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Home , 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, Dorothy Kazel, Golda Meir, Katharine Drexel, Lillian Wald, Maggie Kuhn

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275 4th Street East #642 East Street 4th 275 Mary’s Pence Mary’s

2021 ANNUAL REPORT and CALENDAR OF WOMEN 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, , 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, , 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 , and all those who support Eva Martinez the empowerment of women — ESPERA Promoter Grant us the gift of being co-creators with You, Suchitoto, 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 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, 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, 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 , 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 Morelos, Mexico Cedros Guatemala San Rafael Cedros, Asociación Coordinadora de Nicaragua Economic Security — Collaborate with local organizations to El Salvador help women increase their financial income through access to Organizaciones de y para Centro de Promoción y Salud community lending pools. Contributing to the household income Asociación de Mujeres Personas con Discapacidad Integral (CEPROSI) also helps women secure a more active role in their family and Rurales “Olga Estela de Sololá (ACOPEDIS) Nindiri, Nicaragua community. Moreno” (ASMUR) Panajachel, Guatemala Bajo Lempa, El Salvador Asociación de Mujeres Business Skills Development — Provide training, coaching and Concertación de Mujeres Sembradoras de Esperanza accompaniment to help women develop and grow their own Santa Cruz del Quiche, businesses and gain access to markets. de Suchitoto Suchitoto, El Salvador Guatemala

Parroquia San Nicolas Honduras Organizational Strengthening and Support — Strengthen the Obispo and Asociación de capacity of partners to promote the leadership and empowerment Grupo Emprendedor La of women as both individuals and as part of a larger group of Mujeres de Tonacatepeque women. (ACOMEST) Epifania Tonacatepeque, El Salvador Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Emotional Well-being — Committed to helping women gain access to emotional wellness support that allows them to feel comfortable expressing their feelings, addressing past trauma, ESPERA’s Commitment to the Well-Being of Women and living healthy lives. • Partner with trusted community-based organizations that demonstrate a commitment to solidarity, justice, and dignity, and a holistic approach ESPERA Business Facilitator to working with women. Brenda Valladares Escobar and ESPERA Promoter Eva Martinez shared their • Ensure the sustainable development of economic initiatives through knowledge and experience of personalized accompaniment and resources, as well as support of working with women in the community lending pools, which are owned and managed by members area of entrepreneurship as of women’s groups. part of an online workshop on August 20, 2020, called • Develop leadership skills among women as both individuals and as “Experiences and Strategies of group members. Women’s Economic Initiatives.“ The event was sponsored by JASS, which is a global • Promote the importance of emotional-wellness in the ability of women collective of women working to be successful leaders of households, businesses, and communities. for justice. • Remain committed to trusting that women know the issues affecting their lives and they are capable of addressing them. Mission, Vision, Values Our Community of Donors

Mission and Vision Messages from Donors Ways to Support

Monthly Compañera Mission Compañeras stand in solidarity with women by making With the entire world in the midst We invest in women across the Americas by recurring monthly donations at a level that is meaningful for funding community initiatives and fostering of the COVID-19 pandemic, I them. collaborations to create social change. know so many living in poverty Give conveniently each month by check, credit card, or ACH Vision are being deeply affected with bank withdrawal. Information is available on our website: maryspence.org/ways-to-help/companeras We envision a world where empowered women disastrous consequences. Please and their communities flourish use this in the way you see best Legacy Circle in solidarity and justice. to help women survive and maybe Legacy Circle members choose to maximize their investment in the lives of women for years to come by naming Mary’s Pence eventually to thrive.Thank you! as a beneficiary of their life insurance or retirement plans. ~Karen Join the Legacy Circle to leave a lasting impact on the work of Values women to ensure justice for all. Visit our website to learn more: Our commitment to justice motivates our work. maryspence.org/ways-to-help/planned-giving We are grateful to walk alongside people of all faiths and beliefs on this journey toward justice. Honor and Memorial Gifts Thank you to all of you for Honorariums and memorials are a thoughtful way to show solidarity with a friend or to remember a lost loved one whose DIGNITY We recognize the inherent dignity empowerment, persistence, life embodied Mary’s Pence values. of every person, especially women and others who are marginalized. Equity for all must include and celebration with and for Recognize someone who values the work of justice with a the right to health care, education, productive women. Your calendar is my daily donation to Mary’s Pence. Gifts can be made on our website: and meaningful work, food security, shelter, and companion. maryspence.org/ways-to-help/honor-memorial-giving freedom from violence. ~Loreta Spread the Word The collective voices of advocates for social justice and JUSTICE Each person has the right and responsibility to participate economically, equality amplify our message of dignity, justice and solidarity politically, and culturally in society and in the for women. home. Women’s full participation is essential for Your efforts to attain for all Share a 2021 Mary’s Pence calendar with a relative, introduce strong communities and a just society. us to your faith community or let us know of a possible grant peoples’ conditions of life more opportunity for funding programs for women and justice. equitable and more worthy of Those are just some of the many ways we rely on you to share SOLIDARITY Mary’s Pence has our message and connect us with others. Contact us about all privilege and influence. It is our responsibility human dignity strongly resonate the ways you can help: [email protected] to accompany women working for justice by with our charism and mission. listening deeply and providing funding and Donate responsive support. We believe in collective ~Sisters of the Holy Names power. Change happens when those most of Jesus and Mary Mail a check: Donate online: impacted by injustice are integrally involved in Mary’s Pence creating solutions. maryspence.org/ways-to- 275 East 4th Street, #642 help Saint Paul, MN 55101-1651

