Women of color regularly find themselves in a sphere outside of those labeled and designated for Women. Take for example the #MeToo campaign. You may be familiar with the way Tarana Burke was excluded from the movement until women of color pushed back and centered Ms. Burke and her contributions. You may not be aware of the people #MeToo leaves behind, such as immigrant women working on hotel night crews and those working in the fields. The open letter from Latina Farmworkers to Hollywood on sexual assault is an eyeopening example of how easy it is to prioritize white moneyed women when we engage in the work of social justice. The video below provides a wonderful overview of how feminism has historically centered the experiences of moneyed white women and left women of color behind. 

On Tuesday, I had the wonderful good fortune of sitting through Emily Evans' presentation on Oregon Women's Foundation's report on Eight That Can't Wait, important issues facing women and girls in Oregon. 
​
Emily's reporting on the economic fragility of our women head of house shook me to the core. Three points stuck with me. 

1. 1 in 3 Oregon families can’t cover an unexpected expense of even $100 without having to sell something or borrow money.
2. Forty-one percent of female-headed families with children are in poverty.
3. In Oregon, female full-time workers make 21% less than men, or 79 cents for every dollar.

I invite you to read the report and engage in this struggle as we work to bring justice to all of our community members. 

I'm so excited to be speaking about an issue that is close to my heart with Oregon NOW (National Organization for Women) on April 9, 2017, at the Annual Meeting. 
My presentation will be a focused discussion centered on a marginalized voice on issues of intersectionality within the legal community. What can we learn about the struggles of those individuals tasked with waging legal battles on behalf of others when the warriors themselves are kept at the margins of the community? An examination of the burden of working towards equity while being subject to systems of oppression.  ​​

This year I have the privilege of being one of five presenters at the OAAP's The Tenth Annual Women’s Wellness Retreat for Lawyers: Mind-Body Connection for Relaxing at Home and Work. I will focus my discussion on the need for safe spaces, especially for those us warriors who hail from the margins and regularly find ourselves on the battlefield. 
Update: Read about this event in OWLS AdvanceSheet on page 24.