Feel Good Friday - National Women's Law Center

This Sunday is International Women's Day and the 2026 theme, "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls," feels more urgent than ever. That’s why today's spotlight is on National Women's Law Center.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., National Women's Law Center (NWLC) “fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls”. They do this through litigation, policy advocacy, and culture change to help “break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.”

The Center began when secretaries at a public interest law firm made four demands: better pay for women, more women staff attorneys, work on women's rights, and an end to being expected to serve coffee every morning. The group succeeded and NWLC has been fighting for women ever since.

Today, NWLC works across five core issue areas: reproductive rights and health care , education and Title IX, workplace justice, poverty and economic security, and LGBTQ+ equality. Their tools include litigation, federal and state policy advocacy, and public education campaigns, making them one of the only multi-issue gender justice organizations working across all of these fronts simultaneously.

NWLC has had a big impact in the courts and beyond. In 2024 alone, they filed 25 amicus briefs, brought four new enforcement actions before federal agencies, and filed a novel federal lawsuit to protect access to emergency abortion care. They also launched Project Defiance, a four-year, $100 million campaign to safeguard the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people.

If you'd like help NWLC in their fight for gender justice, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation, take direct action by texting NWLC to 32434, shop for merch, and amplify their message on social media. Follow National Women’s Law Center on Bluesky, Instagram or LinkedIn. Happy International Women's Day!

Feel Good Friday - Equality Now

Happy Friday! It’s still March, it’s still Women’s History Month so let’s talk about Equality Now.

Founded in 1992 and based in New York City, the mission of Equality Now is "to achieve legal and systemic change that addresses violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world.”  They do this with a global network of lawyers, activists, and supporters who hold governments responsible for their international obligation to prohibit all forms of violence and discrimination against women. 

Equality Now works in all regions of the world and uses a combination of legal expertise, advocacy, collaboration, and resourcing to get their work done. Watch this video to hear Global Executive Director, Mona Sinha explain their work or keep reading.

There are four areas that Equality Now focuses on. Achieving legal equality is the first step towards gender equality. The team at Equality Now works to end legislative gender discrimination and holds governments around the world accountable for their obligations under international law. Ending harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation means leading global campaigns against these practices while also collaborating with regional partners and pushing for states to enact and implement effective laws. 

Ending sexual violence and sexual exploitation is important because 1 in 3 women globally will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes. Equality Now works to enact good laws that are effectively implemented while also exploring partnerships that take an ecosystems approach to building support mechanisms for women and girls. They work to prevent online sexual exploitation and abuse as well as partnering with local activists to challenge sex trafficking and sex tourism.

In 2023, Equality Now shared their feminist, legal expertise in 76 trainings and workshops. They helped change 14 laws in 12 countries, which improved access to justice for 39.2 million women and girls worldwide. Read stories of this impact here.

If you’d like to help Equality Now realize their vision of “a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law, and full enjoyment of their human rights” there are many ways to do so. Make a donation, join the changemakers network, shop for merch, and amplify their message on social media.  Follow Equality Now on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - World Pulse

March is Women’s History Month and we’re celebrating an organization that connects and supports women across the globe, World Pulse.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the mission of World Pulse is “to create a world where all women thrive: one connection, one collaboration at a time.” They believe that “when women are heard and connected they transform the world for the better.” World Pulse is facilitating these connections through their social network.

Here’s how it works. World Pulse provides a digital space for 85,000 members across 233 countries and territories. Women and allies in this network connect, share their stories, access resources and collaborate to create change. The women on the platform take on different roles such as leaders, mentors, encouragers, and innovators. This new model of philanthropy connects funding directly to changemakers through technology, community, and storytelling. 

It starts with people joining the community and sharing their stories. Themes for the stories span a variety of gender justice topics including, but not limited to, economic power, health, education, human rights, technology, arts and culture. Some of the people and organizations receive financial support for their initiatives. Examples of recent grantees include a woman in Zimbabwe helping people navigate cyberbullying, a disability rights advocate in Kenya and peace activist in Cameroon.

In addition, people who are members of the community can connect to share ideas and resources and partner to develop their businesses, build movements, run for office and improve the lives of millions. In a 2023 survey, World Pulse found that 70% of members said their actions as a result of World Pulse made an impact, 25% trained or educated others, 22% changed behaviors in their community and 9% influenced a law or policy. You can read more about global collaborations on the impact page.

