Top: War memorial building (Mike Hofmann). Bottom left: UN Charter signing (United Nations). Bottom right: WILPF women (WILPF International).

Dear WILPF US members,

As we step into a new year together, I want to share a moment from December that has stayed with me — and that I carry into 2026 with deep gratitude and resolve.

I was in San Francisco speaking at the United Nations’ 80th anniversary event with Rotary International, held at the War Memorial Veterans Building— the very building where the United Nations Charter was signed into being 80 years ago. (More about the event here.)

I had been invited to speak as a “Global Champion of Peace,” an honor Rotary bestowed for my work facilitating dialogue across difference as a Peace Fellow. It was humbling to share the stage with leaders such as the UN’s Global Under Secretary General, representatives from the United Nations Association, and others deeply committed to multilateralism and peace.

That morning, a black-and-white film played of the men who gathered in that room in 1945 to sign the UN Charter. When I took the stage, I spoke about dialogue as a cornerstone of peacebuilding — and I named what the film did not show. Women not invited into that room. And yet, WILPF women were there: mobilizing in Berkeley, across the country, and around the world for peace. I told the audience that WILPF women did not go away. We organized. We persisted. And because of that persistence, WILPF gained a seat at the table, holding permanent consultative status at the UN since 1948.

To my surprise, the room broke into spontaneous applause.

It was a powerful moment. I was standing on a stage where WILPF women were once excluded, now representing WILPF and all the women who came before us. I felt the weight of that responsibility — and the beauty of holding it with you. I wanted to share this moment because it was not just mine. It was ours.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026

My New Year’s wish for all WILPF members is this:

That you have time to rest, so you can resist.

That you experience joy, so you can resist.

Because 2026 will bring hard things. And we will meet them guided by the values we co-created together throughout our re-envisioning work in 2025:



• Courageous Truth-telling
• Sisterhood and Solidarity
• Community Organizing
• Credible Voice
• Inclusive Feminism

In the year ahead, you’ll see us continue to make WILPF more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible. We will be rolling out our re-envisioned identity, first unveiled at our December end-of-year member party (you can view the end-of-year party at this recording). And we will identify new, easier pathways for people to organize with us. One example: Did you know WILPF groups can be formed with just three people — one person and two of their friends — rather than the ten required for a formal branch? This is one way we can meet people where they are and make it easier to step into collective action. (You can find information about forming WILPF groups and branches in our bylaws.)

We are eager to do good things together in the coming year. Big things. Necessary things. Things that push back against what has been happening in our communities, our country, and our world. As WILPF women so often remind me, the arc toward justice is long — but we get there. And when we do, we change history.

As we wrap up our 2025 end-of-year fundraising appeal, thank you to those of you who have already donated. If you haven’t yet and are able to, I invite you to donate online or mail a check to WILPF US at PO Box 13075, Des Moines, IA, 50310. Your support makes it possible for us to fight for democracy — together.

I return again to my wish for you: rest, restoration, and moments of joy. We will need them. We have important work ahead.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Linda Low

Executive Director, WILPF US

PO Box 13075 | Des Moines, IA 50310 | 617-266-0999

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