Financial Report Investing for a Better World

Financials Intentional Focus on Socially Responsible Investing

During the economic downturn of 2020 Mary’s Pence took a hard look at Fiscal Year 2020: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 how we manage our donor funded assets and transformed our policies and Income investment portfolio to better reflect who we are as an organization. Contributions...... $513,779 Estate Contributions...... $950 We want to ensure that our mission of investing in women, and our values of dignity, solidarity and justice, are reflected in not only how Investment Income...... $28,761 we use our money, but how we invest our money also. Total Revenue and Support...... $543,490 This year our Finance Committee and Ad Hoc Investment Committee, Expenses composed of staff, board members, and volunteers, devised a new strategy Program Expenses...... $541,527 (82%) for investing in local banks and traditional investments (e.g. treasury products, Management and General Expenses...... $36,420 (5%) stocks, bonds, and mutual funds). As a result of our work, we are now depositing Fundraising Expenses...... $85,552 (13%) cash in banks that serve minority and underserved populations. We are also Total Operating Expenses...... $663,499 divesting traditional securities in favor of funds and financial institutions that proactively support social and environmental factors. In other words, we are driving an aspect of our organization – internal operating funds – to support Change in Net assets...... ($120,009) organizations that mirror our values.

Mary’s Pence has a policy to maintain a reserve of 6-9 months of operating Socially Responsible Investing or ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) expenses. Due to a large gift and bequest received in a previous year, Mary’s Pence Investing has been gaining traction in the U.S. and overseas. Investors budgeted a deficit for the 2020 fiscal year. Significant, one-time gifts provide increasingly have demanded transparency into company business practices and Mary’s Pence with the unique opportunity to expand and grow our programming. can be quick to punish companies that have child labor practices, abuses, negative environmental impact, poor governance, and a lack of gender equality. This movement has increased visibility for investors to assess the ESG record of a company or mutual fund prior to investing. Our Donors Financial Transparency Our migration to socially responsible investing has been a fairly lengthy process; Mary’s Pence is committed to it has required focused attention by the Finance Committee and the Ad Hoc Organizations serving as a faithful steward of Investment Committee to drive the change we envision. We expect to complete all financial gifts. the process of migrating Mary’s Pence portfolio to this enhanced model prior to Grants Religious Institutions the start of 2021. 3.2% In addition to the Mary’s Pence Finance Committee 9.7% reviewing financial statements Monthly on a monthly basis, an audit By Mary Zerjav, volunteer member of the Finance 19.5% Donors of Mary’s Pence is completed and Ad Hoc Investment Committees. once a year by a CPA firm 0.2% Mary began her career in the brokerage industry 64% that specializes in nonprofit Estate Gifts and spent more than 20 years in treasury services 3.4% organizations. A copy of our Recurring First-time 990 is available on our website. in a bank. More recently she consulted for a Donors Donors Fortune 500 Financial Services company. For more information, visit: maryspence.org/about/financials Mary Zerjav Individuals Finance and Ad Hoc Investment Committee volunteer Mary’s Pence Grants

Families & Criminal Justice Los Angeles, California

Advocating for justice-involved women and their families. Families & Criminal Justice (FCJ) is a group of formerly incarcerated women of color who provide services and support through community building, healing and restoration for justice-involved women and their families.

FCJ’s second Mary’s Pence grant is helping to expand their Advocacy Training Project, which supports and facilitates the self-empowerment of formerly incarcerated women through in-custody and community-based classes, groups and workshops. FCJ plans to grow the project so that formerly incarcerated participants can become trained advocates for the reproductive health of justice-involved women.

January/Enero 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY World Day of Peace Sadie Alexander 1 Mary, Theotokos 2 Civil Rights Activist (God Bearer)

New Year’s Day

Bella Abzug St. Elizabeth Ann Charlotte Ray St. Bernadette Rigoberta Menchú 3 Civil Rights Activist, 4 Seton 5 1st Latina Justice 6 1st Black Woman 7 Soubirous 8 Economist, Pacifist, 9 Guatemalan Political US Representative (NY) Educator of SCOTUS Attorney in the US 19th c. Mystic, Visionary (1946) Activist, Nobel Peace Prize (1992)

Epiphany

Gabriela Mistral Remember Diana Ortiz Anne Reynolds Sr. Theresa Maxis Etty Hillesum Dian Fossey 10 1st Latina recipient 11 Women Brought 12 Torture Survivor, 13 Advocate for LGBTQ+ 14 Duchemin 15 Holocaust Victim, 16 Primatologist, of Nobel Prize in out of Africa Founder: Torture Community Founder: Oblate Author: Author: Gorillas in Literature (1945) and Baptized Abolition and Sisters of Providence An Interrupted Life the Mist Against Their Will Survivors Support Coalition

Martha Cotera, Mourning Dove Pray for Victims of Sophia Jex-Blake, Hildegard Goss- Gertrude Elion 17 PhD 18 Civil Rights Activist, 19 Indigenous Rights 20 Domestic Violence 21 MD 22 Mayr 23 Pharmacologist, Latina Activist, Author: Coretta: My Activist More than 1 in 3 US Women’s Rights Peace Activist Nobel Prize for Author: Life Along Life, My Love, My Women Experience Activist Medicine (1988) the Border Legacy Physical Violence by an Intimate Partner in Their Lifetime

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Maria Tallchief Sandra Ware St. Angela Merici Honor Women Sr. Kaye Ashe Ritamary Bradley 24 1st Indigenous Prima 25 Co-founder of “Let’s 26 Political and Social 27 Educator 28 Theologians 29 Founding Board 30 Women’s Rights Ballerina, American Start,” Mary’s Pence Activist President of Activist Theater Grantee Mary’s Pence Ludmila Javorová 31 Catholic Priest in Underground Church During the ESPERA Program

Red de Mujeres Morelenses por una Economía Solidaria Morelos, Mexico

Honoring a respected and beloved mentor of women. María Luisa Mejía (pictured 6th from the left), who served as coordinator of the ESPERA program at Red de Mujeres Morelenses por una Economía Solidaria for more than 10 years, passed away from cancer in January 2020.