If you’d like to help World Pulse expand connections, amplify voices and build agency for women worldwide there are several ways to do so. Read the latest stories and connect with changemakers, make a donation, and amplify their work on social media. Follow World Pulse on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Ukrainian Women's Fund

March is Women’s History Month and we’re kicking it off by highlighting work being done by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Ukrainian Women’s Fund (UWF) is the only women’s foundation in Ukraine. Their mission is to “support women's/feminist organizations, make for their participation in the development of a powerful, effective and mass women's/feminist movement capable of protecting women's rights and promoting gender equality in all areas.”

Current efforts by UWF are focused on rapid response grants to support women and girls who face humanitarian challenges caused by the Russian invasion as well as activists who are at the forefront of the volunteer movement. Funds are used to cover the urgent needs for water, food, medicine, hygiene, and communication with a focus on the most vulnerable groups of women and girls.

In addition to these immediate needs, funding provided by UWF supports women’s rights and feminist organizations in Ukraine, women activists and entrepreneurs, young women leaders, and journalists and editors in the media.

Examples of the work being done in current projects includes advancing women’s security, economic empowerment, and leadership in post-conflict Ukraine; continuing Ukraine's EU integration-related reforms; and training teenagers on how to create a culture of consent, define their own boundaries and respect the boundaries of others.

UWF shares many success stories on their website which involve developing girls’ independence and leadership skills through a girl scout program, creating a Women’s Leadership Academy that trains women how to make improvements in their communities, and a grant competition to support female veterans and military families. From February 2022 to February 2025, UWF has received over $54,000 in donations which they apply to these programs.

If you’d like to to help the Ukrainian Women’s Fund change systems with and for women in Ukraine there are several ways to get involved. Make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow UWF on Facebook or Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. 

 

Feel Good Friday - The Muslim Women's Organization

Inspired by the fact that it’s both Women’s History Month and Ramadan, we’re highlighting The Muslim Women’s Organization, a very aptly named organization that works with Muslim women.

 

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the mission of The Muslim Women’s Organization (The MWO) is “ to empower communities by harnessing the leadership of Muslim Women and ensuring that they have the resources they need to affect change in their areas of passion.”

The programs that The MWO runs are dynamic and change to meet both the needs of the community and the interests of the volunteers. Currently there are 19 programs focused on four areas:  Aid, Awareness Building, Leadership Training, and Sisterhood.

Examples of Aid programs include food donation to families with children in Title 1 schools and financial assistance such as schools supplies or gift cards to purchase clothing. Awareness Building programs educate women on issues such as mental and physical health, domestic violence and voting rights. 

Programs in the Leadership Training area include financial and business training for women as well as a program directed at boys and girls from 7th to 12th grade. Called Leaders In Training, it help develop leadership skills for the young people through opportunities to engage in community service initiatives.

Sisterhood can be found in the Cafe MWO programs which offer women a chance to connect, get to know each other and discuss current events in the world, society, community, and their own lives.

You can visit the website to read details about the programs, access a list of resources across central Florida or to get connected to spiritual support or financial aid. In the last year, The MWO volunteers have donated over 4,200 hours to various programs as well as distributed more than $65,000 in aid.

If you’d like to help The Muslim Women’s Organization expand opportunities for women’s leadership in their communities, personal lives, and professional spheres, there are many ways to get involved.

People in the Orlando area can view this calendar and join an upcoming event. All of us can make a donation and help amplify the work of The MWO on social media. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram @themwo and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Oasis for Girls

Today’s Feel Good Friday post highlights a local organization, well local if you live in the Bay Area, Oasis for Girls. 

Founded in 1999, Oasis for Girls began as a Friday night Girls Group a at a Teen Center in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. While the programs have evolved, the mission remains the same - to “partner with young women of color, aged 14-18, from under-resourced communities in San Francisco to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover their dreams and build strong futures.”   

Oasis for Girls offers three after school programs that are both culturally relevant and gender-specific. These programs are designed to empower the girls and equip them with life skills while they build a sisterhood through shared experiences.

RISE focuses on developing life skills. Girls can explore personal identity, mental health, and social justice issues. Examples of classes in this program include cooking, self defense and yoga. It culminates with the participants planning a direct action project to make a positive change in their community.

CREATE is focused on arts and activism. Workshops include learning about visual, performance and digital art and how they can be used to address social justice issues. Field trips can include different art venues and events.

ENVISION is focused on career exploration. Workshops help girls develop skills such as interviewing and networking, while also introducing topics like workplace discrimination and code switching. Visits to job sites, networking events and internships at the UCSF Department of Neurosurgery expand the girls’ career awareness.

