Ms. Foundation Grants Support Women's Health Care Reform Justice

The Ms. Foundation is pleased to announce two rapid response grants to bolster women's organizing for equitable health care in the final stretches of the reform debate. Raising Women's Voices (RWV), a Ms. Foundation grantee since early 2008, will work to strengthen the capacity of its vast grassroots network to advocate before legislators in key states and mobilize more women in the fight for reform. The Women of Color United for Health Reform (led by National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Black Women's Health Imperative), will use this new support to amplify the priorities of women and communities of color among key members of Congress. RWV and Women of Color United will work hand in hand to coordinate their advocacy efforts inside the Beltway and beyond.

Visit the Raising Women's Voices website for analysis and to find out what you can do to support just and equitable health care reform.

Also, check out the terrific new site, Women and Health Care Reform, for extensive information about the health care debate and what's at stake for women.

Announcing the Winners of our Katrina Anniversary Contest!

We challenged our outrageous activists to recruit members of the Ms. Foundation Outrageous Activists Cause on Facebook to recognize the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the DVD release of the Academy Award-nominated documentary TROUBLE THE WATER. We are pleased to announce the five winners of the DVD and to celebrate the top recruiter, Brenda Dardar Robichaux of Louisiana.

Ms. Robichaux is an outrageous activist of the best kind. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Robichaux, a Ms. Foundation grantee, the Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation and founder of the United Houma Nation Relief Fund, quickly mobilized to meet the immediate needs of the Houma Nation. She established training in non-traditional jobs for women and leadership programming for girls. The Ms. Foundation for Women recognized her with a Woman of Vision Award in 2008 (see video and read a profile).

We thank the top recruiters below and invite all to join our Outrageous Activists Facebook Cause.

Brenda Dardar Robichaux
Sewall Whittemore
Lisa Connolly
Nancy Legato
Bobbi Zahra

TROUBLE THE WATER tells the story of Hurricane Katrina through the remarkable eyes and experience of Kimberly and Scott Roberts, “two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.” The film, whose New Orleans premiere was supported by the Ms. Foundation, reveals the courage, strength and wisdom of people who were directly affected by the storms and reminds us of the continuing need for recovery and rebuilding.

Buy the DVD
Order the DVD online from Zeitgeist Films.

Grassroots Women's Voices Rally for Health Care Reform in NYC

Congratulations to Ms. Foundation grantee Raising Women's Voices on a successful rally in New York City for just and inclusive health care reform! RWV organized the Women's Walk for Health Reform, which drew attention from the New York Times and brought together 14 NYC-based organizations, including another Ms. grantee, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, to advocate for women's access to quality, affordable health care. RWV's Women's Walk was part of a joint rally, attended by anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 people including representatives of over 75 groups. The entire event was organized by NYC for Change, Health Care for America Now and Organizing for America.

According to Raising Women's Voices, the rally represented "a wide array of health reform supporters -- from unions to physicians to low-income people and even Upper West Side baby boomers -- [who] walked to Times Square from hospitals all across the city."

Read the Raising Women's Voices blog for more on the rally and watch a New York Times slide show of the event.

Raising Women's Voices is hosting or participating in a number of other events, rallies and town halls across the U.S. Join in and add your voice if you can!

Photographs: Diane Greene Lent

Win a Trouble the Water DVD

TROUBLE THE WATER tells the story of Hurricane Katrina through the remarkable eyes and experience of Kimberly and Scott Roberts, ...two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.“ The film, whose New Orleans premiere was supported by the Ms. Foundation, reveals the courage, strength and wisdom of people who were directly affected by the storms and reminds us of the continuing need for recovery and rebuilding.

So be an outrageous activist. Recruit your friends. Watch TROUBLE THE WATER. And help the Ms. Foundation expand our reach and support for grassroots activists working to promote real recovery for women, families and communities on the Gulf Coast.

What You Can Do:

Recruit Outrageous Activists to Our Facebook Cause
Win a TROUBLE THE WATER DVD

Invite your friends and encourage them to invite theirs. The top five recruiters will win a DVD.

Buy the DVD
To guarantee that you get a copy of this celebrated movie, preorder the DVD online from Zeitgeist Films. They offer a 25% discount.

Be an Outrageous Activist Recruit Friends, Remember Hurricane Katrina and Win DVD of Academy Award-Nominated TROUBLE THE WATER

Join us in marking the upcoming 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Recruit your friends to join the Ms. Foundation Outrageous Acts Facebook Cause and be eligible to win a soon-to-be released DVD of the documentary TROUBLE THE WATER!

TROUBLE THE WATER tells the story of Hurricane Katrina through the remarkable eyes and experience of Kimberly and Scott Roberts, ...two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.“ This Ms. Foundation grantee project reveals the courage, strength and wisdom of people who were directly affected by the storms and reminds us of the continuing need for recovery and rebuilding.

Help Us Reach 1,000 Members by August 25

TROUBLE THE WATER hits stores August 25. That means there are under two weeks to help the Outrageous Acts Cause reach 1,000 members! The five Outrageous Activists (members of the Outrageous Acts Cause) who recruit the most new members between August 11, 2009 and August 25, 2009 will each receive a DVD copy of TROUBLE THE WATER.

So be an outrageous activist. Recruit your friends. Watch TROUBLE THE WATER. And help the Ms. Foundation expand our reach and support for grassroots activists working to promote real recovery for women, families and communities on the Gulf Coast.

Here's how you can join us.

What You Can Do:

Recruit Outrageous Activists to Our Cause
Win a TROUBLE THE WATER DVD Invite your friends and encourage them to invite theirs.

Buy the DVD
To guarantee that you get a copy of this celebrated movie, preorder the DVD online from Zeitgeist Films. They offer a 25% discount.

Visit the Trouble the Water site, sign up for email updates, take action.
"...It's not about the hurricane. It's about America."

Become a fan of Trouble the Water
Learn more about the action and commitment the film has inspired and join in.

Ms. Foundation Celebrates Sotomayor Confirmation

The Ms. Foundation for Women celebrates the historic confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, truly a defining moment for the nation. In particular, we commend the leadership of both President Obama and the U.S. Senate in increasing the diversity of our nation’s highest court. We believe that Judge Sotomayor’s life story, her deep involvement in her community, and her strong commitment to public service will inspire countless young women of color across the country to fulfill their aspirations and reach their dreams.

Sara K. Gould
President & CEO

Outrageous Act: Be an Online Outrageous Activist

Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, deputy director of Ms. Foundation grantee the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health asks you to sign up for NLIRH’s e-alerts and become an online activist.

You can also learn how to join NLIRH’s campaign to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which has banned federal funding for abortions for over 30 years, and has been at risk of being cemented and expandedby conservatives in recent health care reform debates. (See our recent blog posting and this AP story on the issue.)

NLIRH