February Newsletter
We are thrilled to announce that Nathalie Molina Niño, investor, global tech entrepreneur and champion of women, communities of color and the planet, will be the featured guest speaker for our upcoming Virtual Scholarship Reception. Join us on Saturday, February 27 from 11:00am – 12:30pm as we celebrate the 2020 NCJW|LA scholarship winners with a virtual celebration followed by a thought-provoking Q & A between Nathalie and the recipients.
These monthly meetings are a space for community members, leaders, and advocates to learn, plan, and reimagine what can be possible WHEN communities join forces and advocate for the issues impacting those most in need. NCJW|LA is an open and safe place; we encourage, welcome, and celebrate diversity and inclusivity at our meetings.
Our virtual AWG meetings take place on the 3rd Friday of each month from 2:00pm–3:30pm. Join us at our next AWG meeting on Friday, February 19, at 2:00pm. We will hear from experts on Paid Family Leave new regulations, work on local and state actions, and much more. We hope to see you all!
We are finalizing the details on this year’s event, and we cannot wait to let you know what we have in store for this one-of-a-kind virtual celebration! This year, we have secured, renowned Israeli-born restaurateur, Chef Lior Hillel from Bacari fame and a list of celebrity speakers soon to be announced.
As an exclusive offer to our community members, you can secure your tickets today, before the official announcement goes out next week. RSVP for more details.
Virtual Passover Experience | April 1, 2021
VIP Pre-Event: 5:30PM
Main Event: 6:00PM
The good news, the eviction moratorium has been extended in the state of California through June 30, 2021. The bad news, the number of rental assistance requests continues to rise.
In January, the emergency Rental Assistance Program (RAP) launched a fourth month of rental assistance, providing previous applicants an opportunity to pay another month of rent without wondering how. Eligible participants can also apply to receive an additional subsidized payment based on the number of dependents in their household or the amount of income they earned in 2019.
We activated the emergency RAP almost a year ago to support Angelenos who lost their job or got sick and could not work due to COVID. To date, we have received over 2000 requests and granted over $1.2 million dollars in rental assistance. We are thankful to our donors and our community partners who have made it possible to assist so many. If you would like to support West Hollywood residents, please consider contributing today.
On behalf of NCJW|LA and our partner agencies, we thank you for attending Roe@48 Before it's Too Late. We hope you found it informative and motivating. During our time together, we heard from folks working on Reproductive Justice and Access across the nation.
- Fabiola Carrion, Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program NHeLP
- Cherisse Scott, CEO & Founder SisterReach
- Amber C., LPN, EMW, Women's Surgical Center
- Amelia Bonow, Co-Founder, Shout Your Abortion (SYA)
- Claudia Powell, Community Engagement Manager, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
Xenia Vidal, Public Affairs Specialist, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project - Event emcee: Dr. Caroline Heldman, chair of the Critical Theory & Social Justice Department, Occidental College.
We hope to hear and learn from our incredible speakers in the future to continue to understand the many barriers and obstacles women face.
We can't forget our dedicated planning committee: Jennifer Vercelli, Jessica Dreyer, Karen Eyres, Lyndsey Bonomolo, Xenia Vidal Marquez, Angela de Silva, Susan Pinkus, Ariana Rodriguez, Claudia Powell, and Sylvia Ghazarian.
We have compiled a few action items from our event for those who missed it but are still looking for ways to connect:
Actions from National Health Law Program
- Tell your Congressional member and our U.S. Senators to support the Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, a comprehensive policy agenda to advance sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice for people in the U.S. and around the world. ReproBlueprint.org
Actions from SisterReach in Tennessee
- Participate in our safe sex kit online program Sisterreach.org/safe-sex-kit.html
- Call legislators in Mississippi against HB 338, which will charge ANY people who perform abortions with a felony.
- Donate: Sisterreach.org
Donate to Support Reproductive Healthcare in Kentucky
Kyrff.com is the link for Kentucky Reproductive Freedom Fund
Kentuckyhealthjusticenetwork.org is the link for Kentucky Healthcare Network.
Shout Your Abortion
To join the movement, donate or buy the book: Shoutyourabortion.com
Assemblymember Miguel Santiago is partnering with community organizations to provide critical resources and services throughout Assembly District 53. As always, the office is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Contact 213-620-4646 with questions on events or for assistance with state agencies and state programs, such as EDD, DMV, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. Click download to view the list of current resources.
February Spotlight
What motivates/inspires you about NCJW|LA's mission/work? As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, I am inspired by NCJW|LA’s mission and history of assisting women. Delta was founded in 1913 and, like NCJW|LA, its purpose is to aid and support women and families through established programs in local communities. NCJWLA’s legacy of service in the areas of youth programs, education, health, and wellness, as well as its dedication to shaping policy through the legislative process is something that the two organizations share and that is very important to me. I think it is of dire consequence that diverse women work together to positively impact our communities.
Tell us about a personal experience that influenced/shaped you/your decision to join NJCW|LA's Board?
Being a member of Community Coalition, which is a social justice organization founded 30 years ago by Congressmember Karen Bass, influenced my decision to join NCJW|LA’s board. I believe that all communities want the same things—safe, affordable housing and access to quality education, healthcare, food, and green spaces. Our communities throughout Los Angeles have so many more things in common than differences. I look forward to learning innovative social impact strategies from my fellow Board members, working with them to implement bold programming for NCJW|LA, and creating memorable events that bring us together.
What do you love to spend time doing when you are not working or volunteering? When I am not working or volunteering, I love spending time with my high school sweetheart, Omar, and our two sons Malik and Malcolm.