Intentional Love from Mary’s Pence: the Inaugural Grantee Retreat
As a small women-led, social change organization Mary’s Pence is uniquely positioned to understand the challenges our grantees face, and the benefit of coming together with like-minded women to support one another.
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Gratitude for Three Mary’s Pence Grants from Wishwas
I am taking this time to thank you from the depth of our hearts for having supported us for three grant cycles.
We heard that we are only given 3 grants and this would be end of our beautiful relationship with Mary’s Pence. We just wanted to retrace and express our gratitude by letting Mary’s Pence know how we used the funds and what we did with the grants.
Iraqi and American Minnesota Women Form Intercultural Friendships
“From the start when we gathered in the rotunda until the end when we parted ways outside of the visitor’s office, greetings, laughing, and hugs abounded among the women. The presence of caring and respect for each other was apparent. It was an uplifting and educational experience.”
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Young Women’s Empowerment Through Mary’s Pence Grantees
All participants reported increasing demand for their programs that help inspire and empower young women and girls. Their organizations are growing at a fast pace, gaining popularity, recognition, and traction at an increasing rate. A cultural shift to building up and investing in young women is happening and these organizations are on the front lines.
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Connecting Grantees Supporting Immigrants and Refugees
Although there are challenges, support from individuals and communities continues to grow. So do opportunities to increase organization reach due to flourishing demand for services and strategic partnerships.
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CREAting Dignity for Spanish Speaking Adults at Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos
CREA is a woman founded/directed organization. While all are welcome, 80% of learners are women. The women who founded CREA understand the need for a place where immigrants could learn English and augment their education. Many were unable to attend school in their home country because of poverty or gender discrimination.
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Beyond the Money: Solidarity with Small Social Justice Organizations
Our grantees bring together the community to respond to issues of justice. We’ve supported Black mothers launching a food security project in Cincinnati, young women from North Carolina presenting at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Latina immigrants in Wisconsin organizing to change unjust immigration laws, and women helping other women to navigate the Missouri social and legal systems upon being released from prison.
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Exodus Lending Lights a Path Out of Payday Loan Debt
Exodus Lending provides more than just a concrete pathway to financial stability. They also provide hope. Just look at Deb. She had fallen into a payday debt trap, but with the support of Exodus lending, she was able to regain control and build her savings. According to Deb, “It has helped my self-esteem. I’m taking responsibility. I’m taking the steps necessary to move forward. I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, and so now I do see that.”
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Welcoming the Stranger: Family in a Foreign Land
The Wednesday morning students agreed that their class has become a family. Welcoming the Stranger has created space that’s safe for everyone to celebrate strengths, share fears, learn from one another, make mistakes, practice tolerance, and emote in their own language.
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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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