A love letter from the Executive Director
When the team and I first started talking about our year-end outreach I told them that at some point I was going to need to get emotional and nostalgic about them and all we’ve been through this year. Now is that time!
As this year draws to a close, I want to look back at everything we accomplished and to thank everyone who helped along the way. (Before we get into it, if you haven’t yet please help us close out this year with a gift!)
In 2022 we:
Grew our community spaces (what we call The Hivemind) up to 67 organizations and 244 people in our Slack/listserv/Signal groups and continuing the biweekly calls we started in June 2020
Brought in speakers to talk about digital security, the basics of getting grants, and how to provide emotional support to callers
Launched a national directory of practical support organizations, clinics and abortion funds with our partners and collaborator at ineedana.com and the National Network of Abortion Funds
Worked with the teams at the Brigid Alliance, Fund Texas Choice, Northwest Abortion Access Fund and Midwest Access Coalition (MAC) to begin building the Practical Support Blueprint, which next year we will use to train folks on how to start their own work
In the wake of the overturn of Roe, our list of practical support organizations became a touchstone for many, listed on more resource lists, tweets, and toolkits than we could ever possibly quantify
Talked to 43 groups wanting to start offering practical support
Presented at 12 different panels and conference including a briefing at The Hill about the expected impact of the overturn of Roe
Launched a technical assistance coalition where nine organizations align strategies and projects
Were featured in The Nation, The Cut, Jezebel, Politico and more
Launched a monthly newsletter
Grew our team from two to four!
So many people helped us get there.
The firms, consultants, and problem-solvers who fielded questions, often pro bono, to help us figure out this new normal.
The practical support organizations who have shown up early and often, helping us learn what they need and how we can best help.
Our magical volunteers: Jordan, the only reason the newsletter got off the ground and a wizard at technology I cannot comprehend, and Anna, creator of marvelous copy.
Our incredible new team members, Ayé and Sara, who are bringing brilliance and thrilling reality into projects that Tessa and I could only dream about.
Our Board, who are creating accountability, trust and support for the entire team.
The aforementioned Tessa - the person who came into this idea of an organization in early 2021 so the two of us could build it together and without whom, none of this would have happened.
My co-founders, Diana and Odile, who pushed me to really DO this and continue to be confidantes, co-conspirators, and dear friends.
And then there’s every person who helped all those people continue to show up, day after day, in this long, hard year. All of this exists because of community care. Every person I mentioned has their own team behind them - which in turn gave them the ability to support us. In every sense we would not be here without our community.
So, thank you to everyone who showed up for me and for each of those people in whatever way you did, however large or small. In this incredibly difficult year, it mattered so much. I’m so proud of you and of us.
And if you haven’t yet, do please donate. :)
In solidarity and gratitude,
Marisa Falcon
Executive Director