres, or Mother’s Day, in Mexico. I spent the morning in Nogales, Mexico, running a pro bono…

How Student Activism Shaped My (Our) Life (Lives): On the 25th Anniversary of the ‘Chicana/Chicano Studies Now’ Movement at UCLA

Michelle Téllez, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in LatinoRebels. “Students and teachers have taken center stage in the first half of 2018—in their public fights for protection from gun violence, in their rallies against…

Trump’s TPS decision undercuts US goals in Honduras

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the The Hill. “The Trump administration announced on May 4 it was ending Temporary Protected Status for more than 50,000 Hondurans who have been allowed to…

Bill Cosby verdict is a win for women like me who never confronted their abusers

Judy L. Huch, Aud, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in USA Today. "It felt like a victory for me because more than 30 years ago, when I was 19, I was drugged and raped…

3 Things to Keep Me From Rolling My Eyes at Your White Privilege

Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in Colorlines. “My organization, Indivisible Tohono, encourages civic engagement and education within the Tohono O’odham Nation, because O’odham voices have been largely disregarded and dismissed by the…

Neto’s Tucson: Randiesia Fletcher overcame barriers, now helps refugees do the same

Randiesia Fletcher-Riggs, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. "For several years, Randiesia Fletcher has helped refugees create new lives for themselves in Tucson. She co-founded the nonprofit Refugee Resource Center... Many…

$1 Million Challenge Goal Met Early

Thanks to an outpouring of support from donors, and the hard work of women’s foundation fundraising volunteers and board members, the goal was met far earlier than expected. In partnership with the Connie Hillman Family Foundation…

Why Stormy Daniels Shouldn’t Show Us Those Photos

Alexandra Tracy-Ramirez, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Ms. Magazine. “It’s hardly news adult movie star Stormy Daniels claims to have pictures of President Trump acquired during the relationship she says took place in 2006. But recently, a (disputed…

Guatamala Shows why the CIA Must be Held Accountable for Terrorism

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the The Hill. "Gina Haspel's nomination for CIA chief has reignited debate over accountability for torture. A bi-partisan group of Senators, including John McCain (R-Ariz.), is demanding greater transparency from…

It’s time to rename KGUN

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Tucson Sentinel. "As hundreds of thousands participated in the March for Our Lives over the weekend to honor the Parkland victims and demand stricter gun…

Warrantless searches of digital devices threaten all Arizonans

Catherine F. Brooks, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Arizona Daily Star “Given that Arizona shares its southern border with Mexico, residents need to pay special attention to illegal searches of mobile devices…

This Nowruz, I Stand with the Protests in Iran with Hope

Noshene Ranjbar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in LA Review of Books. "Another Nowruz, the thousands of years old Persian New Year which falls this year on March 21, and literally means “new day,” is upon us…

The Cost of Speaking Out

Alexandra Tracy-Ramirez, 2017-2018 Fellow, and Heather Metcalf, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in The Huffington Post. In the Me Too era, it seems that everyone, from feminists to Fox News hosts, is commenting on the growing power…

It’s Time for Facebook to Share More Data with Researchers

Catherine F. Brooks, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by Wired. “The Media Fervor that followed special counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of a Russian internet organization for intentionally sowing discord in the US political system has missed one…

Featured Grantee Partner: Compass Affordable Housing

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about your organization? For one, we’re mostly run by women and we do a lot of work in the community with a very small staff. Secondly, we…

It’s Time To Put To Rest The Myth That Palestinian Mothers Don’t Love Their Children

Maha Nassar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by Forward. "Many years ago, I spoke at a Reform synagogue in Chicago about the Palestinian experience... during the Question and Answer session, a woman asked me…

The impact of youth-led movements

Joy E. Baynes, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. “The youth-led march organized by the survivors of the Parkland High School massacre has inspired national attention, as students stand up…

What if Elon Musk, ‘Shark Tank’ or Bill Gates tackled gun violence?

Joan Gilbert, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. “At a Florida High School at least 17 killed, leaving behind countless loved ones and friends who will forever mourn them. Five…

Opioids are causing people to go deaf — here’s what lawmakers can do

Judy L. Huch, Aud, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "As the nation wrestles with the expanding opioid crisis, one costly aspect is often overlooked, even by doctors: Opioid abuse could be…

On Love and Grief This Valentine’s Day

Michelle Téllez, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in LatinoRebels. “While my daughter and I jumped on the “This is Us” bandwagon late, I have to admit that I’ve secretly enjoyed watching how the series…

Imagining a Korean COCO: The Film Honors My Culture, Too

Joy E. Baynes, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in LatinoRebels. “As Coco emerges as the clear Oscar front-runner for the Best Animated Film, the Mexican American community is not the only one celebrating. For me, as a…

A border wall will create more ‘Dreamers’

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "The Trump administration announced its new immigration proposal last week. President Trump proposes legalizing “dreamers,” in exchange for funding the border wall…

How Artists Can Shape Understanding of the U.S.-Mexico Border

Michelle Téllez and Alexandra Tracy-Ramirez, 2017-2018 Fellows. This piece was first published by Latino USO. "Two recent art installations drew a renewed attention to the U.S.-México border. Given the increased speculation and rhetoric around border enforcement ..."

Increasing national park fees hurts our understanding of the environment

Elise Gornish, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. “As 2018 begins, Americans typically find themselves going through the motions of a new year: making resolutions, starting gym memberships, and buying calendars. Some will…

How Israel has strained America’s relationship with the U.N.

Maha Nassar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Washington Post. "The United States' position has long been out of touch with how the rest of the world views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Children in charter schools shouldn’t go hungry

Eve Rifkin, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "A heartbreaking story of the seven-year-old girl in Texas has gone viral. During a class exercise in which she and her classmates were told to write a…

A Safe House for Central Americans in Tucson

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in the NACLA Report on the America's "border wars" blog. "On the perilous journey to reunite with their families, Central American women and children find a temporary…

Giving tents to homeless isn’t a solution, but it offers protection

Randiesia Fletcher-Riggs, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. “One stormy night, in the wee hours of the morning, I received an alarming call from a stranger, scolding me because my…

What Will Trump’s Declaration on Jerusalem Mean to Palestinians?

Maha Nassar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Conversation. "When President Donald Trump on Dec. 5 recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, he not only effectively endorsed Israel’s de facto annexation of…

President Trump’s Slur Against American Indians

Noshene Ranjbar, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Scientific American. "As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I have had the honor of working closely with the Lakota community on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian…

Is Hearing Loss Causing Your Parent’s Falls? As we age, hearing loss is increasingly linked to other conditions

Judy L. Huch, Aud, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in NextAvenue. "While a new study last month suggested exercise is the best way to prevent falls in people over 65, there’s another, surprisingly simple, but often…

The tax bill endangers millions of lives

Rachel E. Gallery, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "The tax bill will either cut or reduce the tax credit for companies developing drugs for rare diseases. Approximately one in 10 Americans has…

Pima Community College changes lives, one student at a time

Sofia Martinez Ramos, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. "Pima Community College is invaluable to our community because it helps change lives. It is a place for growth and development…

Look But Don’t Touch My Daughter’s Hair

Cheree L. Meeks, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Garnet News. "My daughter and I were in the grocery store and a very friendly white couple happened to be alongside us in the aisle. My…

Wars in Central America

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. TV Interview: This piece was first aired on Arizona Week PBS TV.

Doom-and-Gloom Scenarios on Climate Change Won’t Solve Our Problem

Elise Gornish, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Scientific American. "The latest Hollywood natural disaster movie, Geostorm, is tanking in theaters this fall. We are once again invited to explore a cinematic vision of a self-inflicted…

Why Family Ties Matter in U.S. Immigration Policy

Michelle Tellez, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books. "When I turned 15, my family put together a huge traditional birthday celebration for me, a quinceñeara in my mom’s ..."

WFSA Receives National Award

As reported by the Arizona Daily Star, the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona is the recipient of a highly competitive $150,000 national award from the Women's Funding Network and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to increase the…

Featured Grantee Partner: Literacy Connects

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about your organization? We have almost 1,000 volunteers every year that help us do the work that we do. Sometimes people don't realize the resources it…

Featured Grantee Partner: YWCA Southern Arizona

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don’t know about the YWCA? The YW has been around for 100 years, and in that time we’ve become a leader in Southern Arizona that works to…

Featured Grantee Partner: Planned Parenthood Arizona

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about Planned Parenthood of Arizona? One thing that most people don’t realize about our organization is the extent to which we’re focused on proactive health and…

As tech firms enter hearing aid market, FDA must protect consumers

Judy L. Huch, Aud, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was published in The Hill. "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started consulting with hearing experts and associations as it begins creating regulations for new over-the-counter hearing aids. Having worked…

America Only Started Caring About the Opioid Epidemic When It Hit Suburbia

Randiesia Fletcher-Riggs, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Alternet. "President Trump recently declared the opioid epidemic a public emergency. But drug abuse has been a public emergency in inner cities like Los Angeles, Detroit, and…

Dear McCain, Kirkpatrick: I’m indigenous — and I’m a voter, so hear me

Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. "Several recent experiences with the staff members of local politicians have made it clear to me that Native Americans face both additional…

Tax reform will help small businesses in Arizona

Lea Marquez Peterson, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. "As the president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I’ve seen firsthand that our current tax code places a stifling burden…

Maybe Al Franken’s a ‘good’ man. He still admitted to sexual harassment.

