2022 - Together Women Rise

Chapters, For chapters, For leaders

chapters

Your Next Chapter Meeting – Reflecting on the Past Year

As we wrap up 2022, we invite you to share a few major Together Women Rise moments with your chapter members at your meeting in January. Here is a list of select 2022 accomplishments (by the numbers) as well as a few questions for you to research and discuss with your members. These questions are meant to jog your memory on the many things we have done this year and how we have connected. This is an excellent opportunity to recognize what we have accomplished as an organization and in your individual chapters. Just like the eight days of Chanukah, or the 12 days of Christmas, here are our ten Reasons to Rise! Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

Eggs, Fried, fries, Kenya, Potato, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter — Kenya, January 2023

Potatoes and eggs are a comfort food prepared all over the world. This popular Kenyon dish uses crisp French fries and eggs spiced with chili paste for a warm and filling meal. There are as many variations of this dish as there are street vendors and home cooks preparing it. Details

Nov 22, 2022

Kia Hunter, Volunteer Manager

advocacy, grassroots advocacy, malnutrition, TB

Advocacy Update

While many might think there is nothing to do in this post-election period, our Together Women Rise advocates are stepping up their advocacy in order to get legislation onto the President’s desk for signature before the end of the year. In particular, we are still reaching out to Senate and House offices for their co-sponsorship of the End TB Now Act and the READ Act Reauthorization. We cannot afford to let another year pass without ensuring that money allocated during the appropriations process is spent in the most effective manner. It is essential that we reverse course on TB and girls education to make up for horrible losses in progress due to COVID-19. Details

Nov 17, 2022

For chapters, For leaders, For members, Fundraising

Annual Appeal, Annual Campaign, donating, donations, Fundraising

Setting up a Together Women Rise Fundraiser

This year, we have a new tool to help our members create their own fundraisers for the Together Women Rise annual appeal. Several chapter leaders and members have already set up their fundraisers, including Debra Berman, our Central Regional Leader. We recently spoke with Debra about the individual fundraiser she set up using this new tool. Details

India, Proven Platter, samosa, samosas, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter—India, December 2022

It’s “gathering” season meant for “together-ing.” It is what our family declares, every year right around the time Diwali rolls around. Depending on the lunar calendar that usually falls some time in late October or early November. It usually heralds the start of the season of holidays and celebrations spanning different cultues and religions that involve, essentially, the gathering of friends and family over food. Gathering season lasts till the start of the New Year. Details

Oct 28, 2022

News, Together Women Rise

Board of Directors

Board Happenings: Our Recent Fall Retreat

By Jo DeBolt, Together Women Rise Board Chair

During the first weekend of October, the Together Women Rise Board of Directors met in Charlotte to reflect on our past and plan for the future, especially as we approach our 20^th anniversary next year. We came armed with data on our grant making, chapter development, participation in programs and events, and responses from the recent member survey. We started, though, with stories. Over dinner on our first night, Co-Founder Barb Collins shared stories of several early grantees. Some of these grantees went on to gain significant recognition and extended their work far beyond what they originally imagined might be possible. It reminded us that we don’t spend enough time learning from the relationships we’ve built and celebrating their successes. It’s fuel for the soul. Details

Oct 28, 2022

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

News, Partnerships

banking, Economic Development, Entrepreneurism, Entrepreneurship, finances, Malawi, Shared Interest, transformation, Transformation Partnerships

Announcing Our First Transformation Partnership!

Last year, we announced our plans to launch new Transformation Partnerships that will allow us to better address the root causes of gender inequality. We must take a systems change approach in order to reach our goal of global gender equality. This includes addressing the social and cultural norms, beliefs, practices, and laws that prevent women from having equal access to resources, decision-making power, and opportunity. We are now thrilled to announce our first-ever Transformation Partnership! Details

Oct 26, 2022

advocacy, grassroots advocacy

Advocacy: Moving the Needle Toward Gender Equality

The main goal of the Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS is to guide us in building deep relationships with our members of Congress (MoCs) and their staff. These relationships then become the way we influence policies and funding affecting women and girls around the world. As we approach election day, there is no better time to begin this relationship-building than by joining campaign events, town halls, and the many other forms of voter engagement that are now occurring pre-election. During these events we connect with candidates and educate the public about the issues we work on. It’s the interview process before, we the people, hire representatives to work for us in government. Details

