ANNUAL REPORT and CALENDAR OF WOMEN OF CALENDAR and REPORT ANNUAL 2021 Mary’s Pence 275 4th Street East #642 Saint Paul, MN 55101-1651 651-788-9869 www.maryspence.org Staff and Board Mary’s Pence Prayer St. Paul, Minnesota Staff Mary’s Pence Board Mary’s Pence Prayer God of the widow’s mite Katherine Wojtan ~ Executive Director ~ Chair Carol Fendt, PhD the five loaves and two fishes, Chicago, Illinois Kaye Cassidy ~ Ignatian Volunteer the touch of a hand on a cloak’s tassel, help us to remember that you create Grace Gbolo ~ Grants Program Manager Amanda Steepleton ~ Associate Chair Minneapolis, Minnesota abundance from the smallest of gestures. Christine Lian ~ Office Coordinator ~ Treasurer Take my crumb, my single thread, ~ Development and Mariana Amescua Sarah Mechtenberg Mexico City, Mexico my penny of prayer, Communications Manager and join it with the beloved community ~ Secretary of women in Mary’s Pence Nadine Sehnert ~ Bookkeeper Meg Olson Washington, D.C. so that it may become a nurturing feast Sister Barbara Battista, SP an intricate tapestry Central America & Terre Haute, Indiana an abundance of riches. Mexico Staff Sister Julie Fertsch, SSJ Bless las mujeres de ESPERA, Los Angeles, California who pay forward not only funds, but hope; Gilda Larios our grantees — artists, lawyers, organizers, ESPERA Team Lead Rita Lampe activists, all seeking change; Mexico City, Mexico Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and all those who support Eva Martinez the empowerment of women — ESPERA Promoter Grant us the gift of being co-creators with You, Suchitoto, El Salvador knowing each small offering we bring Brenda Valladares Escobar takes us one step closer to creating ESPERA Business Facilitator your Kin-dom of justice and peace here on earth. Suchitoto, El Salvador by Katie Lacz Former Mary’s Pence Board Member Honor Women Every Day For every day of the year, this calendar recognizes an inspiring woman who has contributed to social justice and equality. You can read more about these women at maryspence.org/calendar Mary’s Pence Board of Directors Letter from the Executive Director This past year tested my innate optimism. Through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, the lack of access to the same choices and opportunities — to the same basic rights of health and security and justice — has been tragically highlighted for all of us. The collective tolerance of hate, bigotry, lies and abuse of power is jolting. As I write this awaiting the outcome of an incredibly tight 2020 presidential election, I am certain of only one thing: our country is deeply divided. And I know that regardless of who leads our country for the next 4 years, without healing, the division will continue to overshadow love and justice. For over 15 years I have actively advocated and worked for nonviolence, and I have appreciated how much the lessons of nonviolence align with my work at Mary’s Pence. I have helped to create peace teams (non-biased teams working in places Katherine Wojtan Executive Director of conflict to prevent anyone from being hurt) and facilitate interfaith retreats on nonviolence. My key takeaways from these experiences are consistently around the fact that marginalized individuals and groups truly wish to be seen for who they are, This is a definition of and for the things they have suffered. This is true on both sides of conflict. violence that has been Active nonviolence is a powerful tool. It is not passive; it takes courage and perseverance. The first key component of active instructive to me, and it is nonviolence is to quite simply say NO to injustice. Active nonviolence is exemplified by the dedicated work of every Mary’s Pence grantee and ESPERA partner. Through organizing, educating, networking, changing public policy, and sharing people’s what Mary’s Pence grantees stories — these are the ways Mary’s Pence grantees and ESPERA partners are actively nonviolent and creating a more just and ESPERA partners work world. against every day! The other important component of active nonviolence is reaching out to the other side. This is the hard part! Active nonviolence is not about hating others but seeing the humanity in everyone. Violence is… We have to act with two hands outstretched. The first is a hand that is held up; it says “Stop. You cannot treat me/us this way.” The second hand reaches out, seeing the humanity in the other; it says “I see you and I hear you.” Your outstretched Emotional hands might not be met, but without them there is no chance of bridging the divide, of working in solidarity for the benefit of Verbal all. Physical I’m so proud of Mary’s Pence grantees and ESPERA partners and the work they are doing in the world to actively say NO to Institutional injustice. You’ll see many examples of that