logo
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Celebrates Women's History Month 2025: ‘Moving Forward Together'

Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Celebrates Women's History Month 2025: ‘Moving Forward Together'

The Foundation will fund a number of initiatives in celebration of Women's History
LITTLE ROCK, AR, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- This March, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF) proudly joins the nation in celebrating Women's History Month, honoring the countless contributions of women in shaping a more equitable and just society. This year's theme, Moving Forward Together, celebrates the power of collaboration and community as we work toward meaningful change.
As we reflect on the progress made and the work that lies ahead, WRF remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering women, uplifting their leadership, and amplifying opportunities that enable women to thrive. Inspired by Winthrop Rockefeller's legacy of inclusion and innovation, the Foundation continues to invest in women-led initiatives that strengthen Arkansas's communities.
'Winthrop Rockefeller believed in the transformative power of women's leadership,' said Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, Chief Executive Officer of WRF. 'As we celebrate Women's History Month, we honor his legacy by highlighting the strengths, aspirations, and contributions of women across Arkansas. We are committed to ensuring that their voices and talents are at the center of solutions for a brighter future.'
By building a network of care and connection, WRF is helping to shape an Arkansas where women's leadership is celebrated and supported as essential to our collective progress. This year's observance takes on added urgency as charitable nonprofit organizations face new challenges stemming from the January 22, 2025 Executive Orders issued by President Trump. These changes, which are likely to reduce funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, could have profound implications for women-focused programs and the communities they serve.
'At a time when systemic inequities persist, these policy shifts present a stark reminder of the need to protect and expand support for DEI efforts,' said West-Scantlebury. 'WRF is committed to standing alongside women leaders and ensuring that their critical work continues to receive the resources and recognition it deserves.'
Despite these challenges, WRF sees an opportunity to double down on its mission, advancing women's leadership and empowering communities to thrive. This work is grounded in the belief that every woman's potential is a vital asset to the future of Arkansas.
Throughout March, WRF will host and collaborate with our partners on initiatives that celebrate women's leadership and inspire collective action. As we move forward together through continued engagement with policymakers and leaders to protect funding and support for programs that uplift women and advance diversity and inclusion, we are building a future where equity and opportunity are accessible to all.
WRF invites partners, allies, and communities across Arkansas to join us in celebrating Women's History Month. For more information on WRF's Women's History Month initiatives, visit https://wrfoundation.org/.
About the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation relentlessly pursues equity for all Arkansans by investing in community-led solutions and advancing systemic change. Inspired by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller's visionary leadership, WRF remains dedicated to building a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Tashion Macon
strut AGENCY
+1 818-749-8786
email us here
Legal Disclaimer:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Frustrated Democrats try new response to Trump barrage: Flood the zone right back
Frustrated Democrats try new response to Trump barrage: Flood the zone right back

Yahoo

time12 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Frustrated Democrats try new response to Trump barrage: Flood the zone right back