Oct 18, 2022

Kia Hunter, Volunteer Manager

Best Practices, Chapters, For chapters, For leaders

best practices, sharing best practices

Sharing Best Practices: Planning for the Future of Your Chapter

Achieving global gender equality cannot be accomplished alone – and neither can running this organization or sustaining your chapter. Planning for the future of your chapter and sharing chapter responsibilities are key factors in maintaining successful Together Women Rise chapters. At our National Chapter Leader Event on Oct 16, we discussed best practices for continuity planning and inviting members into leadership roles.   Details

Chris Worthy, Education Coordinator

Proven Platter, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter – Cameroon, November 2022

It seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago that gathering together freely with friends and family hardly required a second thought. Whether your chapter is meeting virtually or in-person, we want to revive an old Rise tradition this month. In years past, former recipe curator Linda McElroy created an eclectic menu near the end of each year, offering suggestions for a party to celebrate winter holidays at a November or December meeting. As many of us gather with family and friends this month, we can share food that honors the rich cultures of our sisters around the globe. It might even be an opportunity to tell others about Together Women Rise and invite them to join in our collaborative efforts to increase gender equality. Details

Sep 28, 2022

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

advocacy, AIDS, climate change, covid-19, girls' education, global pandemic, grassroots advocacy, malaria, malnutrition, TB, USAID

Advocacy Update: Celebrating Our Successes!

This month I want to share some advocacy successes. The actions taken by our Together Women Rise members matter! When we take actions together it matters! Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

Chicken, Honduras, masa, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter – Honduras, October 2022

Nacatamales are flavorful masa dumplings, stuffed with a variety of fillings, which are then wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. The filling is made up of spiced meat, beans, and vegetables and there are as many recipes as there are families eating this delicious dish. Chicken, beef, and pork are the most common meats, and potatoes, peppers, and beans are staples, but you will see recipes including everything from squash to raisins. These are the traditional Christmas breakfast in many Honduran homes. Details

Aug 30, 2022

advocacy, climate change, covid-19, girls' education, global pandemic, grassroots advocacy, USAID

Advocating for Global Education

As summer comes to an end and we ready our kids to return to school, there are many children missing out on education. In many low-income countries, children — especially girls — will not be returning to school due to inadequate education systems, discrimination, early and forced marriage, or pregnancy as a result of transactional sex or gender-based violence. And when this happens, most girls are unable to return to school. Their education comes to an abrupt end, and their futures are forever changed. Details

Aug 30, 2022

News, Partnerships, Together Women Rise

Grant Selection, Grant Selection Committee, grant-making, grantee, grantees, grantmaking, grants, participatory grant-making, root causes, systems change, transformation, Transformation Partnerships

Transformation Partnerships Coming Up!

By Scott Osborne and Sue Malick, Co-Chairs of the Transformation Partnerships Committee

You have probably heard about Transformation Partnerships at your local chapter meeting, at one of our national webinars, or here in The Dish. (See below for links to previous blogs.) Transformation Partnerships are our newest grants, dedicated to funding the root causes of gender inequality. Details

Chapters, For leaders, News

staff

Introducing Kia Hunter

Hello, Chapter Leaders!

My name is Kia (yes, it is pronounced like the car), and I am so excited to have joined Together Women Rise this summer as Volunteer Manager. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you today and also make myself a resource for you moving forward. Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

Dessert, frozen, Fruit, Proven Platter, Sweet, The Proven Platter, Uganda

The Proven Platter – Uganda, September 2022

Uganda is known as the “fruit basket” of East Africa and is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa. Leaning into this abundance, Ugandan desserts rely heavily on fruits. During the hotter months of the year, fruit flavored ice lollies or popsicles, known locally as “barafu,” are sold in the markets. Avocados, known as “ova,” are plentiful in Uganda. A happy confluence of factors – consistent rainfall, tropical temperatures, and fertile soil – have led to avocados being cultivated in Uganda since the 1550s. This recipe derives inspiration from both the barafu and the fruits most commonly available and consumed in Uganda (ova and lemon). Details

Jun 24, 2022

advocacy, foreign affairs, foreign assistance, global fund, global health, grassroots advocacy, malnutrition

Advocacy Update: Your Actions Can Make a Difference!