As a leader to more than 20 groups of women, María Luisa was a respected and beloved mentor to women in the ESPERA community and beyond. Throughout her life, she paved the way for women and justice in some of the most vulnerable and forgotten communities in the state of Morelos, Mexico.

Her life serves as an example of how one person can mobilize and organize resources for the benefit of many.

February/Febrero 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY The Kuna People Civil Rights Sit-ins Sr. Mary Lange Judith Baca Tullia d’Aragona 1 Matrilinear Indigenous 2 40% of the Women of 3 Founder: Oblate Sisters 4 Feminist, Author: 5 Contemporary 6 16th c. Poet, People of Panama and Bennet College Were of Providence The Feminine Mystique Urban Artist Philosopher Colombia Arrested (1960)

Marian Anderson St. Josephine Bakhita St. Scholastica Morkarrameh Sr. Margaret Rana Hussieni 7 1st Black Artist 8 Sudanese Woman Taken 9 Pulitzer Prize (1982), 10 5th c. Founder of 11 Ghanbari 12 Traxler 13 Journalist, Equal to Perform in the in Slavery, a Woman of Author: The Color Purple Women’s Religious Iranian Artist, Woman Mary’s Pence Rights Activist Metropolitan Opera Forgiveness Order of the Year (2001) Founding Board Member

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Ruchira Gupta Susan B. Anthony Mildred Fish Mary Breckinridge Harper Lee Angelina Grimke 14 Social Worker, 15 Women’s Rights 16 Harnack 17 Founder: Frontier 18 Pulitzer Prize (1988), 19 Presidential Medal 20 19th c. Women’s Human Trafficking Activist German Resistance Nursing Service Author: Beloved of Freedom (2007), Rights Activist Abolitionist Leader, Executed Author: To Kill a by Hitler Mockingbird

Valentine’s Day Presidents’ Day Mardi Gras Ash Wednesday World Day of Social Justice

Barbara Isabella Hooker Frances Watkins Pearl Witherington Alicia Montemayor Mabel Staupers Rosa Perea 21 Civil Rights Activist, 22 Founder: New 23 Harper 24 Agent for Britian’s 25 20th c. Feminist, 26 Organized the 27 Advocate for Deaf US Representative of England Suffrage Suffragist, Special Operations, Activist Harlem Clinic for and Blind Persons TX (1973-1979) Association Abolitionist, Poet WWII Black Physicians

First Sunday of Lent Purim begins at sundown

Lydia Allen 28 Founder: Lydia’s House Daycare Program for Children with AIDS Mary’s Pence Grants

Fanm Saj Miami, Florida

Nourishing families and communities. Fanm Saj, which translates to “midwife,” — or more directly, “woman” and “gentleness” — in the Haitian Creole language, provides families across the African Diaspora with cultural and wellness tools as well as social and political resources to nourish themselves, their families and their communities.

Fanm Saj’s Sacred Stones Healing Circles consist of monthly meetings grounded in restorative practice as a way to create spaces to hold authentic conversations for healing and Black joy. Photos, videos, and written exercises from these sessions are used to uplift the narrative power of Black women and non-binary people.

March/Marzo 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Margaret Randall Nawal El Saadawi St. Young Shin Catherine MacKinnon Valentina Tereshkova 1 Social Activist, Feminist 2 Egyptian Feminist 3 20th c. Educator 4 Founder: Asian 5 Radical Feminist 6 1st Woman to Serving Indigenous Immigrant Women Travel in Space and Black Children Activists (AIWA)

Sts. Perpetua and International Zahra Rahnavard Hallie Quinn Mechtild of Mary Bowser 7 Felicity 8 Women’s Day 9 Academic, Artist, and 10 Leader of the 11 Brown 12 Magdeburg 13 Abolitionist, Spy for 3rd c. Martyrs for Commemorating Politician Suppressed by Underground Railroad 19th c. Educator, 13th c. Mystic the Union Army Their Faith the Movement for the Iranian Government Reformer, Women’s Rights Social Activist

International Women’s Day Laylat al-Mi’raj begins at sundown

Fannie Lou Hamer Ruth Bader Sr. Anne Dengel Women Celtic Golda Meir Josefa Ortiz de Mary Mills 14 20th c. Civil Rights 15 Ginsburg 16 Founder: Medical 17 18 Israeli Prime Minister 19 Domínguez 20 20th c. Nursing Activist, Philanthropist 2nd Woman Justice Sisters (1969-1974) 19th c. Supporter of Ambassador to the of SCOTUS, Advocate the Mexican War World for Gender Equality of Independence

