Intern Joining WILPF US May 12

Dianne Blaise, Jane Addams branch convener

An intern from Duke University will be joining WILPF US on May 12. Anyone who would appreciate help with a WILPF task should contact Dianne Blais at dianneblais@aol.com and ideally the intern at shaili.stockham@gmail.com. Thank you!

Join the Red Tent Campaign!

The week-long Red Tent Campaign starts on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Laura George, Peace Pentagon Virginia WILPF branch; Ayo Ayoola-Amale, WILPF Ghana; and Dianne Blais, Jane Addams WILPF branch

A novel campaign–the Red Tent Ceremony & Strike—will occur the week after Mother’s Day, and YOU are invited to participate!

The Jane Addams and Peace Pentagon branches and WILPF Ghana are partnering with the Founding Mothers Movement for this Red Tent event, which starts on a FULL MOON on Monday, May 12–the day after Mother’s Day.

The opening ceremony will start at 1:00 p.m. EDT, followed by a week-long strike.

Participants are asked to build a Red Tent (or a modified symbol of a tent) and gather their mothers, sisters, and daughters to celebrate our blood bond and universal solidarity around women’s issues.

You can find ideas for your Red Tent Ceremony & Strike at the Founding Mothers website. To find or host a Red Tent in your neighborhood, visit this registration portal and global map.

Event contact: congress@foundingmothers.world

What Can We Learn From Mexico’s Progressive Female Leadership?

Ellen Mass, WILPF Boston branch member

In October 2024, Mexico’s first woman president in 200 years was sworn in with 65 percent of the voting population. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, former State Environmental head and former mayor of Mexico City, has taken up progressive leadership, helping to transform the country with enormous infrastructure and daily financial, educational, and housing living benefits for the 135 million inhabitants. She has prioritized women’s civil and human rights, bringing attention to additional benefits for women’s household contributions and special benefits for Indigenous communities, while dealing effectively with serious border challenges from the new US government.

At 85 percent approval from the diverse citizenry, Claudia is reaching global acclaim for her first six months as “presidenta,” following in the footsteps of acclaimed Andreas Manuel Lopez Obrador, who began Mexico’s Fourth Transformation in 2018.

For more about the revolutionary changes in Mexico, read Boston WILPF and DISARM/End Wars Committee member Ellen Mass’s series from Mass. Peace Action Newsletter on Latin America and the Caribbean. You can find part one, part two, part three, and part four.

WILPF San Jose Supports Mural to Honor Late WILPF Member Inez Jackson

African American Community Service Agency (AACSA), submitted by Rowan Fairgrove

WILPF San Jose made a small donation to the creation of a beautiful mural honoring the life of civil rights activist Inez Jackson. Inez was a proud member of WILPF and is remembered fondly by our older members. 

The headquarters of the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) is leading the creation of the mural.

Migrating from Oklahoma to California during the height of intense racial discrimination in the United States, Inez Jackson overcame many obstacles. She earned a teaching degree and taught school in Shawnee, Oklahoma. After moving to California, racism made it difficult for African Americans to land teaching jobs. So, she shifted and became the first Black postal clerk in San Jose in 1949. 

An advocate for civil rights, she participated in organizations like the NAACP, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and fought against discrimination in housing, education, and employment. She was well known as a promoter of non-violent protests. 

She co-founded the AACSA in 1978, where there is an Inez C. Jackson Historical Library established in her honor. Jackson passed away in 1993 at the age of 86.

The AACSA is accepting donations toward the cost of the installation project.