Frustrated Democrats are fighting to counter President Trump's flood-the-zone approach by adopting a mirror strategy with a simple goal: To flood the zone right back. Democrats have struggled to keep pace with the machine-gun tempo of Trump's second term, which has featured a blitz of boundary-busting executive orders, mass deportations, federal firings, and broader efforts to gut the federal government. The Democrats' response to the frenzy of executive actions has infuriated the party's liberal base, which loudly accused Democratic leaders of failing to push back against an aggressive White House in ways that meet the urgency of the moment. The party brass appears to have noticed. Recent weeks have seen the Democrats coalescing behind an assertive new strategy designed to fight fire with fire — what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) characterizes as a 'more is more' playbook. The strategy is very much a work in progress as Democrats scramble through trial and error to locate communications techniques that can break through the noise of Trump's frenzied second term. And the actions of some lawmakers, like Sen. Cory Booker's (D-N.J.) marathon floor speech, have been better received than the tactics of others, like Rep. Al Green's (D-Texas) heckling of Trump on the House floor, which angered some Democratic moderates and led to Green's censure. Still, Democrats are increasingly rallying behind a mantra that's perhaps best encapsulated by words attributed to the hockey great Wayne Gretzky: 'You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.' 'I'm trying stuff — some stuff works, some stuff doesn't,' said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), who spoke up at a recent Democratic caucus meeting to warn colleagues that they're losing the messaging war. 'But, like, every once in a while I get something that really captures the imagination and then my team goes back, we figure out: What was it about that?' she continued. 'We have to do our own data-crunching in real time about what is resonating.' 'Flood the zone,' echoed Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a leader of the Democrats' messaging arm. 'Communicate often, all the time, about what's going on with a very simple message that the Republicans right now are — the reason they want to cut Medicaid, the reason they want to cut food stamps, is because they want to give billionaires a tax cut.' 'That's what we're talking about. And it's resonating with people.' They have their work cut out. Not only do Democrats lack an obvious national leader, but from the minority wilderness in Congress the party lacks the authority to bring legislation to the floor, conduct hearings on topics of their choosing, or investigate the many scandals of Trump's second term with the subpoena power available to the majority Republicans, who have shown little inclination to check the White House. Democrats are being advised to stay focused on how the Republicans' legislative designs will affect Americans' futures, but they're also stuck relitigating the past amid new revelations about former President Biden's health. And in the ongoing contest for voter attention, Democrats simply don't have the same media infrastructure erected by the right, where conservative voices like Joe Rogan and Dave Portnoy enjoy wide appeal with millions of younger voters who have flocked to Trump. In an effort to close the messaging gap, Democrats are turning to unusual tactics, like diving into GOP-held districts to conduct town halls. That strategy has allowed Democrats to communicate directly with voters in battleground regions, while also highlighting the fact that most Republican lawmakers are avoiding such public events amid an outcry over the steep cuts in federal programs featured in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' 'What we're trying to tell people is that as much as [Trump] said he's for you, he's not. And the proof is in the pudding,' said Stacey Plaskett (D), the House delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands. 'We recognize that Americans are getting their information and news not in the traditional ways that they used to. And it's important for us to go to where they are.' Frost, for one, has joined forces with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to stage town halls in red regions. And he pointed, as another successful model, to the Democrats' response to Trump's joint address to Congress in February, when Democrats hosted a 'spin room' in the Capitol basement where progressive podcasters and influencers mingled with Democratic lawmakers — and broadcast their anti-Trump messages to niche audiences far and wide. 'Usually, the caucus will have maybe 30, 40 members go down there. This year, because the leader himself was involved and pushing people to go, we had 150,' Frost said. 'But one time doesn't win it,' he quickly added. 'We need it to be a part of everyone's day-to-day. So we're getting there.' Jeffries has taken the lead of the Democrats' enhanced outreach campaign, abandoning his traditional routine of one weekly press conference in the Capitol to stage at least two meetings with reporters each week — and sometimes more — to push back against the blizzard of White House actions. In another gambit in late April, he and Booker staged a daylong sit-in on the Capitol steps to draw attention to the Republicans' policy plans. The approach is not quite blind: Jeffries emphasized that the pushback effort is opportunistic — designed around the 'timing and the rhythm of the legislative process and how we engage in making sure that we are aggressively pushing back when the moment presents itself.' 'We continue to be in a more-is-more environment,' he said. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), a front-line Democrat, said she's encountering voters of all stripes who are feeling anxious amid the unpredictable actions from the White House, and they want to see Democrats fighting back with every tool available. In that environment, she said, the key is persistence. 'We've been attacking it on all fronts, and we have to keep doing that. Whether it's amicus briefs or town halls or legislation or letters to the administration — we've just got to keep the drumbeat going,' she said. 'They like it when you fight.' 'I don't care what I'm invited to,' echoed Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). 'I did the LA City Business Council — I took that as an opportunity to do my town hall. So I do it everywhere.' Democrats are resigned to the likelihood that the immediate impact of the fight will be that nothing changes. Indeed, for all their fierce messaging against Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' they were powerless to block it from moving through the House last month. But the ultimate goal is longer-term: flipping control of the House in next year's midterms so they can provide a check on Trump in the final two years of his presidency. 'We need every single tool right now, because we're focused on winning back the majority. Like, that is the focus right now, because how else can we stop … all of these horrible policies?' Balint said. 'It's a numbers game. We have to get those people in those seats.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Trump is not a king – but that doesn't stop him from reveling in his job's most ceremonial and exciting parts
Trump is not a king – but that doesn't stop him from reveling in his job's most ceremonial and exciting parts

