2025 - Together Women Rise

By Susan Wright, Co-Chair of the Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

The Advocacy Chapter is working to defend foreign assistance funding. As they review the administration’s mega bill for the coming year, both the House and Senate proposals currently call for slashed funding and/or outright closure of almost all US foreign assistance programs, as well as deep cuts in domestic social programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

In our webinar on June 17^th we heard remarkable and moving stories from our guest speaker, Laurel Fain, gleaned from her 24 years as a USAID health officer in countries in Africa and Asia. She discussed how local NGO and government workers are trying to continue their efforts after the abrupt halt of USAID programs. A continued supply of medicines, nutritional supplements and other goods such as bed nets to ward off malaria is what these workers need most urgently.

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Jun 23, 2025

Together Women Rise

Travel, Together Women Rise

Travel, Rwanda

A Journey to Rwanda: Compassion, Community, and Connection

By Tonnie Cummings of the WA, Vancouver – 1 chapter

Reflecting on my recent Together Women Rise trip to Rwanda, these are the images that stick in my mind: row after row of brilliant, green hills extending to the horizon; brightly-colored birds flitting about and calling from dawn until dusk – even in downtown Kigali; and the huge, warm smiles of every single Rwandan we met. The consequences of the horrific 1994 genocide continue to influence their lives, but Rwandans have chosen to reconcile in order to heal and to unify their country. There is a true sense of community and of people looking out for one another. For example, every able-bodied adult participates in a monthly day of community service, called Umuganda, that involves cleaning neighborhood streets, maintaining public parks, or other activities that contribute to the overall wellbeing of the country.

On our trip, we were fortunate to visit four Together Women Rise grantees that embody the Rwandan spirit of compassion and community.

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Jun 23, 2025

Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO

Together Women Rise

We Are in Unprecedented Times

By Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO of Together Women Rise

June 6 marked the deadline for applications to Together Women Rise’s 2026 Featured Grants-and the response was truly historic. We received more than 600 applications, a dramatic increase from our typical 100 to 200 applications per grant cycle. These featured grants provide critical funding to organizations that empower and support women and girls in low-income communities across the Global South.

This surge in applications, while record-breaking, was not entirely unexpected. Even before the grant cycle opened, one organization told me they had to lay off half their staff and overhaul their programs just to stay afloat. They remain deeply committed to their mission, but without new funding sources, their ability to continue is at risk. We saw the urgency reflected in the growing number of inquiries and the strong attendance at our information sessions. In response, we intentionally broadened our outreach to ensure that organizations working with women and girls throughout the Global South were aware of our funding opportunities.

Clearly, we are living through an extraordinary moment of global need for women and girls.

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Vinola Vincent Munyon, Recipe Co-Curator

Recipes

The Proven Platter, Proven Platter, Guatemala, Chicken

The Proven Platter – Guatemala, August 2025

This August we honor MAIA, an organization in Guatemala led by Indigenous women to empower Indigenous girls. Their name comes from Maia, one of the brightest stars in the sky that is considered symbolic of knowledge and wisdom and that has meaning in all three languages that they communicate in for their work (Kaqchikel, Spanish and English). Coincidentally, my second daughter is named Maia, spelled precisely the same way and also coincidentally, she has an August birthday. As I was wondering what the chances were for such an alignment, while researching Guatemalan cuisine, I heard really loud peals of thunder followed by flashes of lightning. It has been an extremely stormy week where I live and while temperatures are still pretty high and it is still grilling season, I feel like the weather calls for a stovetop recipe. Details

Vinola Vincent Munyon, Recipe Co-Curator

Recipes

Chicken, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Noodles, Nepal

The Proven Platter – Nepal, July 2025

The weather in July, no matter which corner of the United States you happen to be in, does not necessarily call to mind a warm bowl of noodle soup. Unless you happen to have a case of the summer sniffles, which I sincerely hope is not what you are currently grappling with. But as I read about our grantee for this month, Rural Health & Education Service Trust (RHEST), and their Stop Girl Trafficking program that keeps at-risk girls in school – thereby reducing their susceptibility to trafficking, early marriage, and forced labor – I felt the need for something warm and comforting. Details

Together Women Rise

Advocacy

advocacy

Advocacy in Action!

By Susan Wright, Co-Chair of the Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS

In the first 100 days of the new Administration, Together Women Rise advocates reached out to our Members of Congress to stress the importance of maintaining key foreign assistance programs that benefit women and children across the globe.

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Hudson OH 2025 Fundraiser - Coleaders Rachel and Tamara Peterson with speaker Roberto Pinedo

Together Women Rise

A Rising Tide

A Rising Tide: Rachel & Tamara Peterson

Pictured above, from left to right: Rachel Peterson, Roberto Pinedo (guest speaker from PERUCAN-OH), and Tamara Peterson.

One of our goals for this Chapter Leader newsletter is to create a forum for chapter leaders to learn from each other and about each other. We’re calling this feature “A Rising Tide” because when one of our chapters succeeds, we all succeed – and we should share those strategies and successes with each other to lift all our boats, metaphorically speaking.

This month, we’re featuring Rachel and Tamara Peterson, co-leaders of the OH, Hudson – 1 chapter. This mother-daughter duo have been leading their chapter for over 10 years! They also host an annual fundraiser for Together Women Rise and participate in various other community events with their chapter members. Our Volunteer Manager, Kia Hunter, spoke with them about this year’s event and some best practices for hosting Rise fundraisers.

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Linda McElroy, Recipe Co-Curator

Recipes

Beef, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Kenya, Rice

The Proven Platter – Kenya, June 2025

Hello Diners!

