Trying to find hope – Susi Castle

This week Cindy Gallop shared the open letter that Joan Gabel, president of the University of Minnesota wrote in response to the murder of George Floyd.

THIS is female leadership. From @joangabel President, @UMNews via @nicolevcramer cc @tom_peters #BlackLivesMatter #changetheratio #diversity pic.twitter.com/HnXNTa60qy
— Cindy Gallop (@cindygallop) May 28, 2020

Earlier today I came across these further examples of leadership in our times.

Seeing across my feeds these female police chiefs out in the streets tonight, no face masks, risking their own health & safety to speak directly with protestors. https://t.co/JImtS4iRo9
— Emily Ramshaw (@eramshaw) May 30, 2020

This is remarkable https://t.co/7c7UF55Kqq— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) May 30, 2020

If you’re like me, looking to our ‘leaders’ and despairing right now, there is hope. Women, like the examples above, are showing that we can expect better, and that we can in fact get better, if we act.

Nothing will make you feel better in this moment than acting.

Here are some micro-actions you can take right now.

To help protesters in the States you can donate to the National Bail Fund Network to help everyone protesting peacefully against state-sanctioned murder.
To inform yourself about what lies at the heart of these issues you can read the ebook Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect? (edited by Joe Macaré, Maya Schenwar, et al.) which has just been made free for download.
If you’re in the US you can visit Buy From A Black Woman and in the UK you can visit Janet’s List. Spend your money with Black and women of colour-run businesses. There’s nothing more empowering than a woman spending her own money as she chooses.
Join a union, join a political party and vote.

If you’re looking for inspiration and hope look to the Women’s Equality Party.

In January 2019 Sophie Walker, leader of the WEP, stepped down ‘in order to practise a key part of the job – making space for new voices’.

The Women’s Equality Party is now led by Mandu Reid, the first person of colour to lead a UK political party.

The WEP is determined to change things because, in the words of Cindy Gallop ‘women challenge the status quo because we are never it.’

If you’re unhappy right now, if you’re scared, if you’re angry, sign up for the Women’s Equality Party and be part of the change.

It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s insanely cheap.

Membership starts at £4.40 a month and they even have concessionary memberships for people who can’t afford to give much right now.

We all need you.

Donate, inform yourself, put your money where your mouth is and join the WEP.