Alexandra Tracy-Ramirez, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared on NBC News. "No one wants to think of someone they love, or anyone they know and respect, as a monster. But in the wake of the Weinstein…

Yes, kids need more civics education — but they need to be taught civility at least as much

Eve Rifkin, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Washington Post. "It is not a lucky coincidence that the students at my school demonstrate respect toward — and curiosity about — each other, especially…

Silent Victims of Sexual Assault in the Military

Randiesia Fletcher-Riggs, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Garnet News. "Sexual assault is not exclusive to Hollywood and the world of politics. It also is a problem in our military, one that I lived through…

Supporting Guatemala’s anti-mafia fight helps the U.S.

Elizabeth Oglesby, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. "If Arizonans are concerned about migration across the U.S.-Mexico border, there is something we can do that is more effective and far less…

My Son’s Murder Made Me Realize We Need to Treat Gun Violence Like a Disease

Joan Gilbert, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece was first published by Motto from the Editors of Time. "Yesterday, it was four people at in Northern California. Eleven days ago, it was 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas…

The US doesn’t need to spend $2 billion a year detaining immigrants

Melanie Gleason, 2017-2018 Fellow. This piece first appeared in The Hill. "I recently visited my asylum-seeking client in solitary confinement at the Eloy Detention Center in southern Arizona — where she has been detained for more…

Survivors who disclose need empathy, not judgment

Edna Meza Aguirre, 2014-2015 Fellow and Monica J. Casper. This piece first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. "#MeToo is the latest example of hashtag activism. Following Weinstein-gate, social media exploded ..."

Say Goodbye to Gender as You Know It

Patricia MacCorquordale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Garnet News. "A few years ago, another faculty member and I were discussing a young student who we had in common. This student’s adjustment to the…

Tucson should be wary of the cost of development

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. "The Sonoran Desert — over 2,000 species of plants, 500 species of birds and 1,000 species of bees — is the most biodiverse…

Shared humanity at the total eclipse of the sun

Martha Gilliland, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. "Seven of us from Tucson gathered in the rancher’s pasture in Idaho expecting a total eclipse of the sun last week. We…

An invitation to kids, parents and educators to occupy our schools — with curiosity, challenge and innovation

Julie Kasper, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in The Hechinger Report. "The new school year is well under way in much of nation and many kids are anxious, frightened, confused and questioning. Why is it…

How Do We Get Our Voting Rights Back?

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "Voter suppression is cloaked in many forms. Rev. William Barber, of the Moral Mondays Movement in North Carolina, understands voter suppression, "Voter suppression hacked our…

You Have to be Taught to Hate

Patricia MacCorquordale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published by Garnet News. "Every other week when I was young, we went to visit my grandmother. The visit always started with her showing us the latest additions…

Color-shaming is alive and (still) hurtful among Latinxs today

Ada M. Wilkinson-Lee, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Latina Lista. "Watching all the recent media reports and discussions about baseball legend Sammy Sosa’s skin bleaching brings back painful memories for me. It began when…

Does Seattle Have the Solution for America’s Crippling Income Inequality?

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Alternet. "On July 10, 2017, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a law taxing the rich. Individual incomes over $250,000 and $500,000 for married couples will pay a 2.25…

Everyone Deserves Care: Insisting on Compassion in the Face of Congressional Cruelty

Patricia MacCorquodale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "When I heard that the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act didn't have enough votes, I thought that maybe my family could stop…

From Korea to Mosul, the US Tradition of “Collateral Damage” Drags On

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published by Buzzflash for Truthout. "June was the sixty-fourth anniversary of the Korean War. It began in 1950 and ended 1953. Did people at that time in this…

Trump and Modi’s silence on hate crimes provides shelter for criminals

Rachana Kamtekar, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in TRT World. "Both US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have vowed to destroy "radical Islamic terrorism", while ignoring repeated crimes against Muslims. The…

Futures Of Most Vulnerable Americans At Risk

Amy Burnham Greiner, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published by Garnet News. "Now that we finally know what is in the Senate health care bill, the deep cuts to Medicaid that so many have feared…

History Has Already Prepared Us For Resistance, If Only We’d Listen

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Alternet. "On June 22, Republicans revealed their “secret” health care plan, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. Immediately, people with disabilities protested the draconian…

OPINION: Non-English Languages Become Mainstream Very ‘Despacito’

Gabriela Cervantes, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino USA. "“Despacito,” a Spanish-language song by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, spent 13 weeks in Billboard’s top 100 list before skyrocketing to the #1 spot…

Schools Should Be Safe For All

Michelle Pitot. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "We’re at the end of Pride Month, and across the country Pride parades have been taking place in cities large and small. Yet…

Random Violence vs. The Risks Of Intimate Partner Violence

Gail E. Emrick. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published by Garnet News. "Given the proliferation of mass shootings and terrorist bombings, it is no wonder that untimely death may be on our minds. These heartbreaking…

White fragility will not protect you from accountability

Michele Pitot. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Why is anyone surprised that Bill Maher would use the phrase “house n----” without a second thought? An opinionated, empowered white man who has…

Rural America left out of Trump’s water infrastructure plan

Andrea K. Gerlak. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "President Trump recently unveiled his infrastructure plan but it did little to address the water crisis in rural America. While the poor condition…

Healthcare Everyone In Insurance Companies Out

Patricia Jackson. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece first appeared in Medium. "I have some of the best healthcare currently available because a union’s collective bargaining agreement guaranteed a defined benefit pension plan including health insurance. Defined benefit…

We Need Fraternity Men to Do a Lot More Than ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’

Krista Millay. 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by Everyday Feminism. "For many, Greek life is a central part of the college experience. And each year, it seems there are more efforts by fraternity men…

Children’s Language Learning in Five Words

Cecile McKee, 2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Planet Word. "Language is a complex system that children learn early. Within hours of birth, bilingual babies prefer rhythms in their parents’ languages. Babies start babbling…

Letter: Bring back bilingual education in Arizona

Leah Duran. 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "The school year has wound down, bringing another yearly cycle to a close. This means graduations, field trips, field days and celebrations…

Letter: Healthcare for All of Us

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This letter was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "“Let’s end agony, adopt single-payer system” agrees with 60% who say our government should be responsible for health care coverage for all…

Underpaid, my colleagues and I are frequently advised to “marry a doctor or a lawyer”

Julie Kasper, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hechinger Report. "Teachers work two jobs so they can buy boats and other luxury items, Arizona’s House Majority Leader Republican John Allen said recently. This couldn’t…

Sanctuary cities are not breaking the law, but Trump is

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Shortly after signing his January 25, 2017, executive order threatening to cut federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities, President Trump said he was willing to…

Who Are the Real Bad Hombres: Mexican Immigrants or Pocahontas’s Rapist?

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Garnet News. "Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent memo directs Department of Justice attorneys to consider felony prosecution when a person is accused of entering into a…

Four Things You Didn’t Know About the Border

Gabriela Cervantes, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino Rebels. "Candidate Donald Trump said it over and over again, “I’m going to build a big, beautiful wall, and Mexico is going to pay for…

Even female Supreme Court justices are interrupted when speaking

Jennifer Earl, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Every woman I know has experienced being interrupted by a man while she was speaking. Most of us have ample experience with 'mansplaining'..."

YWCA has been fighting 100 years to help all Southern Arizonans thrive

Tanisha Johnson, 2016-2017 Fellow, with Kelly Fryer. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "In 1917, when a group of 150 leaders got together to bring the YWCA to Tucson, statewide laws mandated school…

Airstrikes on Syria Are the Latest Reason We Need to Start Learning Peace

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "My childhood began in World War II, my teenage years framed by the Korean War and the Cold War. My friends and I grew up under…

Visit a Children’s Museum!

Cecile McKee, 2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "ummer is in sight. This matters to families following a traditional school calendar because children who take an educational break over the summer…

The masquerade of school choice: a parent’s story

Patricia MacCorquodale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Washington Post. "Though championed by Trump and DeVos, school choice is highly controversial around the country...."

‘First, Do No Harm’: Why Anti-Trans Discrimination in Health Care Must End

Ilana Addis, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Rewire. "Transgender individuals face numerous obstacles in accessing quality health care. Health companies may deny coverage of certain treatments or procedures...."

World Water Day — an agenda of radical change for America’s waters

Andrea K. Gerlak, 2016-2017 Fellow, with colleague Helen Ingram. This piece was first published in The Hill. "On March 22, the world will celebrate World Water Day. How will this Administration recognize the day?..."

We need unity in Arizona

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "My husband and I moved to Tucson after becoming enamored with it three years ago. I am Iranian-American, and my husband is Mexican…

Fake it ’til you make it: living as a fraud

Gabriela Cervantes, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "As a Hispanic immigrant, I quickly learned that I needed to work twice as hard to show I was half as good. However, no matter how…

Immigration Raids Keep Stoking More Fear and Hate

Dolores Duran Cerda, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Latino USA. "The tweet read “Why deport? Just kill them.” It came from a third-grade private school teacher in Scottsdale, Arizona....."