All of the programs are taught by Program Coordinators who mirror the girls’ backgrounds and serve as allies and mentors throughout their high-school years. If you know a girl who would be a good match for the programs, applications for the summer sessions open in mid-May. Fill out this application form to get started.

If you’d like to support Oasis for Girls and help girls in San Francisco discover their dreams and build strong futures, there are many ways to do so. Volunteer your time, donate your money, and amplify their message on social media. Like the Oasis for Girls Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - Together Women Rise

Let’s close out Women’s History Month with “a powerful community of women and allies dedicated to achieving global gender equality”, Together Women Rise.

Founded in Greenville, South Carolina in 2003, the vision of Together Women Rise is “a world where every person has the same opportunities to thrive regardless of their gender or where they live.” They work towards this goal through three core action areas: learning, giving and community building.

The actions take place in hundreds of Together Women Rise chapters across the U.S. As explained on the website, in local chapter meetings “members learn about and advocate for gender equality issues, give grants to organizations that empower women and girls in low-income countries, and build community to forge meaningful connections that increase our strength and collective impact.”

Together Women Rise identifies and funds a monthly Featured Grantee organization, who has been carefully vetted. All grantees are locally-led, measuring impact and working in collaboration with the women they serve. Chapter members are provided with a wide range of learning materials on the featured country, issue, and project. This also includes recipe, book, film, and music recommendations from the grantees. 

Examples of organizations that have received $50,000 grants in 2023 include: The Pangea Network, providing life and business skills training to women in poverty in Kenya, in addition to small business funds; and Maya Midwifery International, preparing and sustaining midwives in Guatemala to improve maternal child health outcomes. Upcoming grants will fund projects supporting women and girls in Ethiopia, Honduras, India and many more countries.

As you can see from the examples above, Featured Grants focus on delivering direct services to women and girls. Together Women Rise also funds Transformation Partnerships, organizations whose work creates broader, systemic change in order to achieve global gender equality and Impact Partnerships, programs run by larger organizations such as Unicef and the Peace Corps.

If you’d like to become a part the global community of women and allies working towards the goal of gender equality for women and girls everywhere, there are many ways to get involved. Attend one of the Together Women Rise 20th anniversary events, join a chapter, or if there’s not one near you, start a chapter. Members can join trips to visit grantee organizations and everyone is welcome to join the book club. 

There are also more traditional ways to show your support such as volunteering, making a donation and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Together Women Rise on Facebook, on Twitter @TogetherWmnRise and on Instagram @togetherwomenriseorg.

Feel Good Friday - National Women's History Museum

Want to spend Women’s History Month increasing your knowledge of women’s history? A good place to start is the National Women’s History Museum.

Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is “an innovative online museum dedicated to uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society” in order to “fundamentally change the way women and girls see their potential and power.”

More than four million people visit NWHM each year. A great place to start your tour of the museum is by exploring their virtual exhibits. Topics range from creating a female political culture, through the women of NASA and all four waves of feminism. This museum never closes so you can visit as many exhibits as you like at a pace that works for you.

Next, peruse biographies of inspirational women throughout history. While you’re likely familiar with people such as Rosa Parks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Malala Yousafzai, there are hundreds of stories of lesser known women to read. You can sort the biographies by topic, era and location or click on a picture of someone you don’t recognize. That’s how I learned about jazz musician Toshiko Akiyoshi, Zuni cultural ambassador and artist We’wha, and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” author Sarah Josepha Hale.

NWHM also provides educational programming for teachers, students, and parents. This includes digital classroom resources with lesson plans and virtual field trips covering topics such as “African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement” and “The Beginnings of the Women’s Suffrage Movement 1776-1872”.

Not everything produced and curated by NWHM is virtual. There is a shattered-glass portrait of Vice President Kamala Harris, titled Glass Ceiling Breaker, on display at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., and a new exhibit, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC, will open at this location on March 30th. You can check the website for other upcoming events, both in person and virtual.

If you’d like to help the National Women’s History Museum educate, inspire and empower their visitors there are many ways to do so. Make a donation or shop to show your support. You can also let other people know about this resource by amplifying them on social media. Follow NWHM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @womenshistory. #WomensHistory

Feel Good Friday - MADRE

The Women’s History Month theme continues and today we highlight the work of MADRE.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York City, MADRE is “an international women's human rights organization and feminist fund” with a mission to “advance women’s human rights by meeting urgent needs in communities and building lasting solutions to the crises women face.”

MADRE works with community partners in Colombia, Guatemala, Iraq, Kenya, Nicaragua and Palestine. They focus on three strategies: grant making, organizational strengthening, and legal advocacy.

