Rachel’s Network has partnered with the Women, Food and Agriculture Network’s (WFAN) Plate to Politics program to help rural women access the leadership training and networks to advance their political careers. The grant will fund two training sessions in the fall and spring for over 50 women passionate about healthy food and farming to ramp up their leadership in their communities and give them tools to run for public office.
On April 11th a group of Rachel’s Network members had the opportunity to hear remarks from John Podesta of the Center for American Progress on “Women’s rights issues are climate change issues.” The evidence is clear: voluntary family planning empowers women, improves health and resilience, and ultimately reduces the human footprint on the planet.
Because the US is one of the largest contributors to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), eliminating US funds to the agency puts the health and rights of the world’s most vulnerable girls and women on the line. Seema Jalan, executive director of the Universal Access Project and Policy at the United Nations Foundation, speaks out against these cuts.
Del Mar Global Trust is a relatively small foundation. Although most of their grants support organizations that have a more direct association with climate change and related issues, they also support organizations like International Planned Parenthood Federation/WHR that increase access to family planning. Managing Director Elena Marszalek explains why climate and reproductive rights are so connected.
Across the country, in spite of being more than half the population, women consistently hover around 20 percent of elected office at all levels. Sierra Club’s Gender, Equity & Environment Program Director A. Tianna Scozzaro decided to run for office last year and encourages other women environmentalists to run too.