Building Bridges, Not Walls

Patricia MacCorquodale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in TruthOut. "Ariel, the 11-year-old daughter of a friend, was riding the school bus in Northern Arizona when two Native American girls boarded the bus. A high school…

Family Court is no place for ICE

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in TribTalk. "Domestic violence advocates are concerned that the arrest and detention of that woman will have a chilling effect on other undocumented victims of domestic violence...."

Immigration Ban Affects Medical Students

Tanisha Johnson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "Limiting travel will halt immigration pathways to medicine and threaten access to high-quality healthcare for some of our country’s most underserved populations...."

Oscar-Nominated “Hidden Figures” and the Ongoing Legacy of Overlooked Contributions in STEM

Heather Metcalf, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "The depiction of these women overcoming segregation-era odds to serve their country in winning the space race seems to offer something compelling for all audiences, especially…

The Truth About the Word Gap

Leah Duran, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ozy. "There is a deep body of research in linguistics, sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, and education that directly contradicts the notion that there is a “language gap…

Autistic youths breaking years of silence

Amy Burnham Greiner , 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "Experiencing a child spelling for the first time can be an emotional discovery for parents. Nikki Grubbs’ 11-year-old son Aulton attended his first RPM…

The Handmaid’s Tale: Fiction or Prediction?

Michelle Pitot, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "This 30 plus-year-old story portrays a future world that takes the current attacks on women’s freedoms to a frightening conclusion—and shows us the importance…

Civil asset forfeiture: Fund public defenders instead of the police

Jennifer Earl, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "At a recent meeting with law enforcement, Donald Trump suggested ruining the career of an unnamed Texas legislator who had allegedly proposed eliminating civil…

Qualified teachers are choosing not to teach in our schools — I am one of them

Julie Kasper, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hechinger Report. "When I left the classroom in 2014 after 14 years of teaching in the United States, it was for a variety of reasons…

It’s not just Trump’s Cabinet but Congress lacks diversity

Patricia MacCorquodale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I vividly remember the election of women to the U.S. Senate because there were so few..."

We Must Protect the Violence Against Women Act

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine. "There was a time when survivors of intimate partner violence were too ashamed and scared to tell anyone that their partner had physically or…

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "Women throughout history have led revolutions. On February 28, 1917, women demanding bread for their children marched in the streets ..."

Rising our Voices

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "Taunts and threats cannot silence our voices. From the moment he leaves Trump Tower to his arrival in Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration ..."

Gail Emrick, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Daily Beast. "It was thought that there was only one wild jaguar left in the U.S. But a second “big cat” was spotted recently in Southern Arizona and ..."

You Should Save Preventive Services So Preventive Services Will Be Around To Save You

Lisa Soltani, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "President-elect Trump and the Republican leadership continue to declare their intent to largely reverse the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ..."

Wishing for a better year

Liz Baker, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "2016 has been labeled as “the worst year ever,” “cataclysmic,” and “cursed.” Over the past week newspapers, TV shows, and blogs have published ..."

We must keep Social Security for all Americans

Patricia Jackson, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Incoming Republicans' attacks on Social Security is not the first, but it is a serious threat. Their fear-based propaganda is a tactic used to…

7 Ways to Raise Awareness of Violence Against Women

Patricia MacCorquodale, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Women's eNews. "As a 20-something, I spent the last night of my first live-in relationship locked in my car, trying to stay warm ..."

‘Slacktivism’ that works

Jennifer Earl, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Conversation. "In 2013, an online petition persuaded a national organization representing high school coaches to develop materials to educate coaches about sexual assault and how…

Our Voices Matter and Not Just on Reality TV

Michelle Pitot, 2016-2017 Fellow. The piece was first published in Medium. "Another season of “The Voice” has come to an end, with a finish that surprised many loyal viewers when Sundance Head beat out Billy Gilman…

I’m Wearing A Safety Pin, And I’m With You

Jennifer Earl, 2016-2017 Fellow. "Many people who opposed Donald Trump began wearing safety pins to signal their solidarity, their status as allies, and their continuing opposition to the president-elect. The idea drew from post-Brexit days when…

Hate Toward Muslims Is Growing and It’s Donald Trump’s Fault

Negar Katirai, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in Time. "A series of letters was recently sent to mosques throughout California threatening genocide against Muslims. At least one of the letters read: “There’s a new…

Potential for agreement? Reinvesting in America’s water infrastructure

Andrea K. Gerlak, 2016-2017 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "America’s deteriorating infrastructure promises to have a cascading impact on our nation’s economy, hindering business productivity, employment and personal income – and reducing…

Black Friday in the Era of Trump

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Fellow and Fiona Davey. This piece was first published by Ms. Magazine. "Many of us on the left are in deep mourning after the election. We feel powerless and angry. But we are…

Visionary Anger

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "I first heard Adrienne Rich use the phrase “visionary anger” in the mid 1970s at a reading she gave in Boston. She may have just…

My college classes on the day after

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "Donald Trump rocked my world by becoming the president elect, but on the day after, I had to go teach class. I have two classes…

New approaches needed to meet Colorado’s future water demands

Stephanie Sklar, 2015-2016 Fellow and George W. McCarthy. This piece was first published in the Denver Business Journal. "People love Colorado…. Our population has ballooned from 1 million in 1930 to over 5 million today, and…

YWCA: Are you registered to vote?

E. Liane Hernandez, 2015-2016 Fellow, and Betsy Bolding. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Today — Sept. 27 — is National Voter Registration Day, a day designed to focus on the very…

Three Reasons Trump is Succeeding and What Progressives Can Do

Phyllis Taoua, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by Truthout. "As I watched the historic events unfold at the national conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia, like many Americans, I wrestled with the question, "How is…

What makes a gift transformational?

When you give to the Women's Foundation, you transform over 20 nonprofit organizations reaching over 15,000 women and girls. In our newest interview series, learn about three featured grantee partners and how a grant from the…

Featured Grantee Partner: Community Law Group – Law College Association for James E. Rogers College of Law

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don’t know about the Community Law Group? The Community Law Group at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law works very closely with survivors…

Featured Grantee Partner: Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about your organization? One is that we serve 6,000 people per year. I’m not sure if everybody knows the extent to which domestic violence services are…

Featured Grantee Partner: International Rescue Committee – Tucson

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don’t know about the International Rescue Committee? The founding of the IRC was inspired by Albert Einstein, and the need to establish a solid foundation for refugee…

First Fund in Country Established to Engage Girls in Solving Climate Change

Community leader and activist establishes first fund in the country to engage girls and young women in solving climate change. When national expert on rural health care and local community leader and activist Alison Hughes sees a…

Featured Grantee Partner: SEAHEC

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about your organization? We have broad and wide partnerships. SEAHEC (Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center) is an all women-run organization and our staff…

Featured Grantee Partner: Educational Enrichment Foundation

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking What are three interesting things people don't know about your organization? When the Educational Enrichment Foundation (EEF) was founded in 1983 to provide resources for TUSD teachers seeking to enrich classroom curricula…

Featured Grantee Partner: Clinica Amistad

Interview Series: Transformational Grantmaking 1. What are three interesting things people don’t know about Clinica Amistad? Clinica Amistad provides free healthcare for people in need, regardless of immigration status. At Clinica Amistad, no one pays for services…

Call for Proposals now open.

Is your organization a strong fit to partner with the Women’s Foundation? Our 2017 Call for Proposals is now open. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Women’s Foundation will be awarding unrestricted grants in…

How My Son’s Charter School Experience Made Me Rethink My Work-Harder Ethic

Tricia Serio, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by Medium. "At its convention, the Democratic Party revised its platform on K-12 education, reaffirming parent choice in educational options supported by public funds. But in making…

Europe’s Forgotten Refugees

Beth Mitchneck, 2014-2016 Fellow, Jane Zavisca and Theodore P. Gerber. This piece was first published in Foreign Affairs. "In recent years, international headlines have featured stories and images of the ongoing refugee crisis in the Middle…

My Turn: ‘Streamlining’ foster care is government speak for cutting services

Martha Gilliland, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Republic. "Our governor is proud of his business acumen and has regularly indicated strong support for Arizona’s children. He proclaimed August “Child Support Awareness…

Opinion: Fight voter suppression, go vote!

Sofia Martinez Ramos, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Fox News Latino. "Donald Trump's recently declared the election will be rigged against him. He believes is not fair for courts to throw out restrictive…

The Women’s Foundation moved!

