Dear John,

After nearly 20 years away, I recently moved back to Brooklyn. It has been quite the homecoming in so many ways. Returning to the city on the cusp of Pride month was so joyful and freeing, and a reminder of everything I love about New York. 

I’ll still be back in Texas from time to time, and am here as you’re reading this. While I was a bit disappointed to miss New York City Pride my first year back, I had a delightfully surprising experience in an Austin grocery store a few days ago. A group of store employees suddenly created a Pride “parade” through the aisles, blasting music, holding flags and balloons, and pulling anyone who would join them into the celebration. I jumped right in! It was a heartwarming reminder of the creative activism of my LGBTQ+ family all over the country – in blue and red states – and how we insist on proudly asserting and celebrating our community however we can, wherever we are.

In the face of increasing attacks on gender-affirming care, the attempted erasure of trans identities, and more, leaders across the United States are relentless in their fight to achieve true liberation for LGBTQ+ people. I’m so proud to be part of this community, and part of this fight. 

I hope you’ve had a powerful and celebratory Pride. 

In solidarity,

P.S. June also marks the 10th anniversary of President & CEO Teresa C. Younger at the helm of Ms. Foundation. For the past 10 years, her leadership, wisdom, and advocacy have been essential to our work and the continued impact of the Foundation. Check out our video celebrating this milestone!

Ms. Foundation in the News

As the first step in the next chapter of her philanthropy, Melinda French Gates and Pivotal Ventures is committing funding through 2026 to advance women’s power globally, and it includes support to Ms. Foundation. Read more in TIME, where President & CEO Teresa C. Younger says, “If philanthropy took lessons from the way that women are moving money, we would see more money in the field having greater impact.” 

Earlier this month, Teresa joined Board Member and host of “The New Abnormal” podcast Danielle Moodie to discuss sustainable funding, hope for the future, and how we can take action today. In Teresa’s words, “if hope is a discipline, I'm going to stay hopeful and I'm going to do it every day. But it is a battle." Listen to the full episode now.

New on the blog: Collaborative funds include our communities

Collaboration has long been core to the work we do at the Ms. Foundation, and true collaboration means collaboration for all, including activists, grassroots leaders, and organizational staff. 

Our Director of Development Bri Barnett dove deep on some of the lessons we’ve learned in the Foundation’s 50+ years of building collective power. They highlighted the need to build strong, authentic relationships, and fund collaboration and rest, among others. Read more on the blog!

New paper: The Color of Infertility: Race, Infertility, and Reproductive Justice in the U.S.

Did you know 1 in 6 individuals experience infertility during their lifetime, with the disparity even greater for people of color? As we close out World Infertility Awareness Month, we’re proud to share The Color of Infertility: Race, Infertility, and Reproductive Justice in the U.S., a landscape analysis that provides an overview of the structural and systemic barriers facing women and gender-expansive people of color by highlighting the racial, ethnic, gender, ability, and class-based disparities that fertility challenges bring. 

It asserts that the ability to create a family is a human right and that the issue of infertility is a critical part of reproductive and birth justice movements, and requires increased funding, attention, and advocacy now more than ever, given the interconnected links between current attacks on reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and democracy. Learn more and read the full paper!

In Conversation: Thrive as They Lead Panel

President & CEO Teresa C. Younger spoke on a panel about Black women in leadership and the infrastructure needed to support them, hosted by the Washington Area Women's Foundation. The panel was part of their Black Women & Gender Expansive Leadership Project.

Teresa was joined on the panel by leaders from the DC Rape Crisis Center, Lendsey & Associates, and  District Alliance for Safe Housing. Lesli Foster, anchor at WUSA-TV, moderated. 

Register now: Ms. on Martha’s 2024

We’re excited to return to Martha’s Vineyard for our annual Ms. on Martha’s event on Tuesday, Aug. 13! We’ll commemorate a decade of Teresa C. Younger’s leadership as President & CEO through a conversation between Teresa and Byllye Avery, a foremother of the reproductive justice movement and founder of Black Women’s Health Imperative. Teresa and Byllye’s insights and expertise will create a unique opportunity to strengthen our analysis and connections as we prepare for the 2024 elections and beyond. 

We hope you’ll join us for a memorable evening of joy, ideas, and community. Register now!