Daylight Saving Begins St. Patrick’s Day First Day of Spring

Belle Sherwin Dorothy Stratton Ada María Esther Margaret Chase Emma Sepulveda, Adrienne Rich 21 19th c. Women’s 22 1st Woman 23 Isasi-Díaz 24 5th. c. Persian Queen, 25 Smith 26 PhD 27 Radical Feminist, Rights Activist Commissioned into Mujerista Theologian, Savior of the Worked to End Director: Latina Poet, Essayist the US Coast Guard Past Board Member Jewish People McCarthyism, US Research Center, of Mary’s Pence Representative of MA Author: Death to Silence

Passover Begins

Asma Jahangir Pearl Bailey Kathy Kelly Marjorie Agosin 28 Pakistani Attorney, 29 US Goodwill 30 Peace Activist, 31 Human Rights Activist, Human Rights Activist Ambassador (1975), Founder: Voices for Voice for Latin America Presidential Medal of Creative Nonviolence Freedom (1988)

Palm Sunday ESPERA Program

Centro de Promoción y Salud Integral (CEPROSI) Nindiri, Nicaragua

Recognizing the importance of self-awareness in our work for justice. Opening ourselves up to new perspectives demands perseverance and resilience, and it helps us stay focused on our objectives. Sonia Hernández, like so many women who are members of ESPERA’s partner group CEPROSI, has committed herself to walk towards new, brave and promising horizons for herself, her family, and her peers.

Self-awareness — the discovery of her strengths as a woman and her willingness to push herself to do new things — are symbolized in this portrait of Sonia. Her picture prompts us to ask: How can we change and strive for more and better options in our lives without acknowledging our own vulnerabilities and potentialities?

April/Abril 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Barbara Caine Sarah Brady 1 Environmental Activist, 2 Australian Feminist 3 Anti-gun Violence Nobel Peace Prize (2004) Historian Activist

Holy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday

Maya Angelou Pandita Ramabai Gloria Macapagal Joyce Hilda Banda Irene Morgan 4 Poet, Civil Rights Activist, 5 19th c. Indian 6 Arroyo 7 President of Malawi 8 Activist for Equal Rights 9 Kirkaldy 10 Labor Leader, Author: I Know Why the Social Reformer President of the (2012-2014) Amendment, Founder: Civil Rights Activist Co-founder: National Caged Bird Sings Philippines (2001-2010) Betty Ford Clinic Farmworkers

Easter Passover Ends Yom HaShoah begins at sundown

Ethel Kennedy Julian of Norwich Simone de Corrie ten Boom Joan Sawyer Jo Anne Robinson 11 Philanthropist, 12 Founder: American 13 14th. c. Christian 14 Beauvoir 15 Helped Escape 16 Bahamian Chief 17 Civil Rights Activist, Justice Activist Red Cross Mystic, Author: 20th c. French Author: the Holocaust, Author: Justice (1996-2001) Educator Revelations of The Second Sex The Hiding Place Divine Love

Ramadan begins at sundown

Augusta Savage Betty Green Maria Varela Nina Simone Loretta C. Argrett Maria Teresa Tula 18 Sculptor, Harlem 19 Pilot, Founder: 20 Photographer 21 Musician, 22 Assistant Attorney 23 Salvadoran Political 24 Pulitzer Prize for Renaissance Mission Aviation for Student Civil Rights Activist General, Advocate for Writer, Activist Fiction (1923), Author: Fellowship Nonviolent Underserved People O Pioneers and Coordinating My Antonia Committee

Earth Day

Martha George Amy Biehl Mary St. Catherine The Wise Women Aviva Chomsky 25 Chair of Suquamish 26 American 27 Wollstonecraft 28 of Siena 29 of Mary’s Pence 30 Historian, Author: Tribe (1920s-1940s) Anti-Apartheid 18th c. Women’s Doctor of the Church Mary’s Pence How Immigration Activist in South Africa, Rights Activist 14th c. Mystic, Founded (1987) Became Illegal Assassinated 1993 Theologian Mary’s Pence Grants

Youth Activism Project Washington, D.C.

Engaging youth to participate in civic and political processes. Youth Activism Project fosters meaningful youth engagement in civic and political spheres by providing equal access to leadership and advocacy training and community-building resources for young people. As a result, their work normalizes young people’s participation in the decision-making process.

Since their founding in 2004, participating teen advocates have influenced the outcome of at least 34 policies at local, state, national and international levels; raised more than $70,000 for their causes; and co- authored two how-to action guides. Active on social media, Youth Activism Project mobilizes youth via online curricula, webinars, and personal mentorship programming.

May/Mayo 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Anne Marie Jarvis 1 Founded Mother’s Day

Nannie Burroughs Maryam Mirzakhani Rosalyn Yalow Sr. Barbara Ford Mary McLeod Eva Peron Phillis Wheatley 2 20th c. Educator, 3 1st Woman to Receive 4 Medical Physicist, 5 Missionary Nurse 6 Bethune 7 First Lady of Argentina 8 Former Slave, Feminist, Civil Rights Field’s Medal (2014), Nobel Prize for Assassinated in Educator, (1946-1952), Advocate 18th c. Poet Activist Highest Scientific Award Medicine (1977) Guatemala Civil Rights Activist for Labor Rights for Mathematicians

National Day of Prayer Laylat al-Qadr begins at sundown

Septima Poinsette Mercedes Lopez Remember the Florence Marjory Stoneman Digna Ochoa y 9 Clark 10 Founder: 11 Mexican Artist 12 Women who 13 Nightingale 14 Douglas 15 Plácido Educator, Nurture Us 19th c. Nurse, Environmentalist, Mexican Human Civil Rights Activist Founder of Author: Everglades: Rights Attorney, Modern Nursing A River of Grass International Human Rights Award (2002)

