Thanks to Segal Family Foundation, we enjoyed another well-planned, stimulating meeting in NYC last month. While Nancy was contemplating nature in the Grand Canyon, Jo Ann and Tricia spent the day listening to and learning from well over 100 partners who were invited to attend this revitalizing event. We heard speakers Cheryl Dorsey (introduced by Barbara Bush) encourage us to “invest in people not projects”, experts in the field discussing innovative strategies in reproductive health, passionate Africans providing insight for NGO’s working on their continent, and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Leymah Gbowee of the Gbowee Peace Foundation whose presence alone is enough to move mountains.
Leymah Gbowee is an African peace activist who was a key figure in organizing the movement to bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War. In 2002 Gbowee began the peace movement by organizing women to pray for peace through non-violent protest and prayers. She was one of three women who were awarded the prize for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work." What an inspiration and an honor to meet her!
This year’s focus on ‘Fundraising’ has encouraged us to seek funding in a variety of yet unexploited areas. Additionally, SFF has offered us a ten-week, fully interactive proposal writing webinar series which we will begin next week. We are looking forward to the adventure!
