This Month’s Events:
You Don’t Want to Miss!
Wednesday, September 28, 2022, IBWPPI will be hosting the
We See You Awards International on the opening day of the
Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, in
Washington, D.C.
For Tickets and Information
You Are Invited to Join Us For the
14th Annual Public Policy Forum
on Friday, September 30th in Washington, D.C.
This annual convening of Black Women is hosted by IBWPPI in Washington, D.C., during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Experts, Elected Official, Activists, Global Leaders and Allies assemble to discuss and offer solutions aimed to make life better for Black women, their families and communities internationally.
We estimate the impact of these convenings to exceed 500,000 impressions on social media and direct reach. Covid-19 has been the catalyst for a more extensive online presence and, in fact, has provided a unique opportunity for IBWPPI to increase our individual membership from just below 300 to 500 in one year.
Membership Spotlight:
Carolyn Webb de Macias
Carolyn Webb de Macias served as Chair of the Board of the Community Coalition of South Los Angeles from February 2017 to February 2019 and currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. These two organizations represent the areas of Carolyn’s primary interest: education and social justice and equity. Carolyn has spent a successful professional career in the public, private and education sectors. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and holds the lifetime title of Vice President Emerita from the University of Southern California and serves on Cadiz, Inc., a water resource board as an independent Trustee.
Carolyn completed 16 months as Chief of Staff in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in the US Department of Education as a Presidential appointee of President Barack Obama from February 2010 through June 2011. Carolyn was the Founding Chair of the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute, and is a Senior Advisor to IBWPPI, Founding Board member of the Young Black Scholars, and past chair of the California African American Museum among others.
She was named in the inaugural edition of Who’s Who in Black Los Angeles and has been honored with numerous other community service and academic awards. She served as senior advisor for family and youth services for former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Chief of Staff for then-Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas from 1991-1997.
Webb de Macias earned her B.A. degree from UCLA and an M.A. in Education from UCLA as a Danforth Foundation Fellow. She holds a California Standard Teaching Credential, California College Instructor’s Credential, and a Montessori Teacher Certificate in Primary Grades and Administration.
The California native is married to Reynaldo F. Macias, a professor of Chicano(a) Studies, Education, and Socio-Linguistics at UCLA, and is the mother of three adult sons.
Want to be featured in IBWPPI’s monthly newsletter? We want to celebrate you! All members now have the opportunity to be highlighted, all you have to do is be financially active, and send us your short bio and a photo. Be on the lookout for your feature in future issues!
Policy Corner: Vice President Kamala Harris Addresses Roe v. Wade Decision
Vice President Kamala Harris recently denounced the current Supreme Court, stating that “I think it is an activist court… We had an established right for almost half a century, which is the right of women to make decisions about their own body as an extension of what we have decided to be, the privacy rights to which all people are entitled. And this court took that constitutional right away, and we are suffering as a nation because of it” (CNBC).
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused VP Harris [and citizens across the US] “great concern about the integrity of the court overall ” (CNBC). Exceptions have been made to Senate rules that grant abortion protections under a majority vote, yet Democrats are still having difficulty passing new abortion rights legislation.
Spotlight on Ghana: IBWPPI’s Work
IBWPPI Addresses the issue of Maternal Mortality in Kumasi, Ghana
Boots on the Ground Program: Since we began the Boots on the Ground Program to support families impacted by natural disasters in 2010, the IBWPPI disaster recovery and support program has grown into having a storage warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia with emergency disaster kits with basic first aid supplies, cash and rubber boots to help with the spreading of water-borne diseases.
With the help of partners such as the Buckhead Chapter of the Links Incorporated, we have consistently distributed barrels of much-needed supplies domestically and internationally.
We are preparing for our next shipment in October to be received by families in December.
Reading Room Initiative: The purpose of the IBWPPI Reading Room Initiative project is to create a literacy-enriched environment for youth of all ages to develop their reading skills, with an aim at combating illiteracy. The IBWPPI Reading Room Initiative Project is dedicated to promoting leisure reading as a key to unlocking a youth’s full potential.
Our primary goal is to enable elementary, middle and high school students to improve their literacy skills. The Initiative will create a nurturing environment for youth to feel safe and secure as they develop their reading skills.
IBWPPI’s Reading Room Initiative runs not only in Kumasi, Ghana, but also in Belize. Be on the lookout for ways to support this initiative!
What We Are Doing Locally
This past weekend, President Perkins and Director LaTosha Brown participated in the Joy is Our Journey Bus Tour in Selma, Alabama. The tour features workshops for young women entrepreneurs, girls interested STEM careers, health, beauty, and other opportunities for young girls’ growth! The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium and the Pete and Thomas Foundation have just been revealed as the community partners for the very first “Joy is our Journey” Dream Bus Tour.
The Pete and Thomas Foundation states that Megan Pete, also known as Megan Thee Stallion, founded the organization in memory of her mother Holly Thomas and father Joseph Pete Jr. Her parents instilled in her the value of community, family, and education. The goal of this foundation is to assess available resources in order to improve the lives of women, children, senior citizens, and underserved areas in Houston, Texas, as well as around the world.
Networking: In August, President Perkins met with Reverend Kelvin Sauls and 10 Freedom Fellows from the Sanctuary of Hope as a part of their West2East freedom ride through the Southeast US, hitting eight cities and five states. This pilgrimage is part of SOH’s commitment to restoring identity, building resiliency, and expanding the agency of former foster youth that transitioned from the foster-care system in LA County.
“The mission of Sanctuary of Hope is to provide a caring and multi-cultural approach to services that will help young adults become self-sufficient and lead prosperous lives.“
Recently, IBWPPI has taken advantage of the circumstances the world has faced as a result of COVID-19 and turned social distancing into virtual communion. Our Virtual Happy Hours bring IBWPPI’s members together to decompress and hear from one another and Black women in leadership, leaving them with inspiration and energy to continue the fights in their respective fields.
Be on the lookout for our future Virtual Happy Hours!
Sign Up for 2022 Membership!
“Women’s rights is not only an abstraction, a cause; it is also a personal affair. It is not only about us; it is also about me and you. Just the two of us.” – Toni Morrison
IBPWWI has made a plethora of strides over the years for Black women, and we recognize that we would be nowhere without our dedicated members. We would like to invite you to renew your membership with us for 2022 and continue working with us to achieve equity for Black women across to globe.
Thanks from your Policy Fellow, Taylor Newkirk!
Why Join IBWPPI?
IBWPPI started in 2009 in the spirit of global unity and sisterhood. Our mission is to connect and advocate for Black women globally through acts of kindness and public policy. We thank our members and ask that you continue your support of IBWPPI and ask others to join us.