Mothers’ Day Eid al-Fitr begins at sundown Ascension of Jesus International Day of Families

Sr. Margaret Anna Satya Rani Chadha Ida Bell Wells Lorraine Sr. Rose Mitsuye Endo Judy Chicago 16 Cusack 17 Anti-dowery 18 19th c. Journalist, 19 Hansberry 20 Hawthorne 21 Plaintiff in SCOTUS 22 Feminist Artist 19th c. Founder: Movement Activist Founder: NAACP Black Playwright: Founder: Hawthorne Lawsuit to End Sisters of St. Joseph Raisin in the Sun Dominicans and Japanese Internment of Peace Home for Poor Cancer Patients

Shavuot begins at sundown

Concha Ortiz y Pino YWCA Forugh Sr. Mary Ellen Jehan 23 State Representative, 24 Working for Women’s 25 Farrokhzad 26 Butcher, OP 27 Environmentalist, 28 Abolitionist, Author 29 Egyptian Human NM (1936-1941) Empowerment Poet, Film Director Advocate for Author: Silent Spring of Lyrics to the Battle Rights Activist Pentecost Since 1855 Economic Justice Hymn of the Republic St. Joan of Arc Elizabeth 30 French Hero of the 31 Blackwell, MD 100 Year War 1st Woman to Earn an M.D. in the US Memorial Day ESPERA Program

Asociación de Mujeres Rurales “Olga Estela Moreno” (ASMUR) Bajo Lempa, El Salvador

Serving as successful business models for families and communities. Ofelia, Mirtala and Silvia are three members of ASMUR who have received loans and support from ESPERA. The women, who live in La Comunidad de los Naranjos, jointly own a Salvadorian traditional food stand, as well as 2 tiendas in San Carlos Lempa.

Their businesses contribute to their families´ economic stability and overall well-being. Not only are their families involved in their work, but the success of the businesses showcases the value of the women’s effort and work — serving as an example for all.

June/Junio 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Hanan Daoud Khalil Josephine Baker Marian Wright Sappho 1 Advocate of the Blind 2 Ashrawi 3 Dancer, French 4 Edelman 5 5th c. BC Greek Poet and the Deaf, Author: Palestinian Legislator, Resistance Agent Activist for Story of My Life Educator Disadvantaged Children

Sr. Ann Manganaro Elizabeth Gurley Sr. Frances Ann O’Hara Graff Equal Pay Act Jeanette Rankin Anne Frank 6 Catholic Worker, 7 Flynn 8 Margaret Taylor 9 Theologian, Author: 10 (1963) 11 1st Woman in 12 Victim of the Physician in El Salvador 20th c. Labor Leader, 19th c. British Nurse, In the Embrace of God Requires that Men Congress, Women’s Holocaust, Author: Activist Writer, Editor and Women Be Rights Activist The Diary of Given Equal Pay Anne Frank for Equal Work

Gloria Rolando Alicia Partnoy Evelyn Underhill Margaret Marita Bonner Fay Bennett Patria Jiménez 13 Cuban Filmmaker 14 Argentinian Human 15 20th c. Mystic, 16 Bondfield 17 Author: Frye Street 18 Advocate for the 19 1st Openly Gay Rights Activist, Poet Author: Practical British Politician, and Environs Rural Poor Elected Official Mysticism Trade Union Advocate in Mexico

Juneteenth Abolition of Slavery

Nedā Āġhā Soltān Miriam Hidden Figures Title IX Zora Neale Women in Black Pearl S. Buck 20 Iranian Martyr 21 Jewish Prophet, 22 NASA Scientists 23 Education Programs 24 Hurston 25 Worldwide Network 26 Advocate of Women’s for Freedom Sister of Moses Mary Jackson, Receiving Federal 20th c. Writer, Author: of Protestors of War Rights, Author: Katherine Johnson, Funds Can’t Their Eyes Were and Violence The Good Earth Dorothy Vaughan Discriminate Due Watching God to Gender

World Refugee Day First Day of Summer Fathers’ Day

Jovita Idár Sr. Marjorie Tuite, Shamita Das Lena Horne 27 20th c. Latina 28 OP 29 Dasgupta 30 Civil Rights Activist, Journalist, Catholic Activist Indian Scholar, Jazz Vocalist, Actor Civil Rights Activist Social Activist Mary’s Pence Grants

Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition Minneapolis, Minnesota

Protecting the rights of people living in public housing. Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition (DG&PHC) is a grassroots community organizing campaign for low-income residents living in public housing in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The group works to protect public housing from privatization and to prevent the displacement of low-income residents who rely on public housing, the majority of whom are Black (immigrants, Muslims, East Africans), families with children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

DG&PHC’s specific objectives are to ensure zero displacements, eliminate systematic gentrification, protect and build more public housing and minimize racial and economic inequities currently facing public housing residents.

