Women and Politics

As part of WCF’s efforts to collaborate with other Sister Allied Organizations, I’m meeting with as many great leaders as possible. I often say that I’m the new kid on the block, and have so much to learn from these women whom I admire greatly for their work.

Last week, I met with Winsome McIntosh and Kate Drummond from Rachel’s Network.

“Rachel’s Network’s mission is to promote women as impassioned leaders and agents of change dedicated to the stewardship of the earth.”

Their sister organization, Rachel’s Action Network, is “dedicated to promoting and supporting women leaders who are advocates for a healthy environment.” Rachel’s Network founder, Winsome McIntosh, is a certified rock star in the environmental world. She has taken her own philanthropic dollars and invested in ensuring that women who care about the environment support it by running for office. She has also undertaken the very brave work of assisting the women electeds on the Hill to connect with one another and develop relationships - so that more meaningful legislation can be drafted to make a difference. She is truly a visionary, which is not an easy role.

WCF worked with Winsome McIntosh on our online bundling project in 2008. It was a great experience for both her and us, because we’re equally committed to helping women influence social change by changing their contribution habits. Our Vote With Your Purse research shows that while women give the majority of charitable dollars in this country, they do no make the connection that investing financially in candidates - especially women candidates that care about the same issues - is essential.

But Winsome McIntosh understands this. Please go visit Rachel’s Network’s website and if the environment is something you care passionately about, this organization is a great fit for you.

WCF and I look forward to working with them in the future.

One of the many pressing issues of importance to women is the environment. As women run for and enter public office, preserving our planet will hopefully be a priority for them. For example, WCF PAC endorsed congressional candidate Judy Chu has pledged to continue her fight for the environment in office.

Actress Joy Bryant speaks up with Oxfam America about how climate change is harming women around the world:

“Women in poor communities are particularly vulnerable. Because of their roles in communities and families, they often have access to less education and fewer resources, all of which makes it more difficult for them to cope.”

Joy is an Oxfam America Sisters on the Planet Ambassador - a group of American women leaders serving Oxfam’s climate change campaign.

Twitter has been buzzing with Earth Day tweets - so I just wanted to give ya’ll a few useful links about what women and progressive organizations are doing to help the environment.

The Women’s Museum - Honoring Women Environmentalists
Women’s Environment & Development Organization celebrating Mother Earth
True Majority: Tell Obama to fix the economy and energy crisis
Choices Feminist Campus - Women and Water
EarthDay.org - what you can do to help the planet
Center for American Progress - Earth Day gets boost from internet
Repower America - add your voice
Time’s colorful history of Earth Day
treehugger - 11 Environmentalist Heroes

And, just for fun: someecards.com’s Earth Day cards.