An alert from the US Section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom | | Women organize, peace wins | | |
Dear WILPF US members,
I was in a Zoom call last week when an ally shared that she is being harassed online for speaking out about Gaza. Most of us expressed outrage. But the reaction I remember most was from a colleague at AFSC. They said: “How can we help you?”
It is human moments like these that keep me going amidst the ongoing attacks on our democracy. So, I’m committed to fostering a strong culture of care within WILPF (which members stated as a top priority in our re-envisioning process last year).
I see you, WILPF members, mobilizing in the streets, in communities, delivering mutual aid, checking in on neighbors, organizing in person and in Zoom. Simply put: WILPF women are meeting this moment. Thank you for continuing to make WILPF your activist home. Our sisterhood is here for you.
WILPF is actively adapting our organizing model in response to what people are telling us they need right now. We are prioritizing trust, care and safety. We are investing in community-building to counter isolation and polarization, while offering flexible ways to engage that respect people’s time, capacity, and mental health. And we are leaning into WILPF’s unique role as a connector—drawing clear links across issues, convening allies, and sharing cross-generational knowledge—so members don’t have to navigate this moment alone, or without a sense of purpose and direction.
This adaptation also comes with the big C word: change. So that we can be more responsive, nimble, and impactful. I was at a convening recently when I heard someone say: “If someone new joins us, will they want to change things?” Yes. New people will come with new ideas. And we must embrace this. We are anchored by our 110-year history. We are activist mentors through decades of valuable experience. And we also need new voices and new ideas to authentically represent our communities. More voices in the room, building cross-generational power. I truly believe this is how we become stronger together.
Speaking of change, there are exciting new initiatives on the horizon at WILPF US. I invite you to join me at my next ED Open House on Thursday, February 19 at 4 pm PT / 6 pm CT / 7 pm ET. Register here to join. I’ll share highlights of WILPF’s 2026 organizing plan, provide a preview of WILPF’s new website before it launches publicly, and facilitate a conversation about what WILPF women are doing differently to respond to the moment. I hope you can join me. I’m excited to see you.
| Young WILPF US honors Black women leading the peace movement | |
February is Black History Month. Last week, Young WILPF US members convened 26 people from their networks in Zoom to examine the structural barriers and opportunities for greater Black representation within peace and anti-violence movements. Cross-generational Black activists, including WILPF’s own Shelby Young, Co-President Martha Collins, and Emily Ricketts shared their lived experiences.
They spoke about the pressure in Black households to not do this kind of work. Because of safety concerns, barriers to driving change, and the low pay in nonprofit and peacebuilding. The latter being a big factor because Black women are already disadvantaged due to structural and class barriers.
“Trust Black women,” they said. Every speaker shared a story about how the lack of trust in women of color – from school to the workplace to the peacebuilding space – has been a personal barrier. They stressed the importance of telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. And the reality of knowing that activists, especially Black activists, don’t get recognized for their work. They reminded participants that though they might not see the impact of their work, change takes time. And to remember that in the long term, we do have impact.
As the Young WILPF US session closed, WILPF member Emily Ricketts said to the Young WILPF community: “I’m 90 years old. Back in my day, Black women, if they weren’t going to be domestic workers, the only way to make money was as a nurse, school teacher, or social worker. There were limits. Today, I see so many young people going for careers way beyond what I could have dreamed of. The civil rights movement, the openness that now exists, like President Obama who was a community activist and became President. As you think about the impact you want to have: Go for the stars; go for the sky.”
Yes, Young WILPF: Go for the stars.
| | Why WILPF Is Feminist—and Why That Matters for Peace | | |
Throughout our re-envisioning process last year, members named our feminist analysis as one of WILPF’s greatest strengths. So, as we communicate to the world about our work, we will state clearly WILPF’s feminist and fearless approach to peacebuilding. To be clear, feminism is not about excluding men or elevating one group over another. It is about dismantling systems of domination.
That clarity matters, because we know that feminist peacebuilding begins with a clear understanding of power: who holds it, how it is exercised, and who is excluded from decision-making.
A Young WILPF US member from India put it this way: “Feminism opposes power imbalance. The dominant narrative is the misunderstood version of feminism. Feminism is not anti-male, because a lot of men suffer the same patriarchy that women suffer from. In fact, they suffer it harder in the country where I come from—where the number of male suicides far outnumber female suicides. It’s because the problem is always patriarchy. Feminism is such a powerful word that we should hone it, we should own it, and then we should not let other people misinterpret it.”
Those are powerful words. Feminism, as WILPF practices it, is not about exclusion. It is about balance, dignity, and building a world where peace is sustained through justice. We are Feminist. Fearless. For Peace.
| | WILPF San Francisco, East Bay and Palo Alto lead the way | | |
Speaking of fearless, feminist peacebuilders, it was wonderful to meet with WILPF members when I was in San Francisco a couple months ago. I was in town speaking at an UN 80th anniversary event as a Rotary Peace Fellow, where of course, I promoted WILPF.