July/Julio 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Harriet Beecher Herlina Hakim Angela Eunjin Oh 1 Stowe 2 Indonesian Actor, 3 Civil Rights Attorney Abolitionist, Author: Activist Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Women Heroes Anna Hedgman St. Maria Goretti Luisa Moreno Eunice Kennedy First Meeting 4 of the American 5 Civil Rights Activist, 6 Martyr and Woman 7 Guatemalan Labor 8 Shriver 9 Women’s Rights Activist, 10 of the Women’s Revolution Author: The Gift of Forgiveness Activist in the US Founder: Special Original Author of the Political Caucus of Chaos Olympics Equal Rights Amendment (1971) Non-partisan Group Supporting Women Candidates

Independence Day

Lady Bird Johnson Mary Eliza Frida Kahlo St. Kateri Violette Neatley Our Lady of Hannah Szenes 11 First Lady (1963‑1969), 12 Mahoney 13 20th c. Mexican 14 Tekakwitha 15 Anderson 16 Mount Carmel 17 Hungarian Poet, Advocated for 1st Black Nurse Painter 1st North American 1st Black Woman The Patron of Chile Worked to Save Beautification in the US Indigenous Saint Attorney to Argue Hungarian Jews of Highways Before SCOTUS

Tisha B’Av begins at sundown

Remember the Mary Ann Eulalia Arrila de Hortense Sparks St. Mary of Nancy Mairs 18 Copper 19 Bickerdyke 20 Pérez 21 Ward 22 Magdala 23 Author: Waist High 24 Aviator, Adventurer Mine Strike of Union Nurse, 19th c. Keeper of Early 20th c. Civil Disciple of Jesus in the World 1983 Advocate for Veterans the Keys at Mission Rights Activist of Nazareth San Gabriel, Healer, Midwife

Day of Arafat begins at sundown Eid al-Adha begins at sundown

Mev Puleo St. Anne Mary Luke Tobin St. Mary of Antonia Azar Nafisi 25 Photo Journalist, 26 Mother of Mary 27 1st Professionally 28 Advocate for Peace 29 Bethany 30 Hernández 31 Author: Reading Author: The Struggle of Nazareth Trained Nurse in US and Justice, Mary’s Devoted Friend of Social Activist, Lolita in Tehran Is One Pence Founding Jesus of Nazareth Philanthropist Board Member ESPERA Program

Concertación de Mujeres de Suchitoto Suchitoto, El Salvador

Finding income-generating solutions and offering loans and resources to implement them. For more than 12 years, ESPERA has worked with Concertación de Mujeres de Suchitoto to help women in the municipality overcome economic difficulties. Through this alliance and access to a community lending pool women find a way to care for their families, and sometimes free themselves from oppressive situations.

One example of the group’s work is the biweekly farmers’ market that provides a place for local producers in the municipality to sell their products. Cristina Martínez is one of the community leaders who participated in this project, where people can obtain healthy and fresh produce locally at affordable prices — and women like Cristina can earn money from the sale of their products.

August/Agosto 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Henrietta Lacks Jewell Jackson Flannery O’Connor Isabel Allende St. Mary Ellen Susie King Taylor Lydia Villa-Komaroff 1 Cancer Patient, Subject 2 McCabe 3 20th c. Author: 4 Chilean American Author: 5 McKillop, RSJ 6 1st Black Army Nurse 7 Biologist, Advocate for of Book: Feminist, Social Activist Wise Blood The House of Spirits 19th c. Australian Women in STEM Careers The Immortal Cells of Educator of the Poor Henrietta Lacks

Sr. Maureen St. Teresa Benedicta St. Clare of Assisi Alexa Canady, MD Sr. Maude Petre Sr. Irene 8 Gallagher, OP 9 (Edith Stein) 10 1st Woman 11 Founder: 12 1st Black 13 British Theologian, 14 Fitzgibbon Mary’s Pence Founder Theologian, Martyred Nominated for the Poor Clares in the Neurosurgeon Author: Modernism, 19th c. Founder: at Auschwitz Vice Presidency Franciscan Tradition Its Failure and Fruits City Foundling Hospital

International Day of Indigenous People Hijra begins at sundown

Edna Ferber Marilyn Joy Raïssa Maritain Simone Weil Carolee Alice Garg 15 Pulitzer Prize Winning 16 Waring 17 Early 20th c. 18 Abolitionist, Feminist, 19 20th c. Mystic, 20 Schneemann 21 Advocate for Author: So Big Feminist Economist, Philosopher and Poet Famous Speech: Philosopher, Author: Contemporary Abolishing the Caste Author: If Women Ain’t I a Woman? Waiting on God Visual Artist System in India Counted

Assumption of Mary Ashura begins at sundown

Willa Beatrice St. Rose of Lima Clara Maass Sumi Haru US Women Get St. Monica of Lydia of Philippi 22 Player 23 16th c. Peruvian Sister 24 19th c. Nurse who 25 Actress, Advocate 26 the Right to Vote 27 Hippo 28 Early Christian Leader 20th c. Educator, Civil who Ministered Sacrificed her Health for Equal Rights for (1920) Patron of Mothers and Benefactor Rights Activist to the Poor to Study Yellow Fever Asian Actors

Women’s Equality Day

Tz’u-his Sr. Jeanne Jugan Dr. Maria Zavala 29 19th c. Regent 30 19th c. Founder: Little 31 Valladares of China Sisters of the Poor Activist for Latina Access to Medical Careers Mary’s Pence Grants

Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance (PDWA) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Developing leaders and organizing to ensure safe and dignified working conditions. The Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance (PDWA) works to ensure justice, dignity and legal rights of domestic workers. PDWA organizes and develops the leadership of women — primarily low-income women of color and immigrant women who are most frequently employed as nannies, house cleaners, and caregivers — to win workplace protections and ensure dignified and safe working conditions.

