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TAn alert from the US Section of the
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
| | We are voices of resilience | | |
Dear WILPF US members,
These past few weeks, I’ve been meeting WILPF women and allies across the country and have come away energized by a distinct change in what I’ve been hearing and conversations I’ve been having. I am buoyed by the fact that almost everywhere I go, there is a fighting spirit in the air – in my city and state discussions on democracy, at WILPF US nationally, and beyond. A collective shift from a feeling of powerlessness to determination. To hold the line on the rights we retain. To gain ground where we’ve lost it.
It was wonderful to see WILPF women marching at No Kings 2 this past weekend. Heartening to watch allies show up in joyful defiance, like the Portland protesters in frog costumes at ICE facilities to show the city is not a war zone. It was especially inspiring to hear wisdom from cross-generational WILPF women – Robin Lloyd, Betty Burke, Shelby Young, Ellen Thomas, Margaret Engels, and Robin’s son, Jesse Guma – at our Voices of Resilience event earlier this month. They told us that though these times are challenging, the arc is long. We will get through this. It will take all of us: sharing the work, perseverance, community, and joy. That’s the formula for resilience that we heard. For more inspiration, I invite you to view the Voices of Resilience event here.
Last week, I was in Geneva on personal travel. I lived there for six years when I worked for the International Red Cross, so it always feels like coming back to my second home when I visit friends who are like family there. I heard about the impacts of the US funding cuts to so many UN and other international agencies. In fact, while I was there, the International Red Cross announced 300 job cuts. Jobs lost, program cuts, more vulnerable communities, and a sector commitment to reshaping the global development sector for more resilience: these were the main themes I heard.
I also met with Amrita Kapur (pictured above to the left of me), the Secretary General of our WILPF International Secretariat (WILPF IS) at their office near the UN. Resilience was top of mind again as we discussed how WILPF across the world – from country sections to the international secretariat – are adapting to common challenges such as decreasing budgets and at the same time, increasing importance of embracing a culture of care in our movement given the heaviness of these times. We agreed that mobilizing across generations and growing the WILPF movement among young people globally will be key to our resilience as a global network.
I aim to continue this discussion with all of you at WILPF US. Please join my ED Open House next week on October 28 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. Register here. I will share updates on our re-envisioning process at WILPF US. And I want to hear from you: how are you doing as fellow humans, what are your thoughts on the ways we are moving WILPF US forward, and what are you seeing or doing in your communities that’s having impact? Because throughout history, WILPF women have shown, we are voices of resilience.
If you weren’t able to attend my ED Open House last month, I invite you to view the recording. I shared results from the WILPF US member-wide survey, and a detailed overview of the transformation process we’re undergoing at WILPF along with my ED work plan. You can view the recording here with this passcode: rj?1!dLS
WILPF at the UN General Assembly
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How much inspiration, heartbreak and networking can you cram into one week? A lot during UN General Assembly (UNGA) week, which took place in the last week of September. I arrived in New York thinking "I'm tired." And while I’m still tired, I left remembering that "It's a privilege to lead in this moment," as I was reminded by a group of diverse women leaders in the social impact space, including heads of foundations, civil society organizations and think tanks. Some of them expressed their fear of being complicit in the tyranny by not speaking out more. Of course, I invited them to join WILPF US! I told them we embrace both loud and quiet activism. And if they cannot speak out for fear of retaliation, we are able to use our WILPF voice to speak for them.
It was inspiring to lunch with and hear WILPF IS Secretary General Amrita Kapur speak at a joint WILPF IS and UN Women panel event. The panel asked this critical question: "What if the next UN Secretary General is a woman? How different would the organization look then?" Yes, what if.
Meanwhile, The Hague Group, a coalition of eight countries standing for Palestine, focused on upholding international law in Gaza, including stopping arms transfers and conducting independent investigations to ensure accountability for international crimes and genocide. On the latter, The Hague Group noted that the UN’s New York Declaration on Palestine by world leaders does not mention genocide. Disappointing, indeed. And all the more reason civil society actors like WILPF and allies must continue to call out the genocide.