Women’s Foundation moved to new offices at 1661 N. Swan The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona announced it is moving to new offices in Tucson, Arizona this August. Several factors contributed to the need for more space…

Use progress as fuel in ongoing struggle for LGBT equality

Sofia Martinez Ramos, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "Before the mass murder at a gay nightclub in Orlando, I started writing about acceptance of the LGBT community…

On Brock Turner, Ken Starr, and Sending your Daughter Off to College

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post, "It’s around this time each summer that I always get a handful of calls from concerned parents, asking the same thing. These…

Why We Run: A Father-Daughter Reflection on Gender and Aging What they learned from each other through a shared goal

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows, and Tom Millay. This piece was first published in NextAvenue, "I’ll start. This is Krista. I was never a runner. But when my dad took up running in his fifties…

Everyone’s a winner: funding Social Security with lottery

Pam Hopman, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The Hill, "The presidential candidates are lining up on the issues. The topics of economic health, immigration and foreign policy are taking the forefront. But…

Lessons From the Progressive People’s Party

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post, "Surrounded by young people—“middle-class, long-haired, restless, searching”—the candidate is the progressive candidate for President..."

Can the Powerful Pull of Role-Playing Games Be Used to Help People With Autism, Like My Daughter?

Cindy Godwin, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The Influence, "If you were among the 10 million people who tuned in to watch the Season Six premiere of Game of Thrones a couple of months back…

We need an ACT-UP for gun control

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in Medium, "Walking the dog this morning — the day after the slaughter in an Orlando gay nightclub — we met our neighbor who said — “The LGBT community..."

Energy independence: it’s our choice

Martha Winters Gilliland, Ph.D., 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill, "Automobile fuel economy standards are under review right now. Pressure to lower them will grow with some arguing that consumers..."

The Case for an International Environmental Court

Martha Winters Gilliland and Judith McDaniel, 2015-2106 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The World Post, "World leaders have begun to ratify the Paris agreement and it is a good thing. India..."

My international students are often unprepared for college. I want them anyway.

Adele Barker, 2014-2015 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the Washington Post, "I was packing up 37 years’ worth of books and materials the other day when I found two packets of beautifully embossed…

Military Spouses and Kids Bear the Burden of Service

Kristine A. Huskey, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Time, "A proposed bill (HR 3016) would cut in half certain education benefits to military families granted under the post-9/11 GI bill. This is a slap..."

Guest Opinion: Want to make America great again? Let’s try empathy

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow and Spencer Gorin. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star, "When Donald Trump visited Tucson, the angry photos of the rally made us hurt. But when we look…

Former Board Chair Opens the 6th Donor Advised Fund at the WFSA

At the end of her term as the Women’s Foundation board chair, Mary Keane felt that she wanted to do more. She and her husband, Jim McCorry, wanted to make a personal impact in the community…

Parent Like A Polar Bear

Stephanie Sklar, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium, "This past weekend I celebrated Mother’s Day with my children. It wasn’t Mother’s Day, but my adult children have busy lives and live thousands…

“Water Is Our Life”: How a Mining Disaster Affected the Navajo Nation

Paloma Beamer, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow, Karletta Chief, Nathan Borrero and Benjamin Rivera. This piece was first published in Truthout, "In the midst of the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, it is not surprising that…

The Supreme Court Is at Stake: Why the Presidential Election Matters

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout, "It is no secret that the makeup of the US Supreme Court will be a major issue as the fall election campaigns unfold…

Our Ordinary Lives Raising Children With Extraordinary Needs — Two Mothers Reflect

Carrie Brennan, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow and Michelle H Marks. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post, "Parenting pulls us into the widest range of human emotion and experience: joy, exhaustion, love, frustration, miracles…

Money for something: Why we can and must increase college graduation rates

Tricia R. Serio & Martha W. Gilliland, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in The Hill, "Like many of her peers, Malia Obama announced her college choice in time for the May 1st college…

Brennan: Channel your inner pragmatist and vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 123

Carrie Brennan, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star, "For days when it first arrived, I had a staring contest with the mail-in ballot for the May 17 special…

Why many hospice doctors like me won’t participate in legal physician assisted suicide

Ann Marie Chiasson, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the Los Angeles Times, " June 9 California will join four other states — Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana — in allowing physician-assisted…

Campus Tour Guides Should Know the Facts About Sexual Assault

Beth Mitchneck, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, "My daughter and I recently returned from a whirlwind tour of six colleges in the Northeast. We were part…

The Magic Mix of Mentorship That Worked for Me

Tricia Serio, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Chronicle Vitae, "College affordability is one of 2016’s biggest campaign issues. But the United States ranks in the top 10 internationally in..."

Stop bias and start change in STEM

Beth Mitchneck, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was published in The Hill, "California Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier took to the floor of the House in January to talk about a rash of sexual harassment cases in university science departments…

How the US can help Africa fight terrorism by supporting local activists

Phyllis Taoua , 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Conversation, "The urgency of promoting social justice in Africa as the best firewall against the spread of extremism grows daily, as we witness…

Speak up about subtle sexism in science

Tricia Serio, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Nature, "Female scientists face everyday, often-unintentional microaggression in the workplace, and it won't stop unless we talk about it, says Tricia Serio..."

Some Bloody Good Feminism for Earth Day

Krista Millay and Melanie Hingle , 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellows. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine Blog, "Reusable menstrual pads are making a comeback, and this time they’ve got feminism on their side. Yes, we…

Five important tax tips your accountant may have missed

Pamela Hopman, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Quartz, "As April 18 draws ever closer, you can practically feel the panic levels of millions of Americans rising across the country. It’s tax…

A recipe for change: Creating a more inclusive academy

Beth Mitchneck , 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow, Jessi L. Smith, and Melissa Latimer. This piece was first published in AAAS Science, "Summary: Although there has been a welcome increase in discussion about gender disparities in science…

My Daughter’s Decision to Foster Children

Martha Winters Gilliland, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the HuffPost Parents, “ 'Will you pick your grandkids up from gymnastics tonight? We’re attending a workshop on becoming foster parents.' 'What?' I turned…

How Emotional Support Animals can Take our Pain Away.

Cindy Godwin, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the Elephant Journal, "The use of emotional support animals is on the rise—and coming under attack. There was the turkey..."

Permission Slip Abortion Bill Is Devious Strategy

Edna Meza Aguirre-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Women's eNews. "U.S. abortion rights are under mass attack in increasingly devious ways. Consider examples right now ..."

Not-So-Rosy Reality of Campus Race Relations

Beth Mitchneck, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow, and Tess Carter. This piece was first published in US News and World Report, " College presidents can't rely on rhetoric alone to generate real change and opportunities for minority students…

Candidates too eager to strain military

Kristine A. Huskey, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Stars and Stripes,"Donald Trump was well-advised to do an about-face on ordering troops to commit war crimes. The fledgling lawyers in the class…

Why Good Schools Are Happy Places

Carrie Brennan, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in Huffington Post Education"Visit my son’s elementary school at 8:00 a.m. any morning of the year and you’ll find a festive spirit in the air…

What does Ghana have to celebrate in its 59th year of independence?

Phyllis Clark Taoua, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow and UA student Francis Mbawini Abugbilla. This piece was first published in The Conversation, "Ghana has long been a symbol of Africa’s promise. But it has also been a reflection of…

My Turn: ‘I know, “kindness” sounds soft, but it is anything but’

Jeannette Maré, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Republic, "My Turn: Students are reportedly harassing visitors to the Islamic Center of Tucson, and there are good reasons why we all should…

It’s Time to Reveal the Secrets We’ve Been Keeping About Work-Life Balance

Tricia Serio (2015-2016 Fellow) and Allison M. Vaillancourt. This piece was first published in Huffpost Impact. “When former Secretary of State Madeline Albright recently said, "there's a special place in hell for women who don't help…

Maureen Coomler: Now is the time for Arizona to reinstate KidsCare

Maureen Coomler, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star, "When state legislators froze KidsCare in 2010, more than 40,000 of Arizona’s children lost their health insurance coverage. Now, a bill…

Creating Community: Part 3 – Hard Conversations in an Online Classroom – ‘Heart of Darkness’

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Fellows, with Tim Fraser-Bumatay, Daniel Herrera, and Ryan Kelly. This piece was first published in Educational Technology & Change Journal, “The questions we were left with at the end of the Othello discussion…

Stephanie Sklar: Clean power plan provides promise of a cleaner energy future

Stephanie Sklar, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star, "Earlier this month the Supreme Court halted enforcement of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, giving a win to the 27 mostly…

Creating Community: Part 2 – Hard Conversations in an Online Classroom – ‘Othello’

Judith McDaniel (2015-2016 Fellow) with Tim Fraser-Bumatay, Daniel Herrera, and Ryan Kelly. This piece was first published in Educational Technology & Change Journal, "The four of us are all teachers in face-to-face classrooms, and we have…

To Cure Cancer, Start Simply Investing in basic research now lays the foundation for future cancer breakthroughs.

Tricia Serio, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow and Jeffrey Laney. This piece was first published in U.S. News and World Report, "In last month's State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced a "moonshot" to cure…

Why Niger’s Presidential Election Matters

Phyllis Taoua, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This piece was first published in The World Post, "On February 21, Niger will vote in the first round of a presidential election. This has barely been a blip in…

Other worries in addition to lead in the water

Paloma Beamer, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This pieces was originally published in The Hill, "We know very little to nothing about the thousands of other chemicals our children are exposed to every day. Lead poisoning in…

We Should Be Hounding Congress About Their New Social Security Rules

Pamela Hopman, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This pieces was first published in Slant, "In December, the Feds raised interest rates, and rumor is it may raise them again in the coming months. This move was seen…

Sofia Martinez Ramos: Don’t use ‘illegal’ to describe people

Sofia Martinez Ramos, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow. This article was first published in the Arizona Daily Star, "Many remember the childhood rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can’ t hurt me.” Anti-bullying..."