For many of us, summer is the time to kick back and relax. But, hunger and illness do not take a summer vacation. Details

Congo, couscous, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dessert, DRC, Proven Platter, Pudding, Sweet, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter – Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 2022

Caakiri is a simple but delicious couscous pudding that comes together quickly. It was originally made with native grains such as millet or maize and occasionally beans but now is most commonly made with couscous. It is best served fresh with your favorite fruit. Details

Beef, beef stew, Nicaragua, Proven Platter, Soup, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter – Nicaragua, July 2022

Indio Viejo, or old Indian, is a flavorful and hearty stew with a curious name. Folklore claims that the dish got its name from an indigenous chief who did not wish to share his dinner with two Europeans passing through his area. As the story goes, the chief was enjoying some of this stew and when the visitors asked what he was eating he said an old Indian to discourage from wanting him to share. Details

Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO

Carrot, Carrots, Chickpea, Chickpeas, Morocco, Salad, vegan, Vegetarian

Special Cooking Demonstration: Moroccan-inspired Harissa-Honey Carrot Salad

Thank you to our Recipe Co-Curator, Vinola Vincent Munyon, for the excellent cooking demonstration on our June 2^nd national webinar. You can watch the recording HERE and get the recipe below. Details

May 26, 2022

For members, Fundraising

Fundraising, giving, planned giving

The Benefits of Planned Giving

Further your financial goals and help sustain our organization by including Together Women Rise in your estate plans. Planned giving can maximize the impact of your philanthropy in a way that fits with your financial, tax, and estate planning situation, regardless of your means. Here are some options that can offer you a variety of benefits. Details

May 26, 2022

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

advocacy, food security, global health, grassroots advocacy, malnutrition, Second Mile Haiti, Yamba Malawi

The Impact of COVID & the Ukraine War on Global Malnutrition

It was a pleasure speaking about why and what we are advocating for at Together Women Rise’s May national webinar. For those of who missed it, the recording can be found here. Our past two grantees—Yamba Malawi and Second Mile Haiti—are excellent examples of why and how we can address malnutrition. It is important to both support our grantees and their direct services as well as to advocate for Congress to fund nutrition, maternal and child health on a macro level. Each of these approaches — and even better, both together — will go a long way toward eliminating the tragedy of malnutrition. Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

Chicken, Morocco, Proven Platter, tagine, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter – Morocco, June 2022

According to Oxford Languages and Merriam-Webster, a tagine is both a North African, slow-cooked stew and the special clay dish in which it is cooked. Beyond that, the ingredients can be up to you. Details

Apr 25, 2022

advocacy, appropriations, federal budget, global fund, global health, grassroots advocacy, TB

How We Advocate for Funding—The Appropriations Process

As Together Women Rise advocates, we mostly work on two kinds of legislation –authorizing legislation and appropriations legislation. Authorizing legislation creates and/or expands programs that have authority for multiple years and need to be reauthorized. An example would be the global nutrition bills that we’ve been working on recently, HR4693 and S2956. Details

Apr 22, 2022

Best Practices, Chapters, For chapters, For leaders, For members

best practices, Books, learning, sharing best practices

Sharing Best Practices: A Philadelphia Chapter’s Study Group

Learning is one of Together Women Rise’s key focus areas: we learn together to increase our understanding of global gender equality issues and to fuel our collective action. Our PA, Philadelphia-8 chapter has taken this one step further! About four years ago, the chapter – led by Maryanne Schiller, Cheryl Boyd, and Harriet Williams – created a study group for those members interested in learning more and having deeper discussions about global gender equality, outside of their regular chapter meetings. As one person describes it, this study group has led to more connection and community amongst members. The following blog has been written by Chapter Leader Maryanne Schiller. Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

cookie, Cookies, Dessert, Malawi, nuts, Peanut, peanuts, Proven Platter, Sweet, sweets, The Proven Platter

