Marcia Coné's Speech at Women's Fund of Rhode Island's 10th Anniversary Gala

Imagine

Who could have imagined 10 years ago how strong and vibrant the Women's Fund would be today? The impact of our research, policy advocacy and grant programs transform the lives of individual women and girls who go from victim to survivor to advocating for change in the family court system—

a shy teen who knows she has something to contribute but doesn't know how to advance herself, to leading and advocating for education reform in her school district who is comfortable now giving interviews to the press —

A working single mother who faces utility shutoffs, who learns her rights to protect herself and her family and ways to financially and responsibly avoid shutoff, who advocates successfully for herself and then coaches other women to advocate for themselves—who now is a leader for antipoverty legislation in our state.

The Women's Fund of Rhode Island helps transform the lives of individual women and girls who then help us transform the lives of all Rhode Islanders.

Imagine now, it's the year 2021 .....In Rhode Island the challenges of poverty, discrimination, and violence have been addressed and our economy is flourishing. Education and leadership opportunities are accessible and we have an abundant talent and resource pool across sectors from which we draw from. We choose the best person for the job based on skills, education, and experience and we embrace both women and men at work and women and men at home because active and present Dads make a positive difference for children.

Imagine.......How did we get there? —Gender equality.

Here's the incredible thing. Not only can we imagine this but together we can decide to do this and can make RI the gender equality state. Each of us can take the opportunity and the responsibility to make this happen.

How?

We need you to paddle up and support what we can imagine and what we do at the Women's Fund to make that happen. Help us transform individuals and Rhode Island. Invest in women and girls and change everything!

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Nonprofits & Activism

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