Student and Faculty Diversity Movements — Apart and Together

Beth Mitchneck, 2015-2016 Public Voices Fellow and Tess Carter. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post, "Last month, Marvin Krislov, President of Oberlin College, responded to African-American student demands by refusing..."

Candidates and Local Leaders Need to Face Up to Climate Change

Stephanie Sklar, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Huffpost Green. "In spite of the historic Paris climate meeting in November and agreement to limit the increase in the global average temperatures to 2 degrees…

25 Years of Changing Women’s Lives

Your generosity is inspiring. Thanks to you, our 25th Anniversary Luncheon set new records and exceeded goals. An impressive sold out crowd of 1,000 supporters-including donors, corporate sponsors, community leaders and grantee partners filled the Tucson Convention…

Tens of Thousands of Health Apps — Which One Is Right for You?

Heather Patrick and Melanie Hingle, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Next Avenue. "Two scientists reveal what key features make for true behavior..."

Creating Community in an Online Classroom: Part 1 – Getting to Know You

Judith McDaniel (2015-2016 Fellow) with Tim Fraser-Bumatay, Daniel Herrera, and Ryan Kelly. This piece was first published in Educational Technology & Change Journal, "Is it possible to get a “real education”..."

What We Need Is More Ideas and Less Ideology

Tricia Serio (2015-2016 Fellow) and Allison M. Vaillancourt. This piece was first published in the Huffington Post. "Last week, the moderators of the Republican debate showed video clips of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio discussing their…

Want to Make Consent Sexy? Try Using Sex Toys

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Ms. Magazine "As a college administrator, I can tell you a myriad of things that don’t work when it comes to engaging college students around issues of healthy…

How to Help Internally Displaced Refugees

Beth Mitchneck , 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Foreign Affairs "Last December, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced that 2015 saw record-breaking levels of forced migration; over 60 million individuals were pushed from their…

Legislature should support early childhood education, health care

E. Liane Hernandez (2015-2016 Fellow) and Erin Lyons. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star "As the Arizona state Legislature begins establishing funding priorities to build a prosperous community, a solution exists that is…

Religious exemptions or equal protection in education?

Judith McDaniel, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "A transgender student expelled after revealing her gender identity—California Baptist University, July 2011. Two lesbian players on a women’s basketball team harassed into leaving…

The coming avalanche of autistic adults: Column

Cindy Godwin, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in USA Today. "Autistic children never really grow up. How are we going to take care of them? She’s sitting on the sofa playing video games. Dirty dishes…

The customer is not always right

Melanie Hingle, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. "For the past 35 years, my father has been a small business owner. His company, which provides communications services to other small and medium sized…

Why Can’t We Have More Productive Conversations? Ending the standoff between the ‘resistant to change’ cavalry and the ‘rash and impetuous’ camp

Tricia R. Serio (2015-2016 Fellow) and Allison M. Vaillancourt. This piece was first published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. "Conversations about the need for change in higher education and how best to chart our path…

Martha Gilliland: Pima Community College is us

Martha Winters Gilliland, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. "Join me in my New Year’s resolution. I promise to support my community college with my words, deeds and ideas. Pima Community College…

My 5 Pocket-Sized Feminist Resolutions for 2016

Krista Millay, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Women's eNews. "Last year was a tough year, feminists. But then again, when has it not been a tough year for battling sexism and misogyny? And then…

Why Should We Care About Democracy in Africa? What the Recent Election in Burkina Faso Can Teach Us

Phyllis Taoua, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The World Post. "The results of a historic election in Burkina Faso, the first in nearly 30 years, were recently announced. After three weeks in office, the…

How Parents Can Ward Against “Imposter Syndrome”

Tricia Serio, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "Confidence and achievement have a complicated relationship. If Google Trends is any indication of our collective psyches, "Fake it 'til you make it," in…

EMBRACE THE FROWN Want to be a better, happier human in 2016? Let yourself be sad

Jeannette Maré, 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Quartz. "Whether you’re in the one third of Americans who actually make a formal New Year’s resolution or not, here is one way to be a better…

Patriarchy Is the Only Way to Explain Pregnancy Politics

Judith McDaniel 2015-2016 Fellow. This pieces was first published in WeNews. "Today the medical frontier is transplanting uteruses so that women who are missing theirs can still have children of their own. Not an adoption, but…

A Dishonorable Discharge Process

Kristine A. Huskey 2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in US and World Report News. "Veterans with mental illness are being denied benefits due to unfair discharges. Under pressure, the Army recently agreed to conduct…

Education For Children With Disabilities Is A Global Right

Shirin D. Antia-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "A recent news story about Haben Girma, the first deaf-blind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, is inspiring and extraordinary...."

We’re heading for scientific discovery shutdown

Tricia Serio, Ph.D.-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. “It looks like we've narrowly escaped another government shutdown over the budget. But this is small consolation for those of us in the science…

Here are 9 ways to give more meaningful presents

Molly Stranahan-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Time. “A few years ago, as I was wrapping the last of more than 100 gifts after midnight on Christmas Eve, I realized my love of the…

Want to Prevent Sexual Assault on College Campuses? Let’s Start With Our Kindergarteners

Krista Millay-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Huffington Post. “"There is a major problem with looking to colleges and universities to solve the problem of campus sexual assault. If there's any truth in…

If you are nearing death and want to live longer, don’t go to the Emergency Room

Ann Marie Chiasson-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in Quartz. “New York has added itself to the list of states that have declared fantasy football illegal gambling—and California may be next. But..."

Why You Should Vacation With Your Grandkids Take them places their parents wouldn’t and leave their folks behind

Martha Winters Gilliland -2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in NextAvenue. “In the past 12 years, I have taken one or more of my six grandchildren on 25 trips, mostly adventure trips — river rafting…

Global warming can lead to economic development

Martha Winters Gilliland-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. “Opportunities for innovation, economic development, job creation, higher standards of living for the middle class and even environmental enhancements abound in the scenarios on…

Opinion: Student protesters should consider careers as college presidents

Dr. Sofia Martinez Ramos-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by Fox News Latino. As a Latina I grew up at a time when signs read, “No dogs, Negros or Mexicans Allowed.” I was not permitted…

Here’s How Thanksgiving Can Change The Life Of An Ex-Felon

Liane Hernandez-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by Slant. "On Thanksgiving, we typically feed more guests than usual. In my past life as a banquet chef, I would be well into creating dinner for 800 resort…

Next time you’re searching for something to eat, shop your refrigerator first

Melanie Hingle-2015-2016 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. “This holiday season, helping those in need is as simple as opening your refrigerator. Americans waste almost one-third of the total food supply..."

$1 Million Challenge Gift Announced

The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona received a five-year $1 million challenge gift from the Connie Hillman Family Foundation. Read the Arizona Daily Star's coverage here. The gift launches a new challenge campaign and will match…

Call for Nominations – New Impact Award

In recognition of Laura Penny, who served as our CEO from 2004-2014, the Women's Foundation Board of Trustees has established the Laura Penny Community Impact Award. The call for nominations is now open: www.www.womengiving.org/impact_award/ The deadline for…

Boundary breakers: Tucson bookstore, Hungarian sneaker lady

Adele Barker-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. "Saturday I walked out of Bookmans with a bag of books the store had donated to me. Soon, 50 young women I will…

Are Chinese Students Driving Educational Imperialism?

Adele Barker-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Inside Higher Ed. "A lot has been written recently about the problem of cheating among Chinese students studying here in America. Recently, The New York Times reported…

Finding Sacagawea in El Salvador

Anna Ochoa O'Leary-2014-2105 Fellow. This piece was first published in Speak Out. "Does anybody remember the Sacagawea dollar coin first minted in 2000?Sacagawea was a Native American (Shoshone) who in 1804 made history by guiding the…

Racism Is Not Isolated

Kate Kenski-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "The year has been filled with news stories about racist e-mails sent by Ferguson, Missouri police department officials and officers, University of Oklahoma fraternity…

Meet the 20 women selected as 2015-2016 Fellows.

The third year of the Tucson Public Voices Fellowship starts this fall as we welcome 20 new Fellows, selected from a highly competitive pool. The Fellows include academic leaders from the University of Arizona and community…

Laurie Wetterschneider named 2016 Luncheon Honoree

Please join us in celebrating Laurie Wetterschneider as the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona's 2016 Luncheon Honoree. Known as the biggest charitable luncheon event in Tucson, the 2016 Luncheon--our 25th annual--will take place at the Tucson Convention…

Wanda F. Moore named 2017 Luncheon Honoree

Please join us in celebrating Wanda F. Moore as the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona's 2017 Luncheon Honoree. As Chair of the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center Women Heart Health Education Committee Minority Outreach Program, Wanda…

New $75,000 Initiative Announced

Call for Proposals Now Open – focused on Santa Cruz County The Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona and University of Arizona Health Sciences are pleased to announce a new $75,000 Women's Health Initiative to impact women's health…

Flying Blind: The mistakes I made with disabled colleagues

Laura Penny-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. "Six months ago I took a new job as interim executive director of an independent living center, which helps people with any kind of…

Racism is not isolated.