Grants fund local, women-led organizations that are meeting immediate needs, such as shelters and health clinics, while also focusing on lasting change. MADRE targets groups that prioritize the leadership of young women and girls, Indigenous women, Afro-descendant women, LGBTIQ people, and people with disabilities.

Community-based partner organizations receive training, advice on funding models, and strategic exchange to strengthen their capabilities. MADRE also helps women leaders advocate for their communities in policymaking spaces by providing legal advocacy and training.

These strategies are applied across the following programs: ending gender violence by equipping women with tools to prevent abuse in war and building clinics and counseling centers;  advancing climate justice through grassroots solutions like building clean water systems and seed bank harvesting; building a just peace by bringing aid to communities, working to address root causes of conflict and involving women in the peace process; and a feminist policy jumpstart which advocates that U.S. policymakers champion gender justice and human rights.

In December, 2019, MADRE Executive Director Yifat Susskind delivered a talk at TED Women encouraging people to think like a mother in order to not get overwhelmed by crises and be able to take action. It’s a philosophy that guides MADRE’s strategy today.  

If you’re interested in taking action to support women leaders around the world, a great way to do so is with a donation to MADRE. You can also help out by amplifying their work on social media. Follow MADRE on Facebook, Twitter @MADREspeaks, and Instagram @madrespeaks. #ThinkLikeAMother

Feel Good Friday - Feminist Network

International Women’s Day was March 8th and we’re going to continue the celebration by highlighting the international women of Feminist Network.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Lviv, Ukraine, the mission of Feminist Network is the “creation of space for the development of the feminist community in Lviv and Ukraine.”

The activists who started this organization originally wanted a space where they could discuss feminism with other women. Since those early days, Feminist Network has grown in both size and scope. Now, they do work focusing on gender and feminist education; creation, support and development of the feminist community; and building a network to unite different leaders and city institutions in order to bring feminist values to life.

Projects they run include public lectures and events, art exhibits, street protests, a club for teenage girls called Girls Can, events focused on LBGTQ rights, and online classes in medi, writing, and feminist theory.

Since the Russian invasion last year, Feminist Network responded by starting new activities to support the people of Ukraine. These include finding housing for refugees and activists from regions where active hostilities are taking place, providing free babysitting services for refugee’s children, holding free sessions with psychologists for people in the community, providing humanitarian support to elderly women in Lviv, and creating online content to address the needs of vulnerable groups during the war. You can see the volunteers behind these efforts in this short video and read these stories of how and why they got started. 

The best way to provide support to Feminist Network is with a donation. You can also help by amplifying their work on social media. Like the Feminist Network Facebook page, follow them on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Win (Women in Need)

On this first Feel Good Friday of Women’s History Month, let’s get to know Win, an organization helping women and children across New York City.

Founded in 1983 as Women in Need, Win began as a shelter for four homeless women and their combined six children. Forty years later, Win is " the largest provider of family shelter and supportive housing in New York City.”

Statistics on their website state that approximately 60% of New Yorkers in shelters are families with children and every night nearly 52,660 people in New York City, including over 17,000 children, go to bed in a homeless shelter. That’s why the vision of Win is “to break the cycle of homelessness by being the premier leader and trusted partner in innovative solutions for families in need.”

Win takes a comprehensive approach to break the cycle of homelessness which they call The Way to Win. It includes over 1,700 units of transitional housing where families stay for an average of 14 months. There are also 330 permanent supportive apartment units that include continued counseling for families with special needs, such as mothers who have aged out of foster care or who are in recovery.

In addition to housing assistance, Win provides childcare; education on life skills such as parenting, financial literacy, healthcare, employment counseling, and interview preparation; and counselors who can address issues such as mental health, domestic violence and substance abuse.

Last year Win served nearly 8,700 homeless people, including 4,700 children, and helped more than 730 families transition from shelters to their own homes. You can read some of their stories at this link. More recently, the New York City Council just passed Win-authored legislation which “requires the city to fund mental health clinicians at every shelter for homeless families with children, providing the support parents and children need and deserve, directly where they live.”

If you’d like to support the women and children Win serves you can attend an event, volunteer your time or donate your money. As always, I encourage you to amplify their work on social media. Follow Win on Facebook, on Twitter @WINNYC_ORG and on Instagram @winnyc_org. 

Feel Good Friday - Dress for Success

It’s the last Feel Good Friday of Women’s History Month so put on your fancy clothes and take a moment to celebrate Dress for Success. 

Founded in the basement of a church in Manhattan in 1996, Dress for Success is “a global not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.” Their vision is “a world where women do not live in poverty; are treated with dignity and respect; and are strengthening their families and shaping their communities.” 

 

Dress for Success clients are women with job interviews who get referred by organizations such as homeless shelters, immigration services, job training programs, educational institutions, and domestic violence shelters. Once connected to a Dress for Success affiliate, these women have access to a variety of services. 

 

There are over 13,000 volunteer personal shoppers who work with women to select clothing for an interview, and later a new job. There are also workshops and career coaching on topics such as resume writing, interview prep, online job search tips and career planning. Many affiliates have an employment retention program for women seeking to network with other professionals and enhance their careers.

 

Since they began, Dress for Success has expanded to almost 150 cities in 25 countries and accepts referrals from over 5,000 organizations worldwide. More than 1.2 million women have taken steps towards economic independence with the help of Dress for Success. You can read personal success stories at this link or meet some clients in this 5-minute video. 

 

If you’d like to get help women become more self-sufficient there are many ways to get involved. Find your local affiliate and volunteer as a personal shopper, or donate a gift card, store credit, or cash. If you’re unsure of an appropriate donation amount, Dress for Success has a campaign encouraging people to give an hour of their pay and then tag it on social media with #YourHourHerPower. Speaking of social media, what a great way to let other people know about this work. Like the Dress for Success Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @dressforsuccess and Instagram @dressforsuccess.

 

 

Feel Good Friday - Girls Not Brides

For our next installment of Women’s History Month Feel Good Friday blogs, let’s talk about child marriage and a group that’s working to end the practice, Girls Not Brides. 

Founded in 2011 to focus attention on the harmful practices that hold girls and women back, Girls Not Brides is “a global partnership of 1500+ civil society organizations committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfil their potential.” Their vision is “a world without child marriage where girls and women enjoy equal status with boys and men and are able to achieve their full potential in all aspects of their lives.” Watch this 3-minute video for an overview of their work.

 

Child marriage is an issue that affects girls around the world. Each year 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That’s 23 girls every minute. In addition to depriving young girls of their freedom to decide if, when and who to marry, child brides are at greater risk of leaving school early, living in poverty, dying in childbirth, and experiencing sexual and physical violence. More information can be found on the learning and resourcessection of the website.

 

Girls Not Brides is a platform for 1500 member organizations across 100 countries to connect, learn from each other and collaborate. Members’ work in health, education and human rights informs the strategy, activities and messaging of the global partnership. Girls Not Brides includes members in national, regional, and global campaigns and members can use the Girls Not Brides website to connect with the media and showcase their work. 

 

Because Girls Not Brides is funded through grants from governments, foundations, and multilateral sources, they do not seek donations from the general public. If you’d like to support their work you can donate to a member organization, support a specific campaign against child marriage, and amplify their message on social media. Like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @GirlsNotBrides and Instagram @girlsnotbrides_. #EndChildMarriage 

Feel Good Friday - Black Women for Wellness

Today is the last Feel Good Friday during Black History Month, and Women’s History Month is just around the corner. What a perfect day to talk about Black Women for Wellness. 

Founded in 1997 and based in Los Angeles, California, Black Women for Wellness (BWW) is an organization that is “committed to the health and well-being of Black women and girls through health education, empowerment and advocacy.” What began as a group of women concerned about the health and well-being of their babies has grown into an organization with a variety of health and wellness programs.
 
At the root of all BWW’s work is the belief that “we have the solutions, resources and responsibility to create the shifts and change needed to impact our health status. Each of us must develop our personal power, hold accountable and support acknowledged leadership, and most importantly, contribute to our survival and growth as a community.”
 
BWW programs that help the community fall into five major categories:

• Sisters in Control – programs here include policy work on reproductive justice, comprehensive sex and sexuality education for people ages 12-30, civic engagement, and voter education work.

• Sisters in Motion – is a program with goals to decrease the incidents of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity through education, lifestyle change, prevention and physical activity.

• Sisters with Options – includes strategies for women to advocate for themselves when seeking quality health services. Specific programs here address mental health and colorectal cancer.

• Sisters @ Eight – is a community forum for education and engagement held on the 2^nd Friday of every month.

• Daughters and Sons of Technology – promotes educational and career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) for people of color, especially women and girls.

There are also programs focused on environmental justice information and resources on COVID-19, and weekly events such as cooking demonstrations, interactive discussions and community outreach.
 
If you’d like to support Black Women for Wellness, there are many ways to do so. Become a member, make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @BW4WLA and Instagram @bw4wla.