As a result of PDWA’s campaign, the Philadelphia Domestic Worker Bill of Rights was signed into law in November 2019. It provides the city’s 16,000 domestic workers with written contracts, rest and meal breaks, and protection from employer retaliation. It is considered one of the best domestic worker bill of rights in the country.

September/Septiembre 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Ela Ramesh Bhatt Annie and Sarah St. Teresa of Calcutta Gertrud Heinzelmann 1 Indian Advocate for 2 Delaney 3 Nobel Prize Winner, 4 20th c. Swiss Feminist Women’s Rights Civil Rights Pioneers, Cared for the Sick Authors: Having Our Say: and Poor of India The Delaney Sisters’ First Hundred Years

Give Us Bread and Jane Adams Kiran Bedi Nativity of Mary Louise Patterson Remember 5 Roses Textile Strike 6 19th c. Women’s Rights 7 1st Woman to Join the 8 of Nazareth 9 20th c. Political Activist 10 Early 20th c. Nurse, 11 Worldwide (1912) and Peace Leader Indian Police Service Human Rights Activist Victims of Terrorism

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Labor Day World Suicide Prevention Day

Ngoan Le Antonia Pantoja, St. Catherine of Shirley Graham Mary Beth St. Hildegard of Helen Zia 12 Founder: Asian 13 MD 14 Genoa 15 Du Bois 16 Edelson 17 Bingen 18 Activist for Asian American Institute 1st Latina Recipient of 15th c. Mystic, Author: Civil Rights Activist Activist, Feminist 12th c. Doctor of LGBTQ+ Rights the Presidential Medal Life and Doctrine the Church Mystic, of Freedom Artist, Healer

Grandparents’ Day Yom begins at sundown

LaDonna Harris Ethel Percy Phua Xiong, MD Mary Church Dorothy Stang, Remember the 19 Founder: 20 Professional Tennis 21 Andrus 22 Founder: Quick 23 Terrell 24 SND 25 16th Street for Indian Opportunity Player, Feminist Educator, Elder Rights Urgent Care, First Founding Member Martyred Advocate Church Bombing Activist, Founder of Hmong-Owned of NAACP for Environmental by the KKK AARP Medical Clinic Justice in Brazil Victims: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol McNair Sukkot Begins International Day of Peace First Day of Autumn

Mary Brave Bird Liu Sola Ada Deer Gabriela Silang Ruth Cheney 26 Lakota Activist for 27 Chinese Musician 28 Asst. Secretary of 29 18th c. Leader in 30 Streeter Indigenous Rights the Interior for Indian Filipino Movement for Advocate for Affairs (1993-1997) Freedom from Spain Women’s Rights

Shemini Atzeret Begins Simchat Torah ESPERA Program

Grupo Emprendedor La Epifania Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Providing positive models for the local community. Epifania economically empowers its members from 2 Catholic parishes through the management of small businesses.

The primary goal of Epifania is to focus on spiritual growth and increasing economic security. Together the spiritual and economic components strengthen family connectedness and provide for the needs of the household. The success of its members has a positive impact on the community, which is too often consumed with violence.

October/Octubre 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY St. Thérèse of Lisieux Käthe Kollwitz 1 Doctor of the Church, 2 German Artist Whose Mystic Works Depict the Impact of Poverty and War

Penny Lernoux Kek Galabru, MD Rosalie Muschel- Our Lady of Vilma Martinez St. Mary Joseph 3 Champion of Latin 4 Cambodian Defender 5 Designer of Vietnam 6 Reinhardt 7 the Rosary 8 Civil Rights Activist 9 Rogers American Poor of Human Rights Veterans Memorial Mary’s Pence Founding Founder: Board Member Sisters

Aparna Basnyat Ann Petry Mary Williams Sor Juana Inés St. Teresa of Ávila 10 Humanitarian 11 First Lady (1933-1945), 12 Author: The Street 13 Equal Rights Activist, 14 de la Cruz 15 Doctor of the Church, 16 Hopkins and Reformer Humanitarian Author: The Lost 17th c. Mystic, Poet Mystic, Author: Indigenous Tribal Daughter, A Memoir The Interior Castle Leader, Author: Life Among the Paiutes: Their Wrongs and Their Claims

Indigenous Peoples’ Day International Day of the Girl Child International Day of Rural Women

Mae Carol Jenison Violeta Barrio de Ellen Malcolm Sisters Martyred St. Ursula Barbara C. Harris Shahla Sherkat 17 1st Black Woman 18 Chamorro 19 Advocate for Equality, 20 in Liberia: 21 4th c. Martyr 22 1st Woman 23 Iranian Publisher to Travel in Space Leader of Nicaragua Founder: EMILY’S List Mary Kolmer, to Become an (1991-1997), Brought Shirley Kolmer, Anglican Bishop Contra War to a Close Kathleen McGuire Agnes Mueller, Barbara Muttra

Birth of Muhammad begins at sundown

Barbara Rouse Irene Sendler Juliette Carrie Chapman Elizabeth Cady Maxine Hong 24 Chief Justice of the 25 Nurse who Served in 26 Gordon Low 27 Catt 28 Stanton 29 Kingston 30 Founding Mother Superior Court of MA Polish Underground Founder: Girl Scouts Early 20th c. Suffragist Suffragist, Abolitionist Chinese American of the US (2004-2009) in WWII Author: The Woman Warrior Catherine Hoffman 31 Founder: Youth Peace and Justice Corps Halloween Día de los Muertos Mary’s Pence Grants

Star Farm Chicago Chicago, Illinois

Creating community through gardening, nutrition, and vocational training. Star Farm Chicago increases the accessibility of local organic produce and provides local jobs, vocational training, and business incubation for adults with physical and developmental disabilities and employment barriers. They also host gardening programs and community events to engage with local LGBTQIA and youth.

