For the first time since the HKonJ movement began in 2007, NCWU was an official coalition partner in 2014.  A few of our members have been partners since the launch of HKonJ, and on this foundation, we are thrilled to help build a new moral movement that supports empathy, compassion, diversity, community, justice, and equality. 

 

Like past years, we showed up and marched for women's rights at the Moral March on February 8th. We marched alongside our members, neighbors, and fellow North Carolinians to stand up for a wide-reaching progressive agenda that delivers equal rights for all and a fair shot to get ahead. We're proud that this year's march included speakers from two of our members-Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina and Equality NC-speaking on reproductive rights and LGBT equality, respectively. As these two issues have been at the heart of some of the staunchest and most reliable conservative pushback, particularly by those claiming a moral and religious "high ground," hearing these two issues advocated from the stage solidified our status as a burgeoning movement working towards equality for all North Carolinians. 

 

Read NCWU President Tara Romano's piece, Scenes from a Moral March, and check out the accompanying photos!

 

 

 From left: Kay Castillo, Laurel Sisler, Tazra Mitchell, and Tara Romano

 

Margaret Sanger Award

 

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Central North Carolina presented Katie Early, Ipas Director of Development, with the Margaret Sanger Award at their annual Champions of Choice breakfast last month. Named for Planned Parenthood's founder, the Margaret Sanger Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the reproductive health and rights movement.

  

From Left: Paige Johnson and Katie Early

"Planned Parenthood couldn't have chosen a more fitting recipient of the Margaret Sanger Award," said Ipas CEO Elizabeth Maguire. "Katie's leadership and dedication to women's health and reproductive rights is an inspiration to us all and embodies the mission of Ipas." Read the news release in its entirety here.

  

 

North Carolina Business & Professional Women�€™s Clubs (BPW/NC) will receive the 2014 Joining Forces Mentoring Plus� Grassroots Award next month at the US Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, as part of BPW Foundation's Women's History Month Celebration. This award recognizes BPW/NC as an "early adopter" of the Women Joining Forces Program and their substantial and successful community grassroots efforts to raise awareness and cultivate support for Joining Forces Mentoring Plus� throughout North Carolina. BPW/NC President Mimi Zelman and BPW/NC Women Joining Forces Chair Crystal Williams will be in attendance to accept the award.

 

In addition to regularly highlighting the importance of women veteran mentoring programs, BPW/NC recently expanded upon the Women Joining Forces platform by offering a grant available to women veteran professionals and business owners in North Carolina. The grant can be used for training, startup capital or business related expenses. BPW stands committed to supporting the successful transition and advancement of women veterans in their workplaces of choice and in their communities. For more information or to apply for this opportunity, visit their website here.

 

BPW/NC is a member organization of NCWU. See the entire list of member organizations here.