Posts Tagged ‘national organization for women’
Kim Gandy: I had higher hopes for our progress
After 32 incredible years of serving as the President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Kim Gandy is moving on to be a resident Fellow this fall at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School. I want to congratulate Terry O’Neill, NOW’s new president. As the new kid on the block in the women’s community, it’s my job to learn the ropes from the women who have dedicated the whole of their professional lives striving to help create a level playing field for women in this nation.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with many longstanding women’s leaders, and I’ve been completely blown away by the openness, receptivity and generosity I’ve encountered. By all these benchmarks, Kim Gandy stands out. Recently unable to stay at my usual digs in D.C., Kim, husband and know-their-own-mind daughters lent me a pillow, a shower and a delicious barbecue. Leading the largest feminist organization nationally with 500,000 women and 5,987 chapters strong, Kim is also a dedicated mom and wife with warmth and humor to spare. No wonder she’s so universally well-liked.
Kim’s departure is self-admittedly bittersweet:
“Term limits are good, but frustrating when there’s still so much to do!”
Her concern?
“Fifty years after Brown vs. the Board of Education I had higher hopes for the progress we would have made and the progress that would have been sustained.”
Fifty years later, we still aren’t where we need to be—lagging well behind the rest of the world in the number of women in public leadership. I don’t know about you, but I’m mad as heck and ain’t gonna take it anymore!
So what am I dedicating the hours I have left on this planet to? Getting more women elected in this nation. Not only do women at the legislative and decision-making table ensure better results and a healthier nation, it sends all the right messages to the women and especially the young women of this nation.
After fifty years, we should have come further. Join me and support a woman who has the courage to run for office today, at all levels, because we need women at all levels running for office.
TODAY’S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Donate today to a women candidate. Our nation will be stronger for it!
