
Your Grassroots Dollars Support Organizations Addressing Many Issues
In the past few years, our Grants Program in the United States has experienced a notable increase in funding applications. The rising number of requests reflects the growing need among women-led grassroots organizations. This increase and our expanding visibility highlight the trust organizations place in us and the urgent need for greater investment in women-focused […]

More Than Micro-Lending: Mental Health Support for ESPERA Women
Each woman was to set three goals that she wanted to be held accountable for: take a step toward self-care, improve family relationships, and expand available resources, which could improve their businesses.
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Forming Friendships Between Iraqi and American Women
One week after President Trump announced the Travel Ban in January of 2017, IARP announced their idea to organize a woman’s friendship group at a community gathering. Since then, a group of 12 women, 6 women of Iraqi culture and 6 women of American culture have been meeting once a month.
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Oldest ESPERA Partner Expresses Gratitude for Mary’s Pence
Since 1991, the Contertación de Mujeres has been dedicated to the “acompanimiento” of women confronting violence. We know in our very bodies how difficult it is to give birth to an organization and evolve with it.
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Educating Immigrant Parents in Pittsburgh
The collapse of the steel industry in the 1980’s resulted in the out-migration of nearly half a million people. This employment disaster led to many years when few immigrants came to Pittsburgh in search of jobs and a new life.
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A Progression of Changes for ESPERA Women in El Salvador
At first, the women were nervous to take out loans. Because they had not had previous experience with lending, the women were worried that they would not be able to pay the loans back.
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Meet Our New Fall Intern Ruth!
I decided to apply for the internship because the chance of learning about social media, and writing articles for newsletters, seemed like the perfect opportunity to expand my learning experience. I also really love the Mary’s Pence mission of helping and supporting all women.
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Salt of the Earth: Genevieve O’Hara Brueggemann’s Legacy
Throughout her years of support, Genevieve regularly wrote to us and attended events when she could. She loved our yearly summer reading list and often let us know which of the books she had read and that she would be sharing it with her friends.
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Mary’s Pence Gives Me Hope
Mary’s Pence gives me hope because in a year where communities are seemingly divided, our grantees suggest to me that there’s more going on than meets the eye – that communities are capable of coming together to solve problems.
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Economic Autonomy: The Journey to Dignity and Liberty
Because ESPERA goes beyond the money, our work is helping the women address some of the major consequences of machismo. By encouraging women to take leadership roles Mary’s Pence fortifies individuals striving to have a stronger voice in their homes and their communities.
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