Yahoo

time16 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Trump is not a king – but that doesn't stop him from reveling in his job's most ceremonial and exciting parts

Heads of state are the symbolic leader of a country. Some of them, like King Charles III of the United Kingdom, carry out largely ceremonial roles these days. Others, like Saudi Arabian King Salman, are absolute monarchs and involved in governing the country's day-to-day activities and policies. It also means that the Saudi monarch gets to do whatever he wants without much consequence from others. In the United States, the president is both the head of state and head of government. The head of government works with legislators and meets with other world leaders to negotiate agreements and navigate conflicts, among other responsibilities. Some presidents, like Jimmy Carter, got so bogged down in the specifics that the nighttime comedy show 'Saturday Night Live' made fun of it in 1977. 'SNL' spoofed Carter responding in extreme, mundane detail to a question about fixing a post office's letter sorting machines. As a political scientist who studies American presidents, I see that President Donald Trump loves the power and prestige that comes with being head of state, but does not seem to particularly enjoy the responsibility of being head of government. Trump rarely talks about the often-tedious process of governing, and instead acts with governance by decree by signing a flurry of executive orders to avoid working with other parts of the government. He has also likened himself to a king, writing on Feb. 19, 2025, 'Long Live the King!' As much as Trump loves hosting sports teams and talking about paving over the White House's rose garden in a remodeling project, he seems to begrudgingly accept the role of head of government. Trump revels in social events where he is heralded as the most important person in the room. On Feb. 9, 2025, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. A week later, he attended the Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida, where his limousine led drivers in completing a ceremonial lap. Trump's preference for serving as head of state and not head of government was on full display during his now infamous Feb. 28, 2025, White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the televised Oval Office meeting, Trump repeatedly told Zelenskyy, 'You have to be thankful.' Trump was demanding deference from Zelenskyy to show his inferior and submissive position as a recipient of U.S. aid and military support. These are mannerisms of absolute kings, not elected officials. The beginning of Trump's second term in office has been filled with announcements of changes – mostly through executive actions. The Trump administration has ordered the Pentagon to stop cyber operations against Russia and fired hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The administration has also closed the Social Security Administration's civil rights office and, among many other things, named the president chair of the Kennedy Center, a performance arts venue in Washington. Trump has enacted policy changes almost exclusively through executive orders, instead of working with Congress on legislation. Executive orders do not have to be negotiated with the legislative branch and can be written by a small team of advisers and approved by presidents. Within the first six weeks, Trump has signed more than 90 executive orders. By comparison, former President Joe Biden signed 162 executive orders during his four years in office. Many of Trump's executive orders are being challenged in court, and some have been found to likely not be constitutional. More importantly, Trump's successor can turn executive orders into confetti in an instant, simply with a signature. Trump himself has signed at least two executive orders that rescind over 60 previous executive orders, mostly signed by Biden. The fact that Trump has removed almost all of Biden's executive orders highlights how the orders can create change for a moment, or a few years. But when it comes to long-term policy change, congressional action is needed. Early in Trump's first term in 2017, the administration planned themed weeks called 'Made in America' and 'American Heroes,' for example, to emphasize changes it intended to pursue. Trump's staff launched, stopped and then relaunched a themed infrastructure week seven times in 2019. This happened after Trump repeatedly derailed infrastructure events to focus on a more interesting event or topic, ranging from defending his comments that seemed to suggest support for white supremacists to discussing the reboot of Roseanne Barr's sitcom. In his second term, Trump has farmed out many head of government tasks to other people, notably billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading the new so-called Department of Government Efficiency. By mid-February 2025, Trump gave Musk, who holds the title of special government employee, oversight for hiring decisions at every governmental agency. But as DOGE has initiated widespread cuts at different government agencies and offices in an effort to trim government waste, Musk has reportedly clashed with Trump's cabinet members. This includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as other independent agencies funded by Congress. Government agencies, funding recipients and others are pushing back against the cuts and at times are succeeding in getting court rulings that halt the dismissal of government workers, or reinstate other workers at their jobs. Trump also seems to have abdicated most responsibility of bureaucracy to others by allowing Musk's team unprecedented access to sensitive government programs and documents that include people's personal information. Absolute kings, queens, emperors and dictators are heads of state who demand obedience because they hold the nation in their grip. Presidents from elected democracies may, as in the case of the U.S., have a ceremonial aspect to the job, but it is only a part of it. The people democratically elect American presidents to serve everyone and provide the best government possible. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin Read more: Tyrannical leader? Why comparisons between Trump and King George III miss the mark on 18th-century British monarchy Trump's defiance of a federal court order fuels a constitutional crisis − a legal scholar unpacks the complicated case Donald Trump's nonstop news-making can be exhausting, making it harder for people to scrutinize his presidential actions Shannon Bow O'Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Federal Job Applications Will Soon Have Essay Questions About Trump's Executive Orders And Government Efficiency
Federal Job Applications Will Soon Have Essay Questions About Trump's Executive Orders And Government Efficiency

