Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona

Northern Arizona! WFSA is excited to expand the Daring Generations event series this fall. ⁠
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Nominations for our five award categories are now open 🎉. Do you know someone making strides for women & girls via their work? Is there a standout community leader?⁠
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Nominate them today! To learn more about this event series and the award categories visit the link bit.ly/dgflagstaff.

WFSA is excited to share that we're bringing the Daring Generations event series to Northern Arizona! Save the date for our hosted community award & mixer in Flagstaff on October 11th.

More information to come soon!

Join WFSA’s first Gender Equity Network meet-up TOMORROW, 7/17, from 6-8 PM. We’re excited to share that the guest speaker is Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health’s CEO, Bré Thomas, MPA.

Bré has been a long-time reproductive health advocate and is excited to share a bit about Affirm’s mission, its history, and how other advocates can get involved with their work!

This event is free to the community! Register by visiting bit.ly/GENJuly17; see you there.

📢 Exciting News! WFSA will be featured at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) : Southern Arizona Chapter Arizona State Conference on July 18th! 🌟

Join us as WFSA's CEO, Katia Jones, Director of Pilot Programs, Joanna Marroquin, and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Michael Abramson III, share their expertise on fundraising, research, and advocacy for complex social issues.

Highlights include:
✨ Katia Jones on the "Fundraising for Complex Social Issues" panel
✨ Joanna Marroquin & Michael Abramson III presenting critical research on the Benefits Cliff and the Self-Sufficiency Standard.

We're thrilled to contribute to this event, empowering fundraisers with knowledge and tools for impactful change. We hope to see you there!

We have some exciting news to share! WFSA’s WE Network is evolving into The Gender Equity Network 🎉

The Gender Equity Network is brought to you by our advocacy team who is passionate about creating a dynamic space dedicated to sharing, learning, and staying up to date on Arizona’s most pressing gender equity issues.

Why Join?
⚡️Meet fellow activists and community partners doing incredible work
⚡️Learn from others and engage in meaningful discussions
⚡️Discover how you can take action and support real-time change

Whether you're a seasoned advocate or starting to explore these crucial issues, the Gender Equity Network is your platform to learn, grow, and make a difference. Sign up NOW and join us for the inaugural meeting on July 17th from 6-8 PM at Co+Hoots in Phoenix.

Join via bit.ly/3S2Tx8m!

Big news! 📣 WFSA is thrilled to announce our new Board Chair as of July 1, 2024 - Cheryl House. Cheryl has been a WFSA board member since 2021 and she is excited to step up for the organization with her new governance role as our new Board Chair.

Cheryl has a wealth of knowledge and connections in philanthropy, fundraising and throughout the Arizona community. Please join us in congratulating Cheryl! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/WFSABoardChair24

We are proud to announce our scholarship grant for equine therapy treatments through The Rancho Milagro Foundation. The scholarship aims to support the mental health and well-being of young women, offering them a unique opportunity to engage in therapeutic activities with horses. Equine therapy, known for its profound impact on emotional and psychological healing, will help these teens develop confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience. Read full statement here: https://bit.ly/WFSARanchoMilagro

WFSA is proud to be an Aloe Sponsor for Phoenix Legal Action Network's "Rooted in Family" Immigrant Art Gallery!

PLAN provides free legal services to meet immediate needs to stop deportations and keep families together. They also harness the power of art to cultivate empathy, foster connections, and challenge anti-immigrant narratives to build the community consciousness we need to reimagine a just future for immigrants in Arizona.

Join us for opening night on June 14th from 5pm-7pm at XICO or for Community Day on June 15th from 10am-3:30pm. Learn more and get tickets here: https://bit.ly/WFSAPLANImmigrantArtGallery

WFSA takes on Northern Arizona 🌲 We're excited to share three community events that we've sponsored and will be lucky enough to attend this coming weekend.

Hope to see you at the Rural Women's Health Symposium, Flagstaff Pride and cheering on the Flagstaff Women's Soccer league! Click here to learn more about each of these important community events: https://bit.ly/WFSAinNoAZ

As of yesterday, the State House passed HCR 2060 following a party-line vote, which will now be sent to the ballot. Arizonans will now have to vote down a harmful immigration tactic that would break apart families, lead to discrimination, harm women and girls, and damage the Arizona economy.

WFSA’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, Michael Abramson III, said, “While it is disheartening to see how out of touch some extremist legislators are with Arizonans, this is the point where we show out in November, vote NO on HCR 2060, and model how supported our Black, Brown, and Immigrant communities are.”