That same week, a few WILPF members from our San Francisco, East Bay and Palo Alto branches (pictured above: Anne Politeo, Anne Henny, Cherrill Spencer, Judy Adams, Barbara Nielsen, me, Betty Traynor, Kathy Pearce, and Barbara Blong) convened in Barbara Blong’s home, who graciously welcomed us.
When I asked everyone in the room what issue worried them the most, authoritarianism loomed large on everyone’s mind. To get through these times, we talked about the need to mobilize with women and allies across generations on intersectional issues. We talked about creating a visionary goal for WILPF members to strive for together: a national democracy campaign to mobilize more funding for more coordinated action across the country.
On coordinated action: WILPF women in the Bay Area are leading the way! For over eight years, the Peninsula/Palo Alto WILPF branch has held a weekly silent vigil every Friday at noon at a busy Palo Alto intersection. They display signs addressing global issues—from urging a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine-Russia war to demanding an end to US weapons sales to Israel, used in the genocide in Gaza. During their weekly vigil, several thousand vehicles pass through. Last month, 60 new people from local community groups joined WILPF women in their vigil. That’s WILPF in action: convening, linking issues, and being fearless. For peace.
| | Militarization of communities impacts all of us | | |
By now we all know these names: Renee Good and Alex Pretti, killed by ICE. What is less known is that federal immigration officers have shot 13 people since last September. In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody. At least 3,800 children have been taken by ICE since last year. As of December, ICE was holding 68,440 people in detention; nearly 75% of them had no criminal convictions.
From local to global: ICE enforcement is tied to US intervention abroad. Criminalizing people displaced by US foreign policies while bringing war logic, surveillance, and force into our local communities. ICE expansion diverts resources from housing, healthcare, and education; suppresses free speech and dissent; undermines due process; and results in family separation and preventable deaths. Put plainly: ICE violates human rights and any meaningful definition of peace.
In response people are mobilizing: from whistle brigades, to buying out street vendors so they can close early and get off the streets, to joyful resistance in the form of dancing frog costumes in front of detention centers. It’s inspiring to witness.
Yet I was reminded recently that what affects one of us affects all of us. Last month, a WILPF member was traumatized when her son went camping in Arizona with a friend near the border. They were detained by border patrol – on false accusations – for three days without access to a phone call or an attorney. When the charges were dropped, her son was released at night at a random location, afraid, shivering in the dark, without his phone or any way to contact his family. The community, including WILPF members, are rallying to support them.
I’m sharing this story with permission from our impacted WILPF sister who is committed to raising more awareness of how people are being treated, without due process, and to mobilizing more people to fight back. Dear WILPF sister: know that we are committed to mobilizing against the militarization of our communities with you. For you and your family. For our rights. For our democracy.
And speaking of militarization: the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the United States, officially expired last week. Whatever comes next must lead to nuclear abolition. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was developed for this purpose, and our WILPF US Disarm/End Wars issue committee continues to advocate relentlessly with allies for TPNW.
| | Organizing is love: February is member recruitment month | | |
The more we grow our movement, the stronger our collective voice.
Throughout this Valentine’s month, I invite you to participate in our national member recruitment drive. Help grow WILPF US at this moment when democracy, human rights, and peace urgently need defenders.
Growing WILPF US together means:
- Stronger resistance to authoritarianism
- More voices shaping peace and justice
- A deeper, more resilient feminist movement
If your friends are already in WILPF, try reaching out to former coworkers, members of your faith community, neighbors, or partners from other peace and justice organizations you collaborate with. And check out this recruitment tips sheet and WILPF flyer you can share with your network. Annual membership to WILPF US is $40 – the best deal in town. When you recruit a new member this month, send them this special Valentine’s campaign New Member Join Link .
Throughout February, for every person you recruit who joins WILPF US and lists your name on this New Member Referral Form, you’ll be entered into a draw to win a WILPF Valentine Pack – featuring ethically sourced chocolate, a limited-edition WILPF tote, and surprise WILPF goodies. The more people you invite, the more chances you have to win—and the stronger our movement becomes.
| | Updated Peace is / Peace is Not campaign | | |
By now I hope you have seen WILPF US’s updated Peace is / Peace is Not campaign which includes tools you can use to mobilize right now – against ICE, militarization and more. The updated campaign focuses on nine urgent issue areas shaping current headlines and lived realities: Gaza, Venezuela, Iran, Greenland, ICE, environment, oil, the war economy, and racial equity.
Across each issue, we draw a clear line between what peace is not—deportation pipelines, weapons transfers, extraction, sanctions, surveillance, and war profiteering—and what peace is: human rights, disarmament, sovereignty, care, and collective well-being.
Use the Peace is / Peace is Not campaign materials at protests, tabling events, in local op-eds, and more. And share them with allies. The more of us that speak with a unified voice, the more we cannot be ignored. All campaign graphics, messages and social media posts are available for download here. Plus view the joint statement on Venezuela by WILPF US’s Disarm/End Wars and Cuba & Bolivarian Alliance issue committees here.
