Dig in with us: Gender Justice, #GivingTuesday & GOTV in Georgia!
Dear Mass NOW Family,
We are filled with gratitude at the outpouring of support we’ve heard in response to our decision to dig in to Mass NOW’s racial justice strategic planning and feminist organizing - thank you! This week we saw Scotland become the first country in the world to make period products free to all who need them. In the face of so much uncertainty, this was a welcome reminder that a feminist future is possible: a world where menstruators aren’t shamed into silence and tampons and pads are considered public goods. There’s so much work to do - period.
Bria and I are energized by this opportunity to continue working together and are thankful for the Mass NOW board’s support of our proposal to work together as Co Directors through June 2021! At our State Conference in March, I plan to cycle off of the board as the Board President, and will continue the work as a feminist organizer in the role of Mass NOW Co-Director with Bria. During this time we are also restructuring the board to be more representative of our multigenerational and diverse feminist community. We are committed to ensuring that our board will be composed of at least 50% women of color.
In the hopes of strengthening our relationship between state chapters and National NOW, I’m excited to share that I’m running to represent the Northern District on the National NOW board. Elections are due at midnight tonight! Scroll down to read more.
While COVID-19 is preventing us from being together in-person, Bria and I would like to find a time to say hi on Zoom with you and tell you about what we’ve been up to at Mass NOW. Join our upcoming Meet and Greet Wednesday, Dec 9th at12PM.
The one crucial, essential part of our plan is that we need you to dig in with us! We’re launching a new monthly giving campaign to sustain Mass NOW’s 2021 feminist agenda to grow our organizing capacity, develop our racial justice strategic plan, and fight for menstrual equity and an intersectional agenda. #GivingTuesday is tomorrow but we wanted you to be the first to know: we’re sending our first 10 monthly donors a special thank you gift from one of our favorite Black-owned small businesses!
Thank you for digging in with us, we couldn't do it without you.
In solidarity,
Sasha Goodfriend
Mass NOW State President
National NOW Board Elections - DUE MIDNIGHT 11/30/20
If the current White House administration has taught us anything, it's that we need to be working across state lines and in coalition with feminist organizers across the country.This year we’ve seen an exodus of chapter leaders across the country and we have a glaring need to rebuild member trust, develop a racial justice strategic vision and build strong coalition partners. NOW needs a National NOW Board that understands and embodies intersectional feminism and represents the grassroots, and I am that candidate. If elected, I'd be the youngest person on the National NOW board. Northern NOW district, please empower the voice of the next generation of the feminist movement by voting for me to represent our district on the NOW Board. You can read more about my vision on my website.
Elections for the National NOW Board have been extended until midnight, Monday, November 30th! Go to https://now.simplyvoting.com to cast your vote. You'll need your elector ID and password, which are either in the mail in ballot or email you got. You can search "Simply Voting" in your email to see if you can find it or call the National NOW office at 202-628-8669.
December 2-4: “The Time is Now: Gender Justice, Antiracism, and Systemic Change.”Mass NOW is honored to participate in the steering committee for the 4th Biennial New England Women’s Policy Conference with the Center for Women and Public Policy at UMass Boston. Please join this exciting virtual event featuring:
- Keynote Speaker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), December 3
- Policy topics addressed by panelists and in interactive discussions during our breakout tracks will include health and healthcare, childcare and education, low-wage and essential workers, and policing women of color and LGBTQ communities.
- We’ve partnered with IGNITE!, the national non-partisan organization promoting young women’s engagement in the political process, to develop special breakout tracks for high school and college-age women participants.
- The final day of the conference will bring together representatives from across New England to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities facing women, and particularly young women and women of color, and develop a call to action.
- Ticket prices are $15 for the IGNITE track and $50 for general admission; admission cost can be waived for those experiencing economic hardship.
Get Out The Vote with Georgia NOW
All eyes are on Georgia’s upcoming Senate election runoff January 5th to try and ensure a Democratic majority win in the U.S. Senate. We have until December 7th to register new voters and early voting begins December 14th. Join NOW activists from across the country in getting out the vote in the upcoming Senate runoff in Georgia. Every Monday, we’re coming together to call Georgia voters, starting TODAY, Monday Nov. 30th at 6pm eastern time. Sign up to join us here.
- For more information about volunteering on the ground in Georgia, contact Triana Arnold James at triana_james@yahoo.com.
- If you would like to volunteer to make calls to Georgia NOW members to ask for volunteers on the ground in Georgia, email jeri.lee.burton@gmail.com and she will send you a list of members to call and a script.