The Proven Platter—Malawi, May 2022

Located in Southeastern Africa, Malawi is known for the warmth and friendliness of her people. Hence, the nickname, the “Warm Heart of Africa.” The cuisine of this country skews traditional African and is dominated by ingredients that are products of two of its major industries: agriculture and fishing. Groundnuts (peanuts) are the most important legume crop in Malawi in volume produced and in the amount of area devoted to their cultivation. The crop also brings in significant revenue. Our dish for the month, in honor of Malawi, is Mtedza, a delightful, easy to make groundnut (peanut) cookie that utilizes ingredients found in most pantries. Mtedza will melt in your mouth, and if one doesn’t pay attention, this recipe that makes 14 cookies might end up serving just two! Details

Mar 29, 2022

advocacy, coronavirus, covid-19, global pandemic, grassroots advocacy, tuberculosis, vaccine access

Advocacy Update: Tuberculosis is a Woman’s Issue

March 24th was World TB Day, and I thought it appropriate to discuss long-time pandemics, such as tuberculosis, as well as the current COVID pandemic. Details

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

Cheese, Haiti, Pasta, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Vegetarian

The Proven Platter— Haiti, April 2022

It’s comfort food around the world: pasta and cheese. This Haitian version has a unique taste because the pasta is cooked well done (not al dente) and spiced up with epis, a sauce commonly used in Haitian cooking, which we highlighted in 2020. For this dish, I did add some jalapeno pepper to the epis to bring a little heat. Details

advocacy, AIDS, coronavirus, covid-19, global fund, global pandemic, grassroots advocacy, malaria, TB

Advocacy Update: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria

This month I want to talk about The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (Global Fund), for which the US is hosting its Seventh Replenishment Conference later this year. Together Women Rise advocates learned about the Global Fund on our Feb 15^th webinar. Click HERE to see the webinar recording and slides. Details

Chris Worthy, Education Coordinator

Eggs, Potatoes, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Uganda, Vegetarian

The Proven Platter—Uganda, March 2022

Ugandan cuisine has a lot in common with the cuisine of West African nations, with glimpses of British, Indian, and Arabic influences. The dish for this month, the Ugandan Potato and Egg Roll, could in fact be mistaken for the Scotch Egg, a boiled egg encased in sausage and fried. The Scotch egg is a dish that is on the face of it, quintessentially English. Details

Jan 27, 2022

Chapters, For chapters, For leaders, For members, Grantees

Center for Victims of Torture, Common Threads Project, gender-based violence, mental health, trauma therapy

The Importance of Focusing on Women’s Critical Mental Health Needs

Though the start of 2022 has brought with it continued global upheaval due to the pandemic and a devastating conflux of crises in Afghanistan, the first quarter of this new year is an important one for Together Women Rise, its grantee partners, and its members. For the first time, there is a deliberate focus on mental health and trauma recovery in this quarter. Details

Jan 27, 2022

Leslye Heilig, Co-Chair of Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

advocacy, coronavirus, covid-19, global pandemic, grassroots advocacy, malnutrition

Advocacy Update

It’s a new year with new beginnings and new hopes and aspirations. How will you be taking control of your third COVID winter? Perhaps we can help you channel your frustrations by training you to become an advocate, effectively raising your voice for global gender equality. Details

Jan 27, 2022

Grantees, Partnerships

Grant Selection, Grant Selection Committee, grant-making, grantee, grantees, grantmaking, grants, participatory grant-making, root causes, systems change, transformation, Transformation Partnerships

Transformation Partnerships and Participatory Grant-Making

This is the third in a series of blogs by Scott Osborne, long-time member of Together Women Rise’s Grant Selection Committe

In my last blog, I talked about systems change and why this focus is so important for Together Women Rise’s Transformation Partnerships. You may recall that a systems change approach means taking a fresh look at what we fund; it means channeling more resources toward the root causes of gender inequality.

There is another way we can have a greater impact on gender equality, however, and this focuses not on what we fund, but on how. We will fund our Transformation Partnerships through “participatory grant-making”. Details

Nepal, Potato, Potatoes, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, vegan, vegan vegetarian, Vegetable, Vegetarian

The Proven Platter— Nepal, February 2022

This is a family recipe from Sabita Rakshit, a friend of recipe co-curator Georgia Reader. Sabita’s family is from Bangladesh, but family members now live around the world and share food photos to stay connected. This is a common breakfast dish, but it is hearty and warming any time of day. It is a “to taste” creation, and served in some form across South Asia and around the world. Details

Jan 4, 2022