One of our key campaign focus areas is Palestine. This issue has fallen out of the mainstream news cycle lately, but justice for Gaza and the people of Palestine remains a high priority for WILPF. We continue to lead planning for a national people’s tribunal on Gaza and will share more information as we confirm details with partners. Stay tuned.
| | New WILPF US logo and website | | |
As part of our re-envisioning process, we asked members how you want WILPF US to show up in the world visually. In other words, when someone encounters WILPF in a flyer, poster, online, etc., what do you want them to see and feel? The main themes you stated were a WILPF that is: vibrant, bold, diverse, inclusive, timeless.
I’m excited to share our new WILPF logo (pictured above), which we unveiled at our end-of-year member Zoom party in December. Subtle but impactful changes include removal of the binary gender symbol, so we are more gender-expansive and welcoming, and creating a feeling of dynamism and motion with our dove’s wings angled and in flight. Plus, bold color options to reflect diversity and vibrancy – so that you can choose the logo that works best for you in your local activations. It has been heartwarming to see how WILPF members have embraced our new logo with such positivity and pride:
"The dove is liberated! It's beautiful." – Robin Lloyd (Vermont)
"Exciting, universal, and modern. Built on our history." – Judith Sheldon (Detroit)
"I love that we can connect the color to the occasion! Yes to options!" – Darien De Lu (Sacramento)
"I like that we're focusing on feminist values, on sharing power and building communities of care, especially related to gender. We are breaking down binaries!" – Linda Lemons (Iowa)
You can access all of our new WILPF US logos in this folder. Use them to make your own signs, advocacy and promotional materials and more.
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As part of our re-envisioning, our new WILPF US website is launching later this month. Built with feedback from member focus groups and non-member focus groups, the new site will feature clearer navigation, our updated visual identity, and new ways of talking about our work in the context of seven Focus Areas. This shift centers what we work on and the impact we’re making—rather than how we’re internally structured.
Our work remains the same. The difference is that it will be easier for people to take action and mobilize with us in ways that fit their lives—whether that’s stepping in for a moment, stepping back when needed, and stepping back in again later. For example, one of our focus areas on the website will be Economic Justice, and we will present the many ways someone can get involved in this focus area. For example, if they have time to meet monthly: the Women, Money & Democracy issue committee. If they have less time: a campaign like Move the Money or a Zoom event convenient for their time zone. If they seek local community building, they can connect with their local branch on the issue. We will present information on our website this way for all of our focus areas. Simply put: we’re presenting more accessible ways to engage with WILPF and meeting people where they are in their busy lives.
When we start making the switch to the new website, there will be a fair amount of “behind the scenes” work our team will be doing such as coding and final design. During that time, there will be a content freeze, meaning we won’t publish any new content on the website for about a 10 to 14-day period, in late February (exact dates to be confirmed). To be clear, the WILPF website will remain available at all times. We simply won’t publish new content in that 10 to 14-day period so that we can focus on the final details of preparing the new website for launch.
As with any website transition, there may be some initial kinks—such as missing images on older posts—which we’ll address over time. The new website will be implemented in a phased rollout: some new features that WILPF members have asked for – such as a calendar – will be live at launch. Others will follow in Phase 2 and subsequent phases. Please be patient with our WILPF team as we work out the kinks. And we welcome your feedback because it will inform our ongoing improvements – so we can continue to build a website that responds to the needs of our WILPF community, as well as new people visiting our site. Before we launch the website to the public, I will provide a preview at my next ED Open House on Thursday, February 19 at 4 pm PT / 6 pm CT / 7 pm ET so you can experience the new site first. Register here to join.
Finally, thank you to our WILPF US re-envisioning committee and all WILPF members and allies who made time to engage in the re-envisioning process last year. This is your inspiring vision coming to life.
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WILPF network news
🗓️ WILPF International released their 2025 annual report in the form of a 6-month calendar. Check it out here.
🗓️ Join my WILPF US Executive Director Open House on Thursday, February 19 at 4 pm PT / 6 pm CT / 7 pm ET. Register here. Hear highlights of WILPF’s 2026 organizing plan, see a preview of WILPF’s new website before it launches publicly, and participate in a conversation about how WILPF women are responding to the needs of the moment.
| | Wise words from WILPF members and allies | | |
I believe in the wisdom of the crowd, so I continue to seek insights from WILPF US members and allies. Here are some of the wise words I’ve recently heard.
“Be kind to yourself. You might feel like you have to tackle all the generational issues, like you’re not doing enough. Wherever you are in your social justice journey, you’re still learning. The fact that you’re doing something is the first step. Don’t feel like peace building is not for you. It is for you.” – Kyla Prince, Youth Peace Advocate and Organizer
“We’re training ourselves to do democracy like we’ve never done before. We’re navigating dissonance, dual realities. To get in shape, we need to put our body through stress. That’s what we’re doing now. We’re building mental and emotional muscle. And when we get to the other side, I’m excited to see what kinds of different governance models and practices we form. Because we can’t go back to what it was. Those of us that are resisting: we’re building the muscle; we’re building something new.” – TC Kida, Artist and Activist
Take care of yourselves, fearless WILPF women and WILPF allies, and let’s continue to take care of each other.
Linda Low
WILPF US Executive Director
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