Kate Kenski-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. "The year has been filled with news stories about racist e-mails sent by Ferguson, Missouri police department officials and officers, University of Oklahoma ..."

Planned Parenthood Is Crucial for Immigrant Women

Anna Ochoa O'Leary and Edna Meza Aguirre-2014-2015 Fellows. This piece was first published in Women's eNews. "The story of Carmen, a migrant woman who was sexually assaulted while in transit to the United States, has become…

Big News Week: record response for women and girls

The morning following the midnight deadline for our annual grant application, we were humbled and surprised by the result: a record 40% increase. Now entering our 25th year as a grantmaking organization focused on creating change that…

Women Need a Department of Self-Defense

Suzanne Dovi-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women's eNews. "Imagine the U.S. were at war and the enemy sent over soldiers, as part of its terrorist campaign, to rape U.S. college aged-women. (The number…

Interactive mapping can help people with disabilities

Stephanie Parker-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The San Francisco Chronicle. "Think of how much easier digital maps have made planning a road trip. Interactive community maps could do the same for people with…

Trump’s immigrant-bashing omits that business owners like him are to blame

Anna Ochoa O'Leary--2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. "Donald Trump is wrong to blame immigrants for the nation’s woes. Business owners like him, those benefiting from trade agreements, are guilty of creating…

US Failures in Electronic Waste Regulation Threaten Health at Home and Abroad

Carmen Marriott-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Truthout. "More than 40 million tons of electronic waste are disposed of every year. That's about 800 laptops every single second. The generation and disposal of e-waste…

Your heartburn medication could be just as harmful as that hot dog

Victoria Maizes-2014-2105 Fellow. This piece was first published in Quartz. “Some of you will simultaneously reach for a hot dog and for your heartburn medication this 4th of July. You may be shocked to know that…

Choice can be Christian

Edna Meza Aguirre-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. “Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed legislation that forces doctors to tell patients that it may be possible to reverse abortion by pill. The ACLU and…

Silent epidemic: The incarceration of the seriously mentally ill

Stephanie Parker and Rosi Andrade-2014-2015 Fellows. This piece was first published in The Hill. “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced last month, $24.6 million in planning grants …”

Native PhDs bring fresh approach to academic study

Amanda Tachine-2014-2015 Fellow. This was first published by Al Jazeera America. "Diane Humetewa, a Hopi, made history last year as the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, a Navajo, was…

When Words Get in the Way: 3 Ways to be a Better Communicator

Alexcis Spencer Lopez-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. "Communication. It's vital to our relationships. From the boardroom to the bedroom, what we say and how we say it can either make…

Os miúdos aprendem que a pessoa mais agressiva é quem tem mais poder

Sheri Bauman-2014-2015 Fellow. This article was first published in Portuguese in Publico. “Sheri Bauman, psicóloga norte americana especialista em bullying, esteve em Portugal como oradora do Seminário “Estratégias e medidas de prevenção do bullying e do…

Five things you can do to deal with water shortage in the American West

Cecile McKee-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Quartz. “We live in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. It’s not a Mad Max landscape, but there’s a water shortage around here. With drought and warming summer temperatures, we…

Emotional health: do you accept your inner hulk?

Alexcis Spencer Lopez-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Elephant Journal. “With the new Marvel comics Avengers release, now is a good time to check in on our emotional health. Do we have an inner…

Outside My Comfort Zone: On Becoming a Goalie at 60

Carmen Marriott-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Senior Planet. “At the age of 60, I stepped out of my comfort zone and into the goalkeeper box.I’d been playing midfield in soccer for 10 years…

For the Sound of Gender Bias, Check My Phone Mail

Sheri Bauman-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Women’s eNews. “Would Hillary Clinton make a better president because she is post-menopausal? That's what Dr. Julie Holland, a psychopharmacologist and psychiatrist, argued in …”

Ever the Protectors, Moms Seeking Asylum Need Protection, Too

Suzanne Dovi-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The American Prospect. “In last year’s Mother’s Day Proclamation, President Obama recommended we put our moms first “because they so often put everything above themselves.” He said …”

In Mexico, Domestic Workers’ Story Is Rags to Rags

Rosi Andrade-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women’s eNews. “Recently, the mayor of Chihuahua, Mexico, Javier Garfio Pacheco, told an audience of female domestic workers that they should watch …”

Ducey, a case for funding state universities

Laura Penny-2014-2015 Fellow. This letter was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. “In 1982 Doug Ducey moved from Toledo, Ohio to Tempe to attend Arizona State University, because his high school counselor told him Arizona’s…

The Stories We Tell: Adopting From a Troubled Country

Adele Barker-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Pacific Standard. “Sometimes when I am standing in front of my class explaining that essays need a well-developed argument and a conclusion I feel disingenuous. My story…

Why don’t witnesses intervene?

Sheri Bauman-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Medium. “The alleged gang rape last month in broad daylight on a Florida beach packed with college students on spring break is shocking enough, but the news…

How my mother’s depression shaped my whole life

Ann Mastergeorge-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Washington Post. “When I think back to my mother when I was a child, I don’t have a single memory of her smiling. She suffered from chronic, lifelong depression, and it affected me and…

What about Earth’s Microbiome?

Raina Maier-2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Scientific American. “The latest temperature readings from Antarctica are giving the world pause, along with the finding that 70 percent of the western Antarctic ice shelf has…

Teach Young Black Men ‘The Lesson’ and Save Their Lives

Daisy Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “My heart is heavy upon learning that yet another young black man, Michael Brown, has died much too soon. A few days later, Kajieme…

Feminism in China: Risky, But Rising

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Ms. Magazine. “This summer I taught a course on American education policy at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China, with 55 undergraduates, mostly women, who were smart…

6 Tips for Recent College Graduates

Suzanne McFarlin-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “If you're a recent college graduate, or know one, the phrase "I don't know what I want to do!" may be familiar. Many 2014…

Did School Integration Fail Black Children?

Daisy Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Root. ““Back to school” is just around the corner, and 60 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, many children will be returning to…

How to teach about climate without making your students feel hopeless

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Washington Post. “A few years ago, I discovered my undergraduates had informally renamed my Intro to Environmental Studies class. They called it “Environmental Depression …”

Saving Iraqis the US left behind

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Al Jazeera America. “After the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Hakim, a 49-year-old Sunni Iraqi, helped the U.S. and NATO forces by serving as a guide in…

Girl immigrants crossing the US border often survived rape and abuse. They’ve got more courage than most of Congress

Ana Christina da Silva Iddings-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Guardian. “W hen I left Brazil as a 20-year-old, my country was in the midst of economic crisis, and I wanted to escape…

What If Climate Change Triggers Cooperation, Not Conflict?

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “"Climate change increases the likelihood of war and terrorism," President Obama said earlier this summer. The Pentagon and a distinguished committee of retired generals…

City taking right steps to improve

Sarah Smallhouse-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. “The Tucson mayor and City Council members deserve recognition and praise for recent steps they have taken to make meaningful improvements to the…

We Make It Easy for Our Children to Not Grow Up

Suzanne McFarlin-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “While attending college graduation at Trinity University recently, I watched many bright, accomplished young people cross the stage to accept their diploma, including my…

Don’t Neglect the Signs of Neglect in Young Children

Ann Mastergeorge-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Huffington Post. “This spring, a few miles from my house, a landlord found the skeleton of what had been a three-year-old child in a toy box…

There’s no such thing as ‘reasonable suspicion’ of immigrants

Ana Christina Da Silva Iddings-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Reuters. “My path to the United States, 20 years ago, was far less traumatic than that of the 52,000 unaccompanied children from Central America…

Designers Can Help Save the Planet

Elle McMahon-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Pacific Standard. “Earlier this spring I took a look at the draft of the National Climate Change Assessment, which was posted online for public comment. I…

Daniel’s journey: How thousands of children are creating a crisis in America

Isabel Garcia-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by CNN. “We've had children dying here in the desert," said Isabel Garcia, an immigrant rights activist with the Arizona-based Coalicion de Derechos Humanos (Coalition for Human Rights…

Pro Athletes, Big Winners and Losers When the Career Clock Goes to Zero

Daisy Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “The San Antonio Spurs trounced the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship. But even if they hadn't won, they'd still be rewarded with…

Immigration surge or refugee crisis?

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Faithstreet. “In the past seven months, some 47,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed the southern United States border, fleeing an epidemic of gang violence and poverty in their…

For Immigrants Who Return After Deportation, Little Chance at Due Process, Say Advocates

Isabel Garcia-2013-2014 Fellow. This article first appeared in Truthout. “What drives immigrants stopped on the border to come back are often connections made while living in the US, said Isabel Garcia, executive director of Coalicion de…

Want better healthcare? Have doctors make house calls.