We encourage all our members to sign up for our WE Network newsletter to stay informed and follow LUCHA for further actions on how they plan to address this by election day.

As of May 20th, Governor Hobbs released an executive order bettering reproductive freedom in Arizona by increasing access to Contraceptive use!

Some of the highlights from the Governor’s most recent Executive Order include the following:
- Makes over-the-counter birth control measures (like the Opill) available at no cost to State employees.
- Requires the Arizona Department of Administration to educate pharmacists regarding the contraception options available under the state plan.
- Requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to consider additional options to expand access to contraception for its members, and shall provide a report to the Governor’s Office by June 30th, 2024.

This is a strong response to address the time period during the brief enforcement of the archaic abortion ban (set to be enforced from September 26th until 90 days following the end of the legislative session). It is also an important step towards long-term solutions for improving reproductive healthcare access in Arizona. WFSA will be following with more updates.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first Daring Generations events in Phoenix and Tucson this month! It felt great to be back in the community celebrating the incredible leaders who are made and are making a positive change.

Did you attend an event? Our event recap albums are now available! Check them out by visiting bit.ly/4bZerwz.

The Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) highlights the heightened risks faced by women and girls in Arizona with the senate passing HCR 2060, a ballot referral dubbed "SB1070 2.0" for its racially charged and unconstitutional provisions driven by taxpayer-funded immigration enforcement.

This legislation, if passed, would have severe implications for Arizona's black and brown women and girls in particular. All aspects of this bill, Including the amendments like those targeting individuals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, exacerbates these concerns.

This bill has no geographic limitations and has no sanctuary locations meaning members of community could be subjected to raids and harassment in places where essential services are provided like in schools and churches.

WFSA emphasizes that the enactment of this harmful legislation will compound the challenges already faced by women and girls across the state.

As seen before, during the days of SB 1070, this type of legislation leads to a deepening mistrust of institutional support systems, including by those seeking healthcare, education, nonprofit services, and criminal justice.

Read our full statement at bit.ly/4aDOYI2.

Meet the finalists of the Future Award! This award category is dedicated to recognizing the work of our youth leaders (25 and under) who are making an impact within their community. We acknowledge the significant hurdles that young people face in accessing resources and power, as well as the unique and necessary vision that young folks bring to social justice spaces.

This award honors someone who has demonstrated a commitment to fighting inequity and highlights the brilliant ways they are already making change in their community.

A big congratulations to the two finalists Darlene Peralta and Jenny Tran! Your dedication is nothing short of inspiring.

Syrena Arevalo-Trujillo was a person of passion for all she achieved and endured through life. She had a passion for music, was a dedicated educator, and was committed to making spaces that made accessibility to resources for students a priority.

All of her passions combined led her to form the beloved Barrio Books, a pop-up bookstore that provided BIPOC literature for all ages throughout events around Tucson.

Syrena is an honoree of the Legacy Award, which honors a community member posthumously. She is remembered as someone who cared deeply for her community. Her work is celebrated by her family, who is continuing the legacy she started with Barrio Books. WFSA is honored to celebrate Syrena and her work!

Our team was amazed at the overwhelming amount of incredible nominations for the Transformation Award category in Tucson!⁠
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We’d like to congratulate Transformation Award finalists Julie Bonner, Diana Charbonneau, Desiree Cook, and Ashley La Russa 🎉.

You’re all doing such important and amazing work in and for your communities. We can’t wait to celebrate you all at the Daring Generations Tucson event tomorrow Thursday, May 16, 2024, starting at 6:30 PM.

Congratulations to Matriarch Award finalists Cheryl Bakari and Stephanie Noriega! 🎉

Both nominated for this Daring Generations award by peers from the communities they serve, the Matriarch Award acknowledges that the labor of care is frequently overlooked and dismissed.

Your respective communities have so much love and appreciation for the work you do. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all this Thursday, May 16th.

Tucson! Meet the finalists for the Encore Award. This award honors a leader who has contributed to the community in one way for many years and has made a shift to a new phase of life. This could include a career transition, or a different effort to create lasting impact in their community.

Susan Claassen and Kristin Olson-Garewal, MD have led incredible careers and have made a lasting impact in their respective communities. Nominated by their peers, it’s been an honor to share about their journeys!

Daring Generations: Tucson is officially sold out. We can't wait to see you on Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 PM.

THANK YOU TUCSON! 🌵 We are so proud to announce that our second Daring Generations Event is officially sold out. With both Phoenix and Tucson selling out, we are definitely feeling the love and support of our AZ community. Can't wait to be with you to celebrate outstanding women on May 16th! Stay tuned to our page for event recaps and more.

