January 16, 2014
Welcome Kristen Elechko
We believe in you
Leading, the Women's Way
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Looking backward and forward
Julie Kumble, Interim CEO

The freshness and clean air of January is aptly named for the Roman god whose two faces look backward and forward, reflecting on the past and gazing out to the future. Janus keeps the doors to both the past and future open, allowing life lessons to mingle with hopes and a sense of the possible. At the Women's Fund, the New Year isn't just about clean slates, resolutions and plans, but it's a time to build on our success and opportunities from the previous year.

 

Taking the helm as interim CEO of the Women's Fund this January lands me right in that sweet spot of moving the Fund forward while acknowledging the strength of our past and feeling gratitude for all we have done. No one can ever replace the unique, dynamic and passionate Carla Oleska who led the Fund for the last eight years. No one can fill those shoes (she had many dazzling pairs anyway!) and that's not even the point. When we look back we see how far we've come thanks to Carla and the Women's Fund team. When we look forward, our path is more illuminated because of her light. She has left us in the sweet spot. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year!

 

The other sweet spot is knowing that, as interim CEO, this amazing Women's Fund is backed by one of the strongest staffs that I've ever known, as well as by a talented, committed and exciting cadre of volunteer board and committee members who all propel this Fund onward.

 

Thank you to all of you who have made our Women's Fund strong in the past and who will move forward with us this year and beyond! Happy New Year!

 

Warmly,

Julie Kumble signature 

Jules

Introducing Kristen Elechko
Kristen Elechko,
Interim LIPPI Director & Grants Assistant

When Kristen rode her bike up Mt. Tom in Easthampton to her first class of the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) last year at Holyoke Community College, we knew she was special. Her cohort learned that, too, over the year as she consistently revealed her unique blend of curiosity, honesty and commitment to women's leadership: her own and that of those around her.

 

As a graduate of the LIPPI class 2013, Kristen is pursuing her Masters in Non-profit Management and currently works with Tuti Scott and Imagine Philanthropy. She focuses her leadership and expertise on creating sustainable human rights and social justice change for women and girls, both here in Western Massachusetts and across the globe. As a lifelong athlete, she also has learned how to utilize her connection with sport to every part of her life. "I like challenging myself on many different levels--mostly, working with a group of like-minded people and finding a route to success. Success can mean many different things to many different people. For me, it represents an experience where my values, integrity and personal growth meet a team's ability to rise up and work towards a common vision."

 

LIPPI will flourish under Kristen's guidance, and we welcome her to the Women's Fund team knowing that all of us can ride up mountains and sail across the other side together.

We Believe in You
The report contains data and indicators on the status of women and girls living in western Massachusetts.
In 2013, we issued our premier
Status of Women Report for Western Massachusetts.

 

Among the report's key findings are data that show the poverty rate is higher than the state average for women in three of our four western Massachusetts counties. Female-headed households are more likely to live below the poverty line.

 

The income necessary for self-sufficiency for an individual in western Massachusetts is $20,106, lower than the state average of $27,084. Yet, the income necessary for a woman with two children--one in preschool and one in elementary school--to be self-sufficient is $49,267, typically more than women's annual earnings.

 

The report reveals that when it comes to poverty and self-sufficiency, conditions are not ideal for every woman in western Massachusetts. Far too many live in poverty and raise their families with insufficient resources. Yet, the Women's Fund knows--better than many organizations--just how resourceful women are.

 

The Women's Fund believes in the power of women as individuals and in the abilities of women as effective leaders. And we know the impact of a collective of feminist energy. We align our grantmaking priorities to support women in articulating social problems and to encourage them in leading social change.

 

The Women's Fund believes in women and we know that, in spite of barriers and challenges, women hold the power to change conditions.

Leading, the Women's Way

In this section, we feature grantee partners, LIPPI participants, or volunteers demonstrating their capacity to lead others and to lead with purpose on important issues.

 

Pick up a newspaper or scan your Twitter and Facebook feeds, and you'll be sure to find an article or two on the absence of women in leadership. Whether women have fallen off the so-called leadership cliff, tumbled into the leadership gap, not leaned in enough or been floored by the glass ceiling, there are still compelling examples of women in western Massachusetts stepping up to lead change on local issues. Here's one of them:

 

Neighbor to Neighbor

      

Neighbor to Neighbor, a current Women's Fund grantee partner,
receives funding to operate a two-year intensive leadership development program for low-income women of color seeking to increase their leadership skills in community organizing and public advocacy. Leading a campaign to improve health conditions and force closure of the coal-fired Mt. Tom Power Plant, group members conduct door-to-door recruitment, individual and group leadership development and political education, and local and statewide advocacy activities. Find out more about Neighbor to Neighbor here.

Requests for Proposals Due February 28 

The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts offers funding to organizations and programs that benefit women and girls in the four counties of western Massachusetts. Under the new grantmaking structure, one $20,000 grant will be awarded to each county. These will be multi-year grants, renewable each year for three years. Find the funding guidelines on our website.

 

All proposals must be received in the Women's Fund office by
5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28.

The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts advances social change philanthropy to create economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Massachusetts through grantmaking and strategic initiatives.


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