Mindy Fain-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Los Angeles Times. “I make house calls. Remember those? When a doctor came to your door with a black bag? You might think of this as…

Here’s An Immigrant Imprisonment Program That Obama Could Stop Without Congress

Isabel Garcia-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “Last month, in the face of growing pressure from immigrant rights activists, Hispanic politicians and Democratic allies, President Barack Obama ordered the Department of…

For Can-Do at Cannes, Female Directors Need Money

Ann W. Lovell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women’s eNews. “The Cannes Film Festival has just come and gone and, even though two female directors, Naomi Kawase and Alice Rohrwacher, were among those vying…

An Idea for Female Donors: Social-Impact Investing

Ann W. Lovell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women’s eNews. “No one wants to throw good money after bad. So here's a recommendation for all you women out there who are busily donating more…

The Promise of Mandatory Community Service

Ann W. Lovell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Stanford Social Innovation Review. “This month marks the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, which left 1 million people dead and many more raped…

Climate change hitting home, says White House report led by UA

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This article was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. “The Southwest is heating faster than the rest of the country. Sea levels are rising. Oceans are acidifying. The North Atlantic’s hurricanes are…

Racism 101: Let’s Talk About Diversity and Prejudice in America’s Public Schools

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Pacific Standard. “The NBA did the right thing in punishing Donald Sterling with a lifetime NBA ban and a $2.5 million fine. Perhaps this will inspire more…

Honoring Change Agent Mothers

Suzanne McFarlin-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by Fem.2. “When I opened an email from my friend Patrick with two photos of his adoptive daughter Norma attached, I caught my breath. The first was a…

For Teacher Appreciation Week, Let’s Vow to Invest, Reward, and Respect Teachers

Colleen Niccum-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “Would you take a job that paid poorly, required you to work nights and weekends and left you buying supplies out of your own…

The Roberts Court Gave Affirmative Action Its Last Rites, It’s Up to Us to Revive It

Daisy Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “In my birth year, 1948, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a unanimous landmark decision in Shelley v. Kraemer that racially restrictive…

How Putin Outmaneuvered Obama in Syria and Ukraine

Leila Hudson-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “It's hardly their first priority with the threat of war looming, but Ukrainians will be paying a lot more for their heating oil next…

Three Ways to Fill High-Skilled Jobs

Laura Shaw-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “The most recent Labor Department's job growth report shows that the American economy added 192,000 jobs last month, not as much as some analysts…

What Are the Economic Consequences of Climate Change?

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Atlantic. “When Hurricane Sandy pummeled the east coast of the U.S. and the Caribbean in October 2012 it exposed millions of people and billions of dollars…

We need federal, not state, gun policy

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published by CNN. “Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to spend $50 million of his own money to build a state-by-state grass-roots network focused on stemming the tide…

Why So Many Children of Immigrants Are Going Hungry

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Pacific Standard. “Last Tuesday, University of Arizona student and U.S. citizen Cynthia Diaz started a hunger strike with three other immigration activists outside the White House…

The right way to help minority boys

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Reuters. “The Obama administration recently hosted one of several conference calls with men of color as part of My Brother’s Keeper, a new five-year, $200-million White House…

AZ House votes to back Israel’s West Bank claims

Leila Hudson, 2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published in The Arizona Daily Star. “Despite a long list of items closer to home to deal with, the Arizona House Monday went on record as saying the…

Rwandan Genocide: Remembering the ‘Other’ Casualties

Elise Collins Shields-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published in The Huffington Post. “This week marks the start of the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Twenty years ago this spring, between 800,000 and 1.2 million Tutsi…

The Real Problem With The SAT Is That We Emphasize It Too Much

Regina Deil-Amen-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Talking Points Memo. “I recently received a text message from my friend proclaiming, with several exclamation points, that her son had achieved a 2110 on his practice…

Sarah Smallhouse and Si Schorr: Why the Arizona Legislature is a hothouse for odd laws

Sarah Smallhouse-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Arizona Daily Star. “Here’s the real “deal”: Arizona is, as confirmed by recent polling, far more moderate and politically balanced than generally reported. Congressional seats are…

Fascist symbolism in the Middle East

Leila Hudson-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Al Jazeera America. “Last month at a rally for Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, children could be seen throughout the crowd balancing boots on their heads…

Our schools should be vanguards of racial tolerance

Daisy M. Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Growing up in a small, segregated Georgia town in the 1950s, I remember studying from used textbooks that were sent to our…

The Wolves in Our Dogs: Are We Trying to Protect the Species Because They’re So Much Like Man’s Best Friend?

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Pacific Standard. “When Olympian Kate Hansen tweeted a video of a wolf roaming the corridors of her dorm in Sochi, the media lit up with extended…

Community leaders take next steps to combat poverty

Patti Caldwell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Inform. Engage. Act. This is the process by which communities across the nation have effectively addressed issues for generations ...”

The Pentagon’s shameful culture of sexual assault can still be uprooted

Elise Collins Shields-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Guardian. “‘I could trade in my wife for you.’ That’s what one of my husband’s former US Air Force Academy classmates told me at their…

Community support is key to TUSD success

Colleen Meyer Niccum-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Among the many insights offered during a strategic planning session held a week ago by Tucson Unified School District leaders, a common…

Open Inn, which finds shelter for homeless Tucson youths, is closing

Patti Caldwell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Open Inn, an Arizona organization providing services and crisis shelter to Tucson’s homeless youths and families, is closing after 40 years. The announcement…

Stop performing random acts of kindness

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “Earlier this month as I walked across the University of Arizona campus to my office, I saw a young woman holding a sign: ‘free…

Disappearance of play in early childhood ED

Ana Christina da Silva Iddings-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Al Jazeera America. “ Ask kindergartners what their favorite thing to do in school is, and they will inevitably say, ‘Play!’ When I was…

Olympic OK crucial for growth

Maura Grogran-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by ESPN. “When I wanted to switch from figure skating to ice hockey at age 11, I couldn’t. Girls were not welcome, even though my mom made a…

Forum, moderated by NPR’s Neal Conan, to address poverty in Tucson

Patti Caldwell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Tucson needs to find solutions to its most dire, complex problem: poverty. Doing so is the objective of a community forum, ‘Poverty: The…

Globalization and weather- why sun belters shouldn’t gloat

Diana Liverman-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “‘My favorite part of winter is... watching it on TV from Arizona!’ Such brags are tempting for those of us who live in the…

The importance of everyday interactions for early brain development

Ann M. Mastergeorge-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “Can you remember the last time you played peek-a-boo with a young child? You may think it is just a fun child's game…

Olympics lack parity for female athletes

Maura Grogan-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by USA Today. “The upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia will include women's ski jumping for the first time. Not only is this an important milestone for women ski…

Justice department’s anti-smoking efforts exclude black media

Daisy M. Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “Last fall my dear cousin lay dying in a Miami hospital from advanced lung cancer, the result of years of smoking menthol cigarettes…

How for-profit institutions peddle college to the poor

Regina Deil-Amen-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “Across the nation, most prospective students applying to selective colleges have wrapped up their applications. They have showcased their test scores, listed numerous examples…

In the war on poverty, don’t forget refugees

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Huffington Post. “It is 4:30 a.m. on a snowy Tuesday in December in upstate New York. Bishnu slides into the back seat of an '83 Toyota…

Welfare of children must be 2014 priority

Daisy M. Jenkins-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Root. “In a recent conversation about declining student performance, a frustrated and passionate elementary school teacher broke into tears as she told me …”

Homelessness lets dubious Tucson charity go on

Patti Caldwell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “In an ideal Tucson, Libby Wright would not be a factor. In that Tucson, the mainline charities for the homeless — the Primavera…

Teaching black girls to be beautiful

Daisy M. Jenkins- 2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Ebony “One of the songs I love so much by the late Godfather of Soul, James Brown, is ‘Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m…

Arizona sees spike in kids placed in foster care

Patti Caldwell-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Pat Hatley wants to keep his small family together — but as a homeless dad, he worries every day that he might lose…

Ethnography as a radical activity

Jill Koyama-2013-2014 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Anthropology Teachers College. “My curiosity to unwind tangles and make complexities visible—to reveal inequities and marginalized individuals and groups of people—and to tell their stories with integrity…

WFSA co-founder Melody S. Robidoux continues her support in a big way

Grant is the largest in the Foundation’s 24-year history The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) recently received a landmark, half-a-million-dollar grant from the Melody S. Robidoux Foundation Fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona…

2015-2016 Trustees Announced

The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona is pleased to announce that Allison Vaillancourt, Ph.D. was elected Chair of the WFSA Board of Trustees during its recent trustees’ meeting. Allison is Vice President for Human Resources &…

Obama comparte un legado con Roosevelt

Anna Ochoa O’Leary—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Hoy. “Al crecer, recuerdo que mi padre hablaba de las dificultades de la época de la depresión. Al igual que muchas otras familias mexicanas, hicieron lo…

Nemtsov murder evokes memories of unsolved killings of those who dared to speak out

Adele Barker—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was originally published by Global Post. “The death of Boris Nemtsov is all too reminiscent of a time in Soviet history that most Russians are glad to have left behind. And yet…