throughout our 2021 Calendar of Women. Cultural I’m also grateful that Mary’s Pence is blessed with generous donors who understand the importance of providing direct and flexible funding and capacity building to women’s groups that are working to ensure justice, dignity, and solidarity for all. By Structural sharing resources, Mary’s Pence grantees and ESPERA women are empowered to say NO to injustice. Acts that Together we can grow this work and create more justice, more peace. Thank you for your part in making this real change Dominate happen. Dehumanize Diminish In Solidarity, Destroy Ourselves Others Creation Katherine Wojtan, Executive Director 651-370-2314 | [email protected] Mary’s Pence Grants Mary’s Pence Grants provide funding to organizations in the U.S. and Canada Fiscal Year 2020 that are working to create long-term systemic change to ensure social, racial, and economic justice for women and their communities. To date, Mary’s Pence has Fall 2019 The Spirituality Network EarthArt Institute* Columbus, Ohio Moffat, Colorado awarded nearly $1.9 million dollars in grants to women-led organizations across the California Coalition Americas that are amplifying the voices of women in their call for equity and justice. for Women Prisoners Women’s Equity Center and Families & Criminal Justice* Oakland, California Action Network (WE CAN) Los Angeles, California College Park, Maryland Mary’s Pence Grants ESTHER Fanm Saj Appleton, Wisconsin Women for Political Change Miami, Florida Minneapolis, Minnesota Women Led — Guided by and for cis women, trans women, non- Heartspark Press* Native Justice Coalition binary people and their communities. Olympia, Washington Youth Activism Project* Manistee, Michigan Washington, D.C. Immigrant Rights Action* Project DIVA* Community Centered — Developed out of a need identified Doylestown, Pennsylvania Minneapolis, Minnesota within the community, collaboratively developed by members of Spring 2020 the community, and flexible enough to meet new, changing or Mama to Mama Star Farm Chicago emerging needs. Louisville, Kentucky Alerta Migratoria Chicago, Illinois Carrboro, North Carolina Pennsylvania Domestic Sueños Sin Fronteras Sustainable Models of Long-term Change — Dedicated to Workers Alliance* Defend Glendale & Public de Tejas shifting public opinion about justice issues; forming alliances and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Housing Coalition San Antonio, Texas collaborations across diverse populations; creating change in unjust Minneapolis, Minnesota structure or policies; or building capacity by building leadership, * 2nd time grantee organizing or other social justice skills. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Social Justice Focused — Committed to the promotion of human dignity, the common good, the right to economic security and • Make granting opportunities more visible to women of color and make it dignified work, care for the earth, participation, subsidiarity more explicit that all cis women, trans women, and non-binary people of (decisions are made at the most local level possible and involve color are welcome. those most impacted) and nonviolence. • Redesign of the application process to request an Initial Funding Inquiry that efficiently allows potential grantees to apply for funding. Women’s Equity Center and Action Network (WE CAN) • Emphasize that Mary’s Pence provides grants for operating funds (not educates and activates solely project funds) and additional funds for capacity building and women of color to increase emergency needs. and strengthen civic engagement and facilitate policy environments that are • Continue to provide organizations with the possibility of grant funding responsive to their needs. This for up to three years in an effort to promote the sustainable growth of Fall 2019 Mary’s Pence grantee emerging initiatives. is actively building a multiracial, multicultural, intergenerational, • Ensure that the language used in Mary’s Pence storytelling uplifts and intersectional network of grantees and promotes the sharing of lived experiences. skilled leaders who are women of color and advocate for social change. • Remain committed to trusting that women best understand the issues affecting their lives. ESPERA Program ESPERA partners with grassroots women’s organizations in Mexico, Guatemala, Partners Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador working to increase women’s economic and emotional well-being. ESPERA, which means “she hopes” in Spanish, an acronym El Salvador Red Unión de Mujeres Mexico for Economic Systems Providing Equitable Resources for All. Asociación de Mujeres Salvadoreñas Red de Mujeres Morelenses Emprendedoras por la San Salvador, El Salvador por una Economía Solidaria ESPERA Program Justicia de San Rafael