Star Farm Chicago’s grant from Mary’s Pence supports The Women and Children’s Gardening Program, which engages women and caregivers in urban communities in garden activities and creates a culture of healthy eating for families in the community.

November/Noviembre 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Olympe de Gouges Rosemary Radford Anne Knight Sr. Janemarie Luecke Margaret Cavendish Sr. Jeanne Chézard 1 18th c. French Feminist, 2 Ruether 3 19th c. Feminist 4 Mary’s Pence Founding 5 17th c. British Philosopher, 6 de Matel Abolitionist Feminist Theologian, and Abolitionist Board Member Writer 17th c. Mystic Mary’s Pence Founding Board Member

Election Day All Saints’ Day All Souls’ Day

Marie Curie Fanny Kemble Diana L. Hayes Lynda Van Sr. Catherine Mary Astell Juliana Dogbadzi 7 Nobel Prize in Physics 8 Author: Journal of a 9 Theologian Specializing 10 Devanter 11 McAuley 12 Feminist, Author: 13 Advocated to and Chemistry Residence on a Georgian in Womanist and Black National Women’s 19th c. Founder: A Serious Proposal Abolish Religious Plantation in 1938-1939 Theology Director of the to the Ladies Slavery in Ghana Vietnam Veterans of America

Daylight Saving Ends Veteran’s Day

Julia and Celina Women of Liberia Margaret Hassan Winson Hudson Nora Kizer Bell 14 Ramos 15 Mass Action for 16 Aid Worker in Iraq 17 Civil Rights Activist 18 Chief of 19 19th c. Author: 20 Proposed a Feminist Martyred in Peace (2003) Nation (1985-1995) The New Colossus Prospective to El Salvador Organized by Medical Ethics Crystal Roh Gawding, , Comfort Freeman

International Day of Tolerance Transgender Day of Remembrance

Presentation St. Cecelia Our Lady of Peace Las Mariposas International 21 of Mary 22 4th c. Musician, 23 Mary of Nazareth, 24 The Maribal Sisters, 25 Elimination of 26 20th c. Speaker 27 Pacifist, Advocate for Martyr Bringer of Peace Martyred Opposing Violence Against and Writer on the Poor, Author: The Rafael Trujillo in the Women Day Women’s Rights Long Loneliness

Thanksgiving International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Mary Walker, MD Elizabeth Kenny 28 Civil War Surgeon 29 1st Black Woman 30 20th c. Pioneer of in Congress Physical Therapy

First Day of Hanukkah First Sunday of Advent ESPERA Program

Asociación Coordinadora de Organizaciones de y para Personas con Discapacidad de Sololá (ACOPEDIS) Panajachel, Guatemala

Serving as a community resource for women’s savings and loan groups. ACOPEDIS serves as a community resource for people with disabilities and their families. The association’s values of dignity and collaboration are core to their work. As such, ACOPEDIS recognizes every person with total equity in the community and promotes human rights, with particular focus on people living in rural environments.

The Economic Empowerment Program consists of economic activities, and strengthening small businesses and savings and loan groups. ACOPEDIS and ESPERA partner to support 30 local groups, enabling women to improve their economic conditions by growing their income and assets.

December/Diciembre 2021

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY , Patty Mink Edith Cavell 1 Civil Rights Activist 2 Maura Clark, 3 Advocate for Women 4 Nurse in WWI, , and the Poor Executed as a POW Maryknoll Sisters Martyred in El Salvador

Remember the Elizabeth Johnson, Cynthia Maung Sr. Mary Aloysia Marie-Marguerite 5 Alabama Bus Boycott 6 CSJ 7 Physician, Humanitarian 8 Hardey 9 Entertainer, 10 19th c. Poet 11 d’Youville (1955) Feminist Theologian Catholic Educator Civil Rights Activist Founder: Sisters of Charity, Montreal

Immaculate Conception International Human Rights Day

Our Lady of Catherine de Senai Sarihan Amy Carmichael Clara Hale 12 Guadalupe 13 Civil Rights Activist 14 Hueck Doherty 15 Malaysian Human 16 Anthropologist 17 20th Century 18 Humanitarian, Patron of the Social Worker, Rights Attorney Missionary to India Cared for Orphans Americas Founder: Madonna House

Our Lady of Guadalupe Las Posadas Begins

Sacagawea Madam Emma Tenayuca St. Frances Cabrini Sr. Mary Hortense Mary Gives Birth 19 Indigenous Guide for 20 C.J. Walker 21 Latina Labor Leader 22 Founder: 23 Antoinette, DW 24 Powdermaker 25 to Jesus Lewis and Clark Entrepreneur, Missionary Sisters of Missionary, Anthropologist Philanthropist the Sacred Heart Martyr in Africa

First Day of Winter Christmas Eve Christmas

Our Lady of Eve Ensler Arundhati Roy Sr. Remember Sr. Marie Neal, 26 Chiquinquira 27 Feminist Activist, 28 Author: The God of 29 Educator, Scholar, and 30 Families Living 31 SND Patron of the Playwright: The Small Things Evangelist in Poverty Sociologist Andean Region of Vagina Monologues South America

First Day of Kwanzaa New Year’s Eve