A crisis in vision

Rosi Andrade—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “Pinpointing the causes of increased vision loss in children and youth is not facile. Some explanations for increased vision loss point to the digital…

This Women’s Movement, Now, Is for Everyone

Mary Hartmann—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women’s eNews. “In 2002 with a Rutgers colleague and a film crew, I interviewed the then 81-year-old Betty Friedan at her summer home in Sag Harbor, Long…

Guest Voz: Women’s History Month must honor Latinas

Anna Ochoa O’Leary—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Latina Lista. “Curious about Women’s History Month, I browsed the pages of womenshistorymonth.gov. learned that it originated in 1981 when Congress first passed …”

Incivility gets noticed, but it doesn’t get things done

Kate Kenski—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Hill. “On February 26, Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) called Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) a “coward” on the House floor, a remark for which he…

Spock’s Humanity Was Nimoy’s Gift

Cecile McKee—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in UA News. “What does it mean to be human? This question has inspired philosophers, artists and scientists for a long, long time. Leonard Nimoy's death reminds us…

Lying is everyday occurrence — for famous, rest of us

Cecile McKee—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. “It seems like famous people make headlines for lying almost every day. But we all lie. Lying may even distinguish human language from…

Issuing Dreamers drivers licenses tied to productive future

Anna Ochoa O’Leary—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Daily Star. “Last week Arizona’s new state Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced he would renew efforts to take driver’s licenses out of the hands…

We Spend Billions On Democracy-Building Abroad. What If We Matched That At Home?

Suzanne Dovi—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Talking Points Memo. “President Obama's proposal to fight ISIS on battlegrounds beyond Iraq and Syria seems to be going nowhere. But given his effort, it is a…

Thanks to the Academy … Yawn

Cecile McKee—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “This year's most interesting Oscar acceptance speeches ended with references to issues like suicide, wage equality and equal rights for women, racism and whistleblowers…

Underpaying Adjuncts Hurts Full-Time Professors and Students Too

Sheri Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Truthout. “Adjunct faculty will participate in a nationwide walkout on February 25 to demand better pay and benefits. Adjuncts make up a teaching underclass upon which colleges…

American Sniper Misfires at the Oscars

Adele Barker—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “In Pakistan, my classes were unusually small, 10 students compared to 100 students for other professors. Then I found out the reason why …”

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Puts Me in a Minority

Sheri Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Women’s eNews. “It didn't make sense. The fact that I had breast cancer was difficult enough to absorb, but when I learned that risk factors for triple-negative…

Obesity is the real disability

Stephanie Parker—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the San Antonio Express News. “Should obesity be a disability? The highest court in Europe, the European Court of Justice thinks so, finding recently that obesity can…

New era, same ‘ol ERA

Featuring Suzanne Dovi—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Arizona Wildcat. “What do Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan all have in common? All three countries have greater representation of women in government than the…

Schools need policies to deal with teachers who bully

Sheri Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Aces Too High. “We hear a lot about bullying these days, but rarely do we hear about teachers who are bullies. In the many articles and books…

Leave supplements on the shelves but create better oversight

Victoria Maizes, MD—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. “Earlier this month NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accused GNC, Target, Walgreen’s, and Walmart of selling supplements that contained little, if any, of…

Want to influence a member of Congress? Dangle a K Street job

Suzanne Dovi—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the Los Angeles Times. “Frank Underwood of Netflix's "House of Cards" may seem like America's most corrupt politician. He will stop at nothing, not even murder, to…

What if we could disagree, but still talk?

Teresa Cowan Jones—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in the Arizona Daily Star. “If Charles Darwin were alive today, would he see any leverage for sustainability of the human species? Darwin … is hardly known…

Stop Hoarding All of That Hazardous Waste

Carmen Marriott—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Pacific Standard. “Every flu season we seem to hear about a new downside to hand sanitizer. Here's another: When you throw it away, it becomes hazardous waste…

We have collective amnesia on race; I blame Chris Rock

Suzanne Dovi—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Quartz. “Just when I was breathing a sigh of relief from year-in-review and best-of lists, Chris Rock’s film Top Five is hitting theaters, the Academy just released…

Homophobic bullying can be deadly

Sheri Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by the San Antonio Express News. “Homophobic bullying may be why 12-year-old Ronin Shimizu committed suicide in California. He was the sole male on his middle-school cheerleading team…

Start thinking about college before high school

Shari Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Deadlines for regular college applications generally fall between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1. That means high school seniors — and their school counselors…

Anyone can be part of the solution to eliminate mental health stigma

Evan Mendelson—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Arizona Daily Star. “Four years after the tragic shooting in our community, it keeps on happening—in Aurora, in Newtown, in Santa Barbara. We feel helpless as…

Tweak the Americans With Disabilities Act Again

Cecile McKee—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “Last month, an autistic girl in California waited for 30 minutes to see a mall Santa only to be rejected because of her service…

Latina Perspective: Fighting to breathe

Edna Meza Aguirre—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Latina Lista. “My kickboxing gym is in an abandoned warehouse in Tucson, the walls are exposed brick, fitting for a place that houses hitting, kicking, weightlifting…

Why our new year’s resolutions are all wrong

Alexcis Spencer Lopez—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Quartz. “Losing weight is by far the most popular New Year’s resolution. Quitting smoking, stopping drinking, promising to save more money and hitting the gym …”

Native Americans in Higher Education Are More Than Just an Asterisk

Amanda Tachine—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Huffington Post. “A population that was nearly decimated from colonization is now growing and thriving. According to the 2010 Census, 5.2 million people in the U.S…

High Court to Rule on Violent Social Media Threats

Sheri Bauman—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in Women’s eNews. “The U.S. Supreme Court for the first time is weighing a case involving social media, free speech and cyberthreats. The case is of particular importance…

ABLE: Opening doors of economic inclusion for persons with disabilities

Stephanie Parker—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by The Hill. “What if millions of persons with disabilities were able to Achieve a Better Life Experience? The ABLE Act provides a pathway to independence …not an…

3 ways to emotionally survive visits with family during holidays

Alexcis Spencer Lopez—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by CNN. “It always ends horribly," my client tells me as she recalls previous family holidays. "Twenty-plus years of therapy and self-improvement up in smoke in less…

10 years on, Sri Lanka still shows scars from the wrath of tsunami

Adele Barker—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published by Global Post. “Last year, I watched children running in and out of the waves on Sri Lanka’s southern shore. Life felt almost normal, almost as if the…

Family values and deportation don’t go together

Anna Ochoa O’Leary—2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Conversation. “Not so long ago, I sat across the table from Teresa, age 25, in a migrant shelter right across the border from Nogales Arizona…

The new mandatory civics exams are asking all the wrong questions. Here are the right ones.

Suzanne Dovi – 2014-2015 Fellow. This piece was first published in The Washington Post. “True or false: If the police ask to enter your home, you don’t have to admit them unless they have a warrant…

Get Your Tickets at the Door

Join us on April 18, 2018 on the Arena Floor of the Tucson Convention Center to help make a difference in the lives of women and girls throughout Southern Arizona. Be part of the celebration! Join…

Your generosity is inspiring!

For our Annual Luncheon--the biggest luncheon of the year--the Women's Foundation always has ambitious goals. This year? We aimed to raise $170,000. We're humbled and inspired to announce that, thanks to you, we exceeded our goal…

AZ Women and Children Impacted by the Recession & State Budget

“The Impact of the Recession and State Budget Decisions on Arizona’s Women and Children” Research Report Released (March 4, 2015 – Tucson, Arizona.) For immediate release – Today, the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona released a new…

Salon Series & Book Signing with Betsy MacGregor

On January 14, 2015 the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona will host its first Salon Series event of 2015 by special invitation. Guest speaker and author, Dr. Betsy MacGregor will discuss her recently published book, In Awe…

Single parenting the most common reason Tucson women are poor, study finds

Lifting Tucson up and out of its current slump could be as simple as this: Provide more support and opportunities for women and children. A recently released report, “Supporting Arizona Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency,” shows that providing affordable…

Funding for Women’s Services Down, Affecting Self-Sufficiency

Read Full Article by Arizona Public Media

From Unidas to Harvard and beyond, One Woman’s Story of Change

Dari Zwart never expected the Unidas program to have such a profound impact on her life. And yet in the six years since graduating the program, she has seen some amazing changes. View the story on…

Project Diversifies Voices- Women-led Fellowship

La Monica Everett-Haynes and Candice Childress, University Relations and Communications writes on the OpEd Project and its first year fellows. "The University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences worked in partnership with community leader…

New CEO Announced, Meet Dawne Bell

Dawne Bell joins the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (WFSA) as the new CEO starting January 5, 2015. She will be responsible for carrying on the strategic operations of working for a world where women and…

2013-14 Annual Report Released, Unidas Program Grants and Program Participant updates

November 2014

2014-15 OpEd Fellowship Announced, WFSA Sponsors PBS “Makers” Series and the U of A College of Social and Behavioral Sciences “Downtown Lecture Series”

October 2014

HoCo Libation Donations Support Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona

La-Feminista2

WFSA Welcomes New Board Members

July 2014