Women’s March SLO : Her Next Steps
Women’s March SLO was born into a downpour in January 2017. Ten thousand people joined to create a pluralist movement based on common values and social justice. Women locally, nationally, and globally joined together to stage one of the largest protests in our nation’s history. Perhaps more than anything, WMSLO has been the focal point and the organizing principle for thousands who are seeking a way to channel frustration and rage into a meaningful movement for change.
During the past six years, WMSLO has held 56 marches, rallies, and events and 28 episodes of “Answering the Call,” all focused on uplifting underrepresented people and furthering the causes of human rights and justice. Our platform has initiated, empowered, and invigorated organizations and individuals to take action for social justice and change at the grassroots level. Most notably, the number of women and diverse people who have been encouraged to run for office and who have won locally, statewide, and nationally has dramatically increased, claiming a voice and a seat at the table.
WMSLO’s mission was simple: To create a women-friendly world through education, advocacy, and action. We’ve worked hard to bring this mission to reality. Of course, we’re not there yet–but we’re closer and we’ll never stop pushing forward. We founders are moving on as individuals to work for the same goals but with different tools. We encourage you to do the same with the organizations that continue to do the real work to ensure an equitable and just future for all.
WMSLO will be donating the remainder of the funds to local organizations who are doing the work in various areas of social and environmental justice. These organizations are: Lumina Alliance, SLO County UndocuSupport, R.A.C.E. Matters, Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, GALA Pride & Diversity Center, Planned Parenthood California Central Coast, and SLO Climate Coalition.
Additionally, many organizations have worked with us over the years and participated in our marches, rallies, and events. Please support these organizations with your generous contributions of time and money.
Lastly, as founders, we want to express our gratitude for your support and for the way you showed up time and time again for the causes that make a difference to our collective and individual freedoms. We have gained authority and agency by our numbers, and it is imperative that this continues. We turn the page knowing that all of us in this community will continue to show up, speak up, vote, run, and lead.