AUG 2022

Hello {{FirstName or 'friend'}},

This month our leader, Karundi Williams, is taking a much needed pause to replenish her spirit and energy. In this work, August is often the month of anticipation as we prepare for the busiest season of our work. At re:power we’re gearing up to support organizations through GOTV season with new webinars and resources; train new elected officials through the Progressive Governance Academy in November and December of this year; and to provide healing spaces for folks as we all make our way through yet another election season. Keep an eye out for all of these exciting events in the coming weeks! 

So, just like Karundi, we hope all of you are taking a minute to catch your breath this month. Because September is right around the corner and we’ve got work to do! 

In partnership & solidarity, 

Team re:power

Ms. Foundation:

The Battle for Abortion Access Heads to State Courts
Make sure to check out the accompanying Action Checklist! 

National Center for Responsive Philanthropy:

Beyond Voting — Building Power In BIPOC Communities

The Nation:
As the World Burns, Organizers Are Burning Out

This Fall, the Progressive Governance Academy is coming to a community near you! Workshops for local and state elected officials will be happening in Michigan, Georgia, Oregon, California, DC, and also virtually.

The PGA aims to to provide resources and knowledge to elected officials to ensure that they can work effectively in deep collaboration with their communities to make real change. And, to that end we’re in partnership with some amazing organizations, like Oregon Futures Lab, the League of Conservation Voters, New American Leaders, and others to curate these events and make them successful. Please reach out if you want to explore a PGA partnership or want to attend an event!

On Monday, August 22nd we held a Movement Briefing where we shared the results from our 2022 Organizer Survey. If you weren’t able to join us, head over to our new website to read our blog post on the results. You can also download the full Executive Summary here. 

On Wednesday, August 24th we held the third offering in our Post-Roe webinar series. This session focused on building state power in these times and we were joined by two incredible state organizers, Shanay Watson-Whittaker from Michigan Voices and Prentiss Haney from the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. Click the button to watch the recording and check out some resources in the re:commendations section below!

“As a Latina who lives in a very conservative area, being an organizer is tough. In my current position, I also exist in a very white space and I’ve been hit hard with imposter syndrome. Being involved with the Women of Color Leadership cohort has been so impactful and interesting. I’ve learned so much with my cohort. My biggest takeaway—this imposter syndrome needs to go!”

GABRIELA FUENTES (she/ella)

WOMEN OF COLOR LEADERSHIP COHORT

We’re seeking a collaborative and motivated development professional to closely work and partner with the Director of Development to help oversee and manage the overall development functions of re:power with a general focus on growing our portfolio of individual givers and a specific focus on leadership gifts.

We’re seeking a creative and dynamic leader with the ability to vision and execute innovative and strategic programs. The position will be responsible for supervising staff and trainers towards program outcomes and professional growth, stewarding and growing partnerships with progressive organizations and campaigns, and developing and overseeing a portfolio of movement tech programs to train and support digital organizers and data practitioners. 

Shout out to our sponsors that help us keep our training costs accessible! 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email sarah@repower.org to learn more! 

This email was sent by re:power, a women of color-led team of organizers, strategists, and technologists dedicated to building transformative political power. Our work is tied to the belief that by partnering with individuals, organizations, and coalitions across the country, we can uncover leaders within communities to create radical change.

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re:power
2639 Nicollet Avenue Ste 220
Minneapolis, MN 55408
United States

JULY 2022

Original photo credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Hello friend,

Sunday July 24th was Self-Care Day. Did you take some time to take care of yourself? Did you even know it was Self-Care day? 

The truth is, I bristle at the notion of self-care these days. I’ve got enough on my plate and now I have to think about how to take care of myself too? Our recent Organizer Survey confirmed just how burnt out our movement really is—this was the #1 challenge that organizers are facing. These results speak to deeper issues within our work, its sustainability, and where we are headed as the world seems to be crumbling around us. 

Self-care is a band-aid to larger problems that our movement must deeply address. If our ultimate goal is to better the lives of people of color and other marginalized folks AND our organizations, more and more, are made up of those folks—we have to ask ourselves, what are we doing to better the lives of our fellow movement folks? 

This also doesn’t mean that we can’t do some self-care too. Personally, over the last month, I’ve been focusing on stillness. As someone who has been in movement work for quite some time, I’m realizing how reactionary I can be. Something happens—I immediately react. And something is always happening. 

So instead, I’ve been taking an intentional pause to practice being still. What I’ve discovered is when I’m still, I can hear myself more clearly. My body tells me what it needs. My innate knowing comes through.  I find the answers and then I know how to move. I hope you’re able to practice whatever self-care that allows you to move forward with intention and powers.

- Karundi

In March we launched a movement-wide survey to better understand the short- and long-term needs and challenges of organizers, especially BIPOC organizers. Well the results are in and frankly, it’s not looking good for our folks. The Nation wrote a great piece digging into the results of our survey more deeply and here are a few highlights from the results:

• By and large, all organizers list burnout as one of their top short-term challenges
• BIPOC women and Black organizers also named the disconnect between power building and bettering people’s lives as a challenge 
• Black and BIPOC women organizers named training opportunities as a major short-term need

We want to share more about these findings with you! Join us on August 22 for our movement-wide briefing where we dig in deeper!

This week we launched the 2.0 version of the re:power website! Check-out our new look and enjoy some of our NEW features like: new resources, a new search function for trainings, a brand new partners page and some beautiful graphics!

re:power Fund, along with our partners at Local Progress and State Innovation Exchange (SiX), are thrilled to announce our newest staff member Heidi Gerbracht (she/they) as the Director of the Progressive Governance Academy (PGA).

We hosted two great webinars in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Make sure to check them out below and feel free to share with your networks!

The Battle for Abortion Access in State Courts

In this webinar we learned about how state courts impact every issue we organize around and what we can do about it!

Digital Safety in a Post-Roe World

Folks learned the difference between safety and security and how to protect themselves and others from potential harm when seeking/providing abortion services or organizing for the right to abortion. 

"I believe in starting with the grassroots to build transformative political leadership. That’s one reason why I support re:power. They are supporting the long-term systemic change that is needed."

JUSTIN POLLACK

RE:POWER DONOR

In case you didn’t already know, we currently have a Midterm Match where every dollar you invest with re:power will be matched 1:1 through July 30th. Please join our incredible community of donors who support re:power’s critical work by giving $25, $50, or $100 today! 

• My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter by Aja Monet
• A Broken People’s Playlist by Chimeka Garricks
• Greyhound Americans by Moncho Ollin Alvarado

• Heartstopper: Pure. Positive. Hopeful.
• The Bear: Sustainability. Mental health. Food!
• The Deep End: Be careful of who you trust to help you with healing.

• All My Relations Podcast
• Liberated Love Notes Podcast
• Renaissance - Beyoncé: Enough said.

• The Nap Ministry
• Reyna Cohan 
• Brown Girl Therapy

Shout out to our sponsors that help us keep our training costs accessible! 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email sarah@repower.org to learn more! 

This email was sent by re:power, a women of color-led team of organizers, strategists, and technologists dedicated to building transformative political power. Our work is tied to the belief that by partnering with individuals, organizations, and coalitions across the country, we can uncover leaders within communities to create radical change.

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews).

re:power
2639 Nicollet Avenue Ste 220
Minneapolis, MN 55408
United States