This year, the power of our community has been my beacon as I begin my new CEO role at WFC. I believe that forging deep bonds of trust and love with one another is essential to co-create the better world we aspire to, a world that our communities truly deserve. I am so grateful for your participation and contributions to our work.
Recently, I was featured in a Q&A with Inside Philanthropy, where I shared about my upbringing in Brazil, my passion for art and gender justice, and my leadership of Women’s Foundation California. As I continue my work with WFC, our community, and our partners, I hope we’ll get to know more about each other and our shared vision for the future. Here is an excerpt from my interview with Inside Philanthropy:
What excites you most about your new role as president and CEO of Women’s Foundation California?
I am so excited to be at the Women’s Foundation California at this time. We’re in a moment of ultra-right, coordinated attacks on democracy, bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, the LGBT community and immigrants. I think we are really well positioned in California to continue to both support grassroots progressive movements in the state and create leadership in the United States for specific policies and changes that we need to see. California is a border state with Mexico and there have also been attacks on bodily autonomy in Latin America.
Our communities are not tied to borders that were established by colonial powers — they move back and forth, both influencing communities in Latin America and influencing us. This is a moment for us as a women’s foundation interested in supporting gender, economic and racial justice in California to support moving resources into grassroots communities and understand what the needs are on the ground. At the same time, we can help reframe and rethink what it is that we want, not just in California, but in the country and in the Americas, regarding what our democracy is and who is represented in democracy. Who gets to choose what solutions are brought to the table?
Together, let’s keep working to defend democracy, support bodily autonomy and reproductive justice, and stand with the LGBT+ community and immigrants.
Your unwavering support emboldens our work as we build our liberated future.