Got an old, unused cell phone around gathering dust?

Do a good deed by keeping it from a landfill and helping generate funding for work benefiting women and girls around the United States and the world.  For every cell phone you recycle, you’ll also save an estimated 66 pounds of carbon dioxide–the cause of global warming. 

As part of our ongoing commitment–in partnership with The Urban Institute–to providing information and resources related to the goals of Stepping Stones, please find below summary of recent research on issues of economic security and financial independence for women and their families.

To kick off our bi-monthly “Lunch and Learn” seminar series, the DC Women’s Agenda (DCWA) sponsored a presentation in March by Dr. Shannon Hader, Senior Deputy Director of the DC Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Administration, on: “Disturbing Data on HIV/AIDS and DC Women”.
 
Dr. Hader opened the presentation by explaining that the discussion concerning HIV/AIDS in D.C. has changed because of updated statistics on the disease.  Before 2007, we were relying on statistics from 2002; now we have the opportunity to see what is really going on with HIV/AIDS in D.C. and around the country.

Last year, a number of staff here at The Women’s Foundation participated in the Food Stamp Challenge–living for a week on the food budget allocated to individuals on food stamps–generally about $1 per meal per person. 

As you head into your Memorial Day weekend, here’s a little tidbit you can ponder in the car or while you’re waiting for the weather to warm up and act like summer.  It’s courtesy of Sean at Tactical Philanthropy, who asked today, "Why do people really give to charity?"

I loved this post today on Feministing from Misty Rojo, formerly a prison inmate, discussing the unfortunate fact that most vocational programs available to women in prison teach cosmetology or sewing, but not more "male oriented" work like welding, construction or autobody.

Last week was National Women’s Health Week.  It seems like an appropriate time to talk about the very real health needs that exist in the Washington metropolitan area and the wonderful work our Grantee Partners do to address them.  Also, at the end of this blog I’ve included a link to a new resource that you can use to advocate on behalf of women’s health.

In my former life working on USAID projects focused on education for girls, I traveled to a number of African countries.   While each country is unique and different, after enough travel, meetings and jetlag, they can all start to feel the same in many ways.

Here at The Women’s Foundation, we know that our Grantee Partners are heroes–out there every day doing the tough work on the ground that is changing the lives of women and girls for the better.

I couldn’t help but pass along some of the words of inspiration I gathered at last week’s Women’s Funding Network Conference.  I thought these might be a great way to brighten up a rainy Friday and to wish everyone an awesome weekend!

Words of wisdom and inspiration: