This week, we’re joined by Yamani Hernandez, the chief executive officer of the Groundswell Fund, to discuss the importance of grassroots organizing and reproductive justice in this moment. Ms. has joined forces with Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund to create a special Gender & Democracy site dedicated to the work of Groundswell partners to highlight their efforts to champion inclusive democracy. You’ll hear their reflections and learn about the accomplishments of grassroots and local leaders, women of color, Indigenous women, and trans and gender-expansive people whose organizing and work is supported by Groundswell.

Joining us to discuss these issues is our very special guest:

Yamani Hernandez is the chief executive officer of the Groundswell Fund. She has been working in the nonprofit space since she was 16 years old and doing that at the neighborhood level, city level, national and international levels. This has led her to the Groundwell Fund, which has funded nearly 200 million dollars for grassroots, organizing for reproductive and gender justice led by women and gender expansive people of color.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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As we reckon with an administration hostile to equal rights, feminists will continue to fight. To help keep hope, we must remember and celebrate recent wins.

One of those wins is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect on June 27, 2023. This is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination and ensures workplace accommodations related to pregnancy for workers. But is the PWFA safe, or will it be threatened by the Trump Administration’s crusade against reproductive rights and justice?

Joining us to discuss the history and significance of the PWFA is our very special guest,

Dina Bakst: Dina Bakst is the co-founder and former co-president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit legal advocacy organization that uses the power of the law to advance justice for workers. Bakst was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for the Economy for A Better Balance’s successful work advancing work-family justice in 2021, and the first-ever Visionary Women Award for Women’s Economic Empowerment in 2022. In 2020, she was named one of “16 People and Groups Fighting For a More Equal America” by Time Magazine. Prior to co-founding A Better Balance, Dina was an attorney with the NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund (now Legal Momentum) where she pursued litigation and policy advocacy on a wide range of women’s rights issues.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In this episode, Dr. Michele Goodwin reflects on Trump v. United States. As Americans adjust to the myriad executive orders, firings of government employees, the gutting of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), plane crashes, threats to dismantle the Department of Education, and so much more under the Trump Administration, what can be learned about the Supreme Court's case granting Donald Trump absolute immunity? Who will be the check on the Trump administration?

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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