Amidst the many conversations about human rights rollbacks everywhere, one thing that stayed with me was this statement from a social impact leader: "Tech bros are making all the calls in this country. We have to stop waiting for other people in other places to make the decisions. We are those people and we need to make the decisions. And then we need to just do it." Yes, I could not agree more. That’s why we launched the WILPF US Peace is / Peace is Not campaign earlier this month. That’s why WILPF US is leading the organizing effort on a national people’s tribunal for Palestine.
That’s also why we’re mobilizing in new ways. Because we can’t do the same things and expect different results. I have learned that it is the unexpected alliances that yield the most innovative approaches. So, I’ve been showing up in new spaces on behalf of WILPF US. For example, in discussions at UNGA week side events with NGO leaders like Laurie Smolenski, Sofia Farah and Chenai Kadungure (all pictured above) representing African Communities Together, Mondoweiss, and Black Physicians Association, respectively. As a result of this networking, I’m currently in discussions with Mondoweiss, an independent news outlet focused on Palestine, about the people’s tribunal and am excited to see what potential partnerships might come to fruition from these new conversations.
Peace is / Peace is Not campaign
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During our focus groups and member-wide survey earlier this year, you collectively stated that one of your top priorities was opposing the autocracy of the current Administration. In response, WILPF US launched the Peace is / Peace is Not campaign to challenge the Administration’s militarized definition of peace. President Trump aspires to be seen as a peacemaker—boasting about ending wars—yet his administration continues enabling and waging aggressive military campaigns in Gaza, Iran, and beyond, while repressing dissent at home.
This dangerous framing narrows peace to mean a pause in fighting or a shift in military power, ignoring the deeper truth that peace requires justice, dignity, and human security. Our Peace is / Peace is Not campaign reclaims the definition of peace to reflect human rights and dignity; disarmament and nonviolence; social, economic and environmental justice; and sustainable well-being for all. The campaign also outlines specific actions people can take in six areas: justice for Gaza and Palestine, resisting ICE, protecting free speech, opposing a Department of War, affirming all identities, and honoring climate commitments.
It has been wonderful to see so many WILPF US members mobilize the campaign. For example, posting Peace is / Peace is Not social media graphics on Facebook; branches in Philadelphia, Sacramento and Tucson distributing campaign flyers at community events; and WILPF women carrying Peace is / Peace is Not protest posters at No Kings. WILPF International also promoted the campaign in their newsletter to members worldwide earlier this month.
I encourage all WILPF US members and branches to implement the campaign in their communities. Invite your local allies to join the campaign too! You can access all Peace is / Peace is Not campaign tools here. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Resource Center where you can download campaign graphics, statements, and more. We will continue to adapt the Peace is / Peace is Not campaign in the coming weeks and months as issues and needs change. Grateful thanks to Victoria Cole who designed the powerful Peace is / Peace is Not campaign graphics as an in-kind donation of her time and professional design skills to WILPF US.
Bold values and bold truth-teller:
re-envisioning WILPF US
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Throughout our re-envisioning process with members this year, 80 of you shared your vision for the future of WILPF in focus groups. More than 230 of you responded to our re-envisioning survey. We’ve also hosted numerous follow-up discussions and open houses to seek further feedback from WILPF members, branches, committees and board members. Leaning into our history and looking to the future, we asked ourselves: As an organization, as a feminist movement for peace, what are our core values? How do we adapt so we continue to have impact in the future? With support from our re-envisioning agency, I’m excited to share key findings from these critical conversations on how you want WILPF US to show up in the public sphere, how you want us to speak about our work, and how you want us to do the work – so we are more inclusive and impactful.
