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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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."
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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."
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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…
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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.”
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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…
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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…
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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..."
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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…
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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.  
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$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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...."
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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...."
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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  ..."
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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 ..."
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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 ..."
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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  ..."
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‘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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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..."
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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..."
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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..."
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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…
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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…
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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..."
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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$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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 ..."
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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…
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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…
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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 …”
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 …”
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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…
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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…
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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 &…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 …”
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 …”
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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