Thank you to Women's Funding Network for covering this important update. We will continue to support organizations statewide in the fight for abortion access and reproductive healthcare. Join WFSA's Advocacy Coalition to stay in the know: https://bit.ly/WFSAAdvocacyCoalition

Exciting news from Arizona. 🎉 We commend the relentless efforts of organizers, advocates, and elected officials in Arizona for securing the repeal of the state's antiquated abortion ban from the 1800s.

We spoke with member organization, Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona for their reflections on this important step forward. They stressed that while this is a crucial step, their focus now shifts to collaborating with the Governor's Office and Reproductive Rights Advocates to ensure ongoing support for the Arizona for Abortion Access Ballot initiative in November, solidifying abortion access for all.

Our partners at Tucson Electric Power have graciously stepped up as our official $10,000 Matching Sponsor! This means TEP will double every sponsorship and donation we receive for our upcoming Daring Generations event, up to $10K.

It's the perfect opportunity to join us for WFSA's upcoming Daring Generations Event Series TUCSON at The Barn at Tanque Verde Ranch on May 16th in Tucson!

Connect your business with fellow nonprofit enthusiasts and community members by becoming a sponsor today! 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/daring-generations

Raquel Consuelo Ruiz was born in the mining community of Miami, Arizona. Raquel Consuelo was an intuitive healer. She created a haven of respite in her home for diverse individuals, from front-line organizers to the renowned Cesar Chavez. Raquel Consuelo was recruited as part of the pioneering class of women of color to become Registered Nurses at Phoenix Memorial Hospital.

Raquel is an honoree of the Legacy Award, which honors a community member posthumously. This award category celebrates the life work of a community member whose impact continues to grow and shape Arizona’s future.

The Encore Award category was created to honor someone who has remained deeply engaged in the fight for social justice! Berta Carbajal has done just that.

As a third generation ‘Promotora de la Salud’ and a Community Health Educator for over 50+ years, Berta’s Phoenix community has witnessed her incredible dedication.

It’s an honor for WFSA to celebrate Berta's work!

The Matriarch Award category was designed to acknowledge that the labor of care is frequently overlooked and dismissed. This category is meant to uplift and honor an individual who nurtures and is skilled at balancing the well-being of themselves and their community members.

Congratulations to the Matriarch Award finalists Laura Bulluck, Vanessa Kohnen, and Kischea Talbert!

Your respective communities have so much love and appreciation for the work you do. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all this Thursday, May 2nd.

THANK YOU PHOENIX! The Daring Generations event on May 2nd is officially sold out.

Tucson, tickets are still available for our May 16th event. Don't wait to get your tickets 👀.

For more information on WFSA's Daring Generations event series, visit bit.ly/daring-generations.

We received an overwhelming amount of incredible submissions for the Transformation Award category in Phoenix!

Congratulations to Transformation Award finalists Haley Coles, Shelley Jackson, and Sharifa Rowe 🎉. Your work in and for your communities does not go unnoticed!

Celebrate these finalists, network, and enjoy a night out in community at WFSA's inaugural Daring Generations event this Thursday, May 2, 2024, starting at 5:30 PM.

Phoenix, get your tickets at bit.ly/daring-generations.

The Arizona Supreme Court has upheld the Archaic 1864 Abortion Ban. But Pro-abortion advocates at our Arizona State Capitol are actively working to repeal the territorial era ban. A bill has been introduced in both the House and Senate to eliminate the ban, and this Wednesday, May 1st, the Arizona legislature has the opportunity to pass said bill and send it to the Governor's desk!

We are encouraging folks to pack the gallery at the state capitol, 1700 W Washington St, this Wednesday, May 1st, to support the efforts to repeal the ban. The actual hearing will not begin until 10 am. However, the gallery is expected to fill out very quickly in the state house, so they are encouraging folks to arrive early.

We hope to see you there! 📣

Happy to share that our very own Katia Jones was featured on the Tucson Metro Chamber's "The Business of..." podcast. Check out her sincere and thoughtful conversation including Katia's past nonprofit experience, why she decided to take on the Chief Executive Officer position at WFSA and how WFSA plans to empower Women and Girls in the coming years!

Thank you for having us Tucson Metro Chamber!🎧
Listen up here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wAmW4blPvjdORHJVSGG2L

It's time for a Transformation Update!👏🏾 Please read WFSA's Spring Newsletter below which highlights some of the changes we've been through in prior months and our excitement about what is to come for Women and Girls in Arizona.

https://womengiving.org/wfsas-transitional-update-april-2024/