Forbes

time3 days ago

  • Forbes

Federal Job Applications Will Soon Have Essay Questions About Trump's Executive Orders And Government Efficiency

Essay questions about government efficiency and President Donald Trump's executive orders will soon be included in federal job applications, the Office of Personnel Management announced Thursday, adding new requirements for civil service job seekers that could gauge their political leanings. The questions were listed in a Thursday memorandum from the Office of Personnel Management. (Photo ... More by) The questions will apply to applications for positions GS-05 and above, a federal pay grade with annual rates as low as $34,454, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management. Four essay questions will be added with a limit of 200 words per answer, with applicants required to certify that they did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence for their answers. The Office of Personnel Management said the questions are being added as part of Executive Order 14170, which Trump signed in January and seeks to make the federal hiring process more efficient. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. 1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. 2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. 3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. 4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. The new questions do not explicitly ask applicants about their political preferences, which is prohibited under federal law. However, Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, told Bloomberg, which first reported on the job application questions, that the new inquiries were 'deeply problematic' and an 'almost partisan and ideological overlay without understanding the responsibilities they're hiring for.' When exactly the new questions will begin appearing on federal job applications provided by USAJobs, the official employment site for the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management did not immediately respond to Forbes' request for comment. Trump signed Executive Order 14170 with the stated goal of streamlining and making the federal hiring process more transparent. He also signed Executive Order 14173 to curb diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in federal hiring, claiming the initiatives, which are intended to accommodate marginalized groups in the workplace and in the hiring process, are 'illegal, demeaning, and immoral.' Last month, The Washington Post reported some 280 employees working on environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for the Environmental Protection Agency resigned from the agency themselves or were told they would be fired. The president's goal to reform federal hiring has been pushed alongside the firing of hundreds of thousands of federal employees, which has been done to 'enhance accountability, reduce waste, and promote innovation,' according to the president. However, some of the layoffs have been reversed by the Trump administration or blocked by courts. Federal Government Layoff Tracker: State Department Reportedly Cutting 15% Of U.S. Staff, EPA Firing DEI Workers (Forbes)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store