Dear supporter,

We are delighted to share exciting news regarding a new phase of our work. We are pleased to announce that as of today, we will be called Right To Be.

This change is the result of the evolution of our work of which you have been a part of. Together we have been proven to be resilient, powerful, and impactful.

The story of this organization started in 2005, when a group of young people decided to create a blog to collect stories of street harassment. In 2010, we became a non-profit organization under the name Hollaback! and quickly started to make an impact. We made history by being part of the first-ever hearing on street harassment, conducted research, and created the first bystander intervention training to address street harassment. So far, we have trained 250,000+ people on how to intervene when they see harassment happen and our methodology has been used to train over 500,000 more.  This has only been possible thanks to people like you who have joined this cause, so this is also an opportunity to say THANK YOU!

While we initially focused on gender issues, it was clear that we needed to grow from addressing public street harassment to ending harassment in all its forms. We provided you with resources to not only respond and intervene, but also to heal and build resilience. We were able to respond to the #MeToo movement, the fight for Black Lives Matter, and the rise of anti-Asian hate by offering tools and resources to empower allies and those who were especially impacted. 

This name change allows us to show the breadth and magnitude of our work. It gives us space to envision and build a world where everyone has the Right To Be who they are, wherever they are. A world where you have the Right To speak up and share your story, but also a world in which each of us feels empowered with concrete tools to create change and support others. In the words of our Deputy Director, Jorge Arteaga, “Hollaback! was the call to speak up about their experience. And now we're in a different phase. Now we want you to go out there and start a change in your communities. If you're in a community board, in your kid's schools, if you are a CEO, what are the changes you're doing there so that your folks feel like they have the right to be themselves while they're there?,” he said.  

Right To Be allows us space for inclusivity and intersectionality. “Everyone is invited to the movement. Come be yourself, whoever you are. Show up and take care of each other,” added Arteaga. 

To continue doing this work we need you, but we also want you to know that we will always be here for you, holding the space that you need.  This is our call to power to build a better world. One that’s free of harassment and filled with humanity. We are a global team of educators, motivators and facilitators listening, guiding and cheering you on.

“Right To Be has a giant space at the end of it, that all of us can crowd into and feel a sense of belonging. We need every single person on board with us because this seismic level of change doesn't happen because a couple people are down for it. It happens because we're all down for it,” said Emily May, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Right To Be. 

Visit our website righttobe.org and check out the numerous ways you can continue to take action, fight for what is right and choose our better history.  We hope that our new brand and image will make you feel included, empowered, and inspired. 

Today we want to reaffirm that together we are stronger. The world we want isn’t some far-off destination. It’s something we create and recreate, bit by bit, every day. It’s imperfect, courageous, beautiful work. It’s us. Here. Now.

With Love, 

Right To Be