It's Women in STEM Month and we're here to remind every girl and woman that she belongs in science, technology, engineering and math fields!!! This week we celebrate those #STEMinists who are defying the odds in male dominated fields. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, a national network which aims to diversify STEM fields and empower the Hispanic community, recently selected Raquel Tamez as its new CEO and, girl, are we inspired! In her words, "Always remember that your setbacks and failures don't define you. How you respond to them does." We absolutely agree!

Speaking of powerful women, former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered an important message to Silicon Valley at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference: Make room for women in Tech! Michelle spoke about the importance of getting more women and people of color involved in the tech industry. A proud geek herself who has said, "I never cut class. I loved getting A’s, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world," her words continue to ring true where they're most needed. Y. A. S.

We think art and activism go together like PB+J and collector Agnes Gund agrees. She recently sold old one of her most valuable pieces, a Roy Lichtenstein masterpiece that went for one of the 15 highest known prices ever paid for art, not for personal gain - but rather to create a fund that supports criminal justice reform and aims to reduce mass incarceration. Aggie reminds us #ChangeMakers come from all ages and backgrounds, and privilege can be used as a platform to help raise the most marginalized voices. We could not be more grateful for her!

Real talk, y'all: we LOVE Sen. Kamala Harris. The powerful freshman senator efficiently and effectively sought the truth at the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearings on AG Jeff Sessions. Her line of questioning was interrupted, however, by her male colleagues... AGAIN! One of only 3 women in the committee, Senator Harris was the only one to be interrupted, and her male colleague, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) did not hesitate to point that out in a tweet. #Manterrupting = oppression and we will NOT stand idly by.

The Senate is working on its own version of the ACA repeal and Valerie Jarret is not having it. (Frankly, neither are we.) Valerie, former chairwoman of the White House Council on Women and Girls, wrote an op-ed where she tells us everything that's wrong with the ACA repeal, mainly how disastrous it'd be for women in the US. That's why it's so important that you tell your Senators they must protect the health of women! (How? We got you.)

"Underground" star Aisha Hinds spoke about the impact of fiction on reality when reflecting upon her recent roles as Harriet Tubman. Aisha notes that actresses' platforms as performers allow them to encourage others to fight injustice in real life. 
"Wherever we are standing, whether it’s in our communities, whether it’s our children’s school yards, wherever we are standing, we can do battle right there."-AH

Our girl Mayim Bialik has a powerful message for young women. You probably know Mayim for her role as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, but did you know she's a neuroscientist IRL, too?! A true #STEMinist, on-screen and off, she reminds us that while our bodies are beautiful and worth celebrating no matter our shape or size, our true power is derived from "being seen as equal partners in a creative and productive culture. [It] comes from getting an education, acquiring skills that make you feel fulfilled, pursuing relationships that honor all parts of you."

As we strive toward equality, we must not forget the voices of those who are being left behind. A new report shows that those being left behind are Black women. Among the most striking disparities, the following stand out:

• More than 80 % of Black mothers are the primary breadwinners in their households
• The median earnings for Black women who work full time—$34,000 a year—lag behind most women’s and men’s earnings
• Black women’s labor is taken advantage of, especially in academic spaces
• 16.5 % of non-elderly Black women in the US lacked health coverage entirely
• Black women ages 18-19 are 4 times as likely to be imprisoned
• Black women are twice as likely to be imprisoned as White women
   

Notwithstanding these setbacks, Black women vote at high rates, organize in their communities, and are integral to the well being of their families. We want every Black girl and woman to know that she is powerful, she is intelligent, and she is beautiful! Never forget that. We're all working together because "nobody's free until everybody's free."- Fannie Lou Hamer
 

 

Unfortunately, women of color often find the medical care they need in jail. In her research at the San Francisco County Jail, #STEMinist and medical anthropologist Dr. Carolyn Sufrin found that jail healthcare ("jailcare") is many women's safety net. And even though jails provide services these women can't access on the outside, it is still inadequate and often life-threatening. Her new book she discusses the toils of women behind bars and how the ACA repeal would impact them even more 

Funding for prevention and public health, a main tenant of women's healthcare, is at risk. The ACA Repeal would slash funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 12 %, starting in fiscal year 2019. This is on top of an estimated 23 million or more Americans losing their health insurance, which would severely impact their ability to regularly access care, including a full range of preventative health services — from cancer screening to immunizations and access to contraceptives.

Without this coverage, public health departments like the CDC would undoubtedly be called on to serve a greater role in the safety net... a role they are woefully underfunded to play, and would be even more so under the AHCA.



Now more than ever it is CRUCIAL that you call your senator and urge them to vote against the ACA Repeal, because millions of Americans, especially women and racial/ethnic minorities, will lose access to much needed preventative care. 

• This Trumpcare toolkit also helps you tweet and Facebook the message where it's most neeeded!