This month our good works take us to Nairobi, Kenya, in support of orphaned, unaccompanied, and separated refugee girls and young women. RefuSHE’s mission is to protect, educate, and empower these young women to build healthier and more resilient futures for themselves and their children. Details

Together Women Rise

A Rising Tide

A Rising Tide: Mary Griesedieck

One of our goals for this Chapter Leader newsletter is to create a forum for chapter leaders to learn from each other and about each other. We’re calling this feature “A Rising Tide” because when one of our chapters succeeds, we all succeed – and we should share those strategies and successes with each other to lift all our boats, metaphorically speaking.

This month, we’re featuring Mary Griesedieck, Chapter Leader of the CO, Cherry Creek – 1 chapter. Mary has been a Rise member for 10 years and has a lot of great advice on how to make meetings more engaging — including having a speaker from the featured country almost every month!

Originally from St. Louis, Mary has spent most of her life in Colorado and loves it. She is an outdoor person and a people person! With her master’s in special education, Mary worked as a teacher. Her two granddaughters now take up much of her time. Details

Kristina Skepton and Terri Tucker, Recipe Co-Curators

Recipes

pecans, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Stew, Peru, Chicken

The Proven Platter – Peru, May 2025

Regarding Peruvian cuisine: We say “Peru” and (most of) you will respond, “ceviche.” This would not be incorrect. Peru’s ceviche is beloved. We wanted to explore a different, more everyday dish, for this edition of Proven Platter. Allow us to introduce Aji de Gallina – a delicious chicken stew featuring the signature flavor and yellow color of Aji Amarillo chili paste. Details

Together Women Rise

Advocacy

Together Women Rise Advocates Defend Foreign Aid

Written By: Susan Wright, Rise Advocacy Co-Chair

Together Women Rise advocates are fully engaged with our partner, RESULTS, to fight the suspension of U.S. foreign aid and the dismantling of USAID. We know that many Rise grantees are facing disruptions or elimination of programming as a result of the administration’s actions. We need to continue to counteract this stoppage of U.S. foreign assistance that threatens the millions of people who depend on food, medicine, health services and other support from USAID, as well as other programs such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

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Vinola Vincent Munyon, Recipe Co-Curator

Recipes

Vegetarian, vegan, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Jam, Tomato, India

The Proven Platter – India, April 2025

This month as we honor our Featured Grantee, Asia Initiatives, and their work in India, I’m taking a little walk down memory lane to my childhood summers in India. Details

Kristina Skepton and Terri Tucker, Recipe Co-Curators

Recipes

Salad, Tanzania, vegan, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Vegetarian

The Proven Platter – Tanzania, March 2025

To know the cuisine of Tanzania is to know Kachumbari. This refreshing salad is a staple side dish or condiment, found on most dining tables. While the basic ingredients include tomatoes, onions, an acid (usually lime juice), and heat (such as chili peppers or Scotch bonnets), variations abound. Some prepare it with sliced tomatoes, while others prefer a diced preparation – choose whichever suits your needs. Details

23
Jan, 2025

Kia Hunter, Volunteer Manager

Together Women Rise

A Rising Tide

A Rising Tide: Lindy Cater

When Lindy makes a commitment, it’s long lasting. She’s been married for 57 years, lived in the same home since 1978, had a career serving nonprofits, and has been chapter leader of her Spokane, Washington chapter for 9 years. She’s passionate about women’s issues and has served on both Rise’s Grants and Partnerships Committee and is now a member of Rise’s Transformation Partnerships Committee. Details

Together Women Rise

Advocacy

“We Were Made for Times Like These”: Advocacy Orientation Recap

Written By: Margaret Moodian, Ed.D., Rise Advocacy Co-Chair

Last night’s Together Women Rise advocacy webinar inspired our advocacy team, including many who joined us for the first time. The theme, “We Were Made for Times Like These”, resonated with everyone in attendance, serving as a powerful reminder that although the future may seem uncertain, we have the tools and the determination to make a difference. Our constitutionally-assured access to the corridors of power in Washington provides us with an incredible opportunity to advocate on behalf of women and girls around the world who lack a voice. Details

Vinola Vincent Munyon, Recipe Co-Curator

Recipes

Vegetarian, vegan, Proven Platter, The Proven Platter, Stew, Bread, Kenya

The Proven Platter – Kenya, February 2025

The recipe for this month, a rather cold February 2025, is in honor of our grantee, Kakenya’s Dream. The dream is to “invest in girls from rural Kenya through educational, health, and leadership initiatives to create agents of change.” The weather and the subject of our inspiration (Kenyan cuisine, girls being empowered…) seemed to conspire to prod me toward a stew of some kind, a stew that would warm your heart, lift your spirits, and fill you up. Enter: Maharage Ya Nazi, Details

Rehema, a participant with Transformation Partner, Landesa, smiles as she looks down at a table of woven baskets at an open air market

Together Women Rise

Transformation Partnerships, Gender Equality

Landesa, Tanzania

The Power of Women-Led Movements for Land Rights

The Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights works globally to elevate and catalyze the voices and leadership of grassroots women and women-led organizations who are driving the movement on land rights at local and national levels to realize both gender and climate justice. Under its Transformation Partnerships grant with Together Women Rise, in 2024 the Center carried out a range of activities to help reach its goal of achieving long-term, systemic gender equality impact.

For example, in Tanzania, a series of trainings on women’s land rights was facilitated by the Landesa Stand for Her Land team. The trainings equipped participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt transformative agroecological practices, understand women’s land rights, and leverage these tools for women’s economic empowerment. Details