You want WILPF US’s work to be guided by these bold values:
- Courageous Truth-telling: Speaking truths others won't say when organizations stay silent
- Sisterhood & Solidarity: Having each other's backs across all differences
- Community Organizing: Being in communities, building local relationships
- Credible Voice: Being trusted ambassadors with authority to speak for feminist peace work
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Inclusive Feminism: Women's leadership while addressing racism, classism, and all oppression
You stated WILPF US’s unique strengths are:
- Coalition Builder & Mentor
- Policy Expert & UN Advocate
- Community Organizer & Local to Global Mobilizer
- Multi-issue Connections
- Feminist Analysis
When people interact with WILPF US, you want it to feel:
- Warm & Accessible
- Thoughtful & Diplomatic
- Modern & Innovative
- Grassroots & Authentic
You want WILPF US’s visual identity to incorporate:
- Core elements of WILPF International’s visual identity yet adapted for a distinct US presence
- Vibrant & Diverse: Colorful, dynamic, reflecting community diversity
- Bold Advocate: Strong colors, powerful imagery, uncompromising visual impact
- Timeless Legacy: Established credibility with enduring relevance
Our WILPF US story needs to consider two perspectives:
- Long-time members lead with WILPF US’s history
- Young activists (18-35 years of age) want to know what WILPF US is doing now, and what our leaders looks like now (diversity)
With these insights, we will start to update WILPF US’s identity, the way we tell our story, and the way we mobilize – in written materials, on our website, in social media, at events, in communities, and more. We will emphasize recent concrete accomplishments alongside our history; demonstrate bold principled stands on difficult issues; be transparent about diversity efforts, cross-generational collaboration and power sharing; and express clear position statements on current issues. We will continue to engage with and consult members throughout the process to ensure our re-envisioning remains authentic to WILPF US and responsive to member needs.
WILPF US branches are revitalizing
Not only are we re-envisioning WILPF US, we are also revitalizing! Wherever I meet WILPF women these days, I take great joy in seeing renewed energy and commitment to revitalizing local branches. Over the past few weeks, I’ve met WILPF US members in New York, New Jersey, Detroit and Milwaukee. I also spoke to the Fresno branch retreat where 20 wonderful WILPF US women convened in person.
| | Pictured above: New York and New Jersey meet up with WILPF US members Margaret Engel, Julie Leak, me, Claudia Agrurto, Edith Cresmer, and Judith Arnold. We talked about the need for WILPF women to show up across generations and leverage social media more. Members committed to revitalizing WILPF US branches in New York and New Jersey. | | Pictured above: NY State Peace Action Gala with WILPF US members Clare Coss, Blanche Wiesen Cook, Margaret Engel, me and Judith McDaniel. We honored educator activists fighting for their right to teach truth and social justice. | | Pictured above: A special moment in Milwaukee with multi-generational WILPF US members Annette Robertson, Joan Robertson, me, and Co-President Martha Collins. While WILPF celebrated 110 years of activism this year, Ms. Joan celebrated her 109th birthday. Later that evening, Annette hosted a potluck dinner in her home where I met with eight WILPF members over hearty food and conversation: from increasing access to democracy in communities to the ongoing importance of institutions like the UN. We agreed that change starts with our actions at the local level and reverberates to the global. | | |
That same week in Detroit, I met with branch chair Laura Dewey. We continued the discussion on increasing access to democracy, such as accessible ways for people to vote and enabling more people to lead on local school boards and city councils. I also presented to the Palestine Coalition in Detroit about the people’s tribunal that WILPF US is starting to plan, which was enthusiastically received.
WILPF network news
🗓️ The coordination group of the WILPF International Disarmament and Demilitarization Working Group is hosting a global launch call on October 21 at 9 pm CEST (convert your time zone here). Register for the call here. You can also join the WILPF US Disarm/End Wars national issue committee on the second and last Sunday of every month at 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET. Contact disarmchair@wilpfus.org for more information.
🗓️ The next WILPF US board meeting is October 30 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. You can register to observe the meeting here. For more information, contact board secretary Dianne Blais at secretary@wilpfus.org.
Wise words from WILPF members and allies
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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 heard.
“We can always find new ways to do the work. You can be on the street, you can be helping your neighbor. That’s care, that’s resistance. Find what works best for you.”
– Shelby Young, WILPF US Field Organizer
“We have to build a vision of how we can all live together. We are all connected. We need to find each other. We need to build community. Resistance, yes, and a vision…of the essentialness of all the parts.”
– Betty Burke, Former WILPF US President
“Courage is contagious.”
– Libby Liu, CEO, Whistleblower Aid
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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