Rebecca Lawrence on LinkedIn: #queensland (2024)

Celebrated this weekend on August 26, Women’s Equality Day provides an essential and poignant remembrance of the passage of women’s suffrage in the U.S. It is also a reminder of the heroic women who suffered violence, torture, death and discrimination as they fought for equal rights for women, including the right to vote.The struggle for women’s equality began in the early 1800s, when women in America, who were unable to inherit property or earn even half wages, began to organize in order to fight for their right to equality and representation.The 19th Amendment to the Constitution seeking to grant women the right to vote was first introduced in the United States in 1878, but it was initially a failure. It wasn’t for several further decades that the movement for women’s suffrage made real strides, when women’s invaluable contributions in World War I finally brought the 19th Amendment to reality in 1920, after nearly a century of struggle.Today, women must still fight for equal rights and against the wage gap, discrimination, and economic and political inequality.Learn more:

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Supporting LGBTIQ-led organizations to make a meaningful difference in their communities requires more and better funding. It's time to make funding flexible, long-term, and without excessive reporting requirements. This is how the SLF's Partners in Pride campaign works, and now we're leveraging our 20 years of experience along with our partners’ expertise to push for change in the broader funding community.Learn more about our advocacy journey in action: https://lnkd.in/g3xHuJkN Dignity Network Canada, Equality Fund, Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, The Philanthropist Journal

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This sounds straight up like a corrupted organization. What happens is that one person is implanted into a great organization and then they corrupt through management and marketing. Money that is supposed to help the marginalized and impoverished soon just helps a few people that really do not need it. Next thing you know there are no clients just a couple of people sitting in a desk in a building really offering no services. Meanwhile they impoverished are victimized and thrown to the curb. We need to continuously call this out an find out legal ways to handle such destruction within out Frist Nations communities-and move fast to stop it.

For the white women and men focused on acknowledging and ensuring the unique gifts and perspectives black women inherently bring to the leadership table remain a part of the systemic antiracist transformation our societies need more than ever, ways we can help are by supporting: A COHORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMwith skill-building, strategy, navigating racism/sexism, authentic leadership, and fundraising sessions; informal gatherings for connection, celebration, and play; and mentorship and coaching.RETREATSthat support the health and well-being of Black women leaders, and prioritize self-care, reflection, rejuvenation, and personal growth.Establishing aGENERAL FUND,that is unrestricted and dedicated to supporting Black women leaders. Funds can be used for healing, executive coaching, training, activities, events, and infrastructure.CreatingLEARNING INSTITUTESfor graduate-level programs tailored to Black women leaders, including management, leadership, and conflict management skills.TRAINING for FUNDERS and PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSthat helps them remove the barriers to Black women leaders in fundraising.REGULAR CONVENINGS and EVENTSexclusively for Black women leaders that promotes joy, play, creativity, and celebration.

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Washington DC

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As we celebrate Women's History Month, we reflect not only on the achievements of remarkable women but also on their boldness in challenging the status quo. Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of movements for social change, fearlessly pushing boundaries and demanding equality.Winnifred Stewart's story embodies this spirit of defiance against societal norms. Faced with a world that deemed children like her son, Parker, as lost causes, Winnifred refused to accept defeat. She dared to challenge the prevailing attitudes of her time, advocating fiercely for the rights and dignity of individuals with developmental disabilities.Winnifred's determination led to the establishment of the Winnifred Stewart School—a groundbreaking initiative that defied conventional wisdom and revolutionized special education in Canada. In doing so, she not only transformed the lives of countless individuals but also challenged society's perception of what was possible.Winnifred's courageous example serves as a reminder that progress requires us to question, to challenge, and to disrupt. It's a call to action for all of us to confront the injustices and inequalities that persist in our communities and to work tirelessly to dismantle them.As we honor the legacy of women like Winnifred Stewart, let us draw inspiration from their courage to challenge the status quo. Let us commit ourselves to continuing their fight for a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.#WomensHistoryMonth #ChallengingTheStatusQuo #SocialJustice #Empowerment #WinnifredStewartAssociation

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Last weekend, over 1,400 delegates descended on Glasgow to discuss the state of women’s rights around the world as the city hosted the largest grassroots feminist conference in Europe, organised by the feminist charity FiLiA.On the prior Wednesday, just hours before organisers were due to set-up, Platform, the Glasgow venue hosting the international conference, cancelled the booking, leaving the fate of thegathering in limbo. Announcing its decision, the venue cited pressure from trans rights activists who now regard any attempt to discuss women's sex-based rights as 'transphobic'.Thankfully, however, a prompt legal challenge convinced the venue to reverse its position, as it was unlawful, and prevented a logistical nightmare for the 100-plus volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past year to put this event together.Writing for The Times, feminist campaigner and FiLiA spokeswoman Raquel Rosario Sanchez describes this legal victory as an importance defence of free speech, freedom of expression, and the freedom of assembly.Although an international conference, much of the conference’s focus was on women’s rights in Scotland, where feminist campaigners face an unacceptable strain, Raquel continues. The Scottish government, with its authoritarian defence of the controversialGender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, has turned its back on women. It has also funded, and thus defanged, the institutionalised women’s rights organisations that would normally oppose any misogynist legislative proposal.Our victory against threatening bullies is a story about the failure of politicians to uphold civic debate, the antidemocratic power this grants to aggressive misogynists and the perseverance of women undaunted in the protection of their rights.The problem is not merely transactivist students in balaclavas determined to muzzle women. Obtuse politicians who have legitimised the intimidation of Scottish women who defend sex-based rights are also to blame for the sexist climate that allowed the FiLiA conference to be cancelled.They tried to shut us up. Women persisted and our voices blasted over Scotland louder than ever.https://lnkd.in/eEJxZjDu

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Can we have it all?A conversation that is not new but always relevant to women+ attorneys as we navigate the legal profession. This is a tough question that deserves to be spoken about with candor and vulnerability. I will give it my all to provide you with such an answer as we dive into: (1) I feel like I am floundering - dealing with that feeling of inadequacy; (2) what expectations should I have and how to advocate for myself; and (3) the importance of your network and how to build it.There is an incredible panel after, professional headshots, and an opportunity to donate clothes to dress for success. Join us for this incredible afternoon of connection, vulnerability, joy, great conversations, and more! Link below to sign up. See you there friends!

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More timely and important data from the new organization showing how much work there is to be done for Australian boardrooms to reflect the diverse groups that make up our great nation. A new report has been released on the eve of Mardi Gras - ALBEI's Board Diversity Research report. A link to the report is set out in the post from ALBEI below. It makes for bracing reading.Of the approximatly 2,100 directors on ASX 300 Boards- 90% of directors have anglo-celtic backgrounds despite this cohort making up approx 50% of our nation;- There are four First Nations people - Less than 1% are open LGBTQ+community members- there is no disclosure of a Board member with a disabilityTo focus on one critical metric - we know that 46% of Australians are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. Despite this, a newly released consultation paper from the ASX Corporate Governance Council is not recommending that reporting on diversity be extended beyond gender. As our nation grapples with declining productivity surely one important step is to ensure that our Boardroom decision makers reflect the makeup of our nation.Congratulations ALBEI leaders David Anthony Mark Baxter,BEc, FIAA, CERA, FGIA; Lesley Traverso; and David Brine MAICD 🌈on your initiative and the launch of ALBEI this week. And a shout out to Lucinda (Lucy) Hughes Turnbull AO who officially launched this important new organization at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Sydney.

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