If you’re working on communications to support a true democracy that works for all of us, check out the Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook. This resource is invaluable for learning to tell stories for a better future.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963.
Source: Eagle Rock branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
The public library is a safe place for everyone to learn and grow. That’s the message public libraries nationwide are sharing with humor and creativity across social media.
People around the country are responding to that message with a lot of love. The comments to public library posts on Instagram and Tik Tok are overwhelmingly positive. Likes are in the thousands. The comments and likes are a visceral, digital reflection of how much Americans value their public libraries.
Public library social media plays on what we know and believe about public libraries.
As institutions, libraries are a physical expression of the public good. They exist for the purpose of expanding knowledge without limits for all people. Our nation’s public libraries are also among the few places in American society where everyone is welcome.
Here’s what your organization can learn from public library social media.
What do you want your community to know about your organization? Tell them in clear, plain language.
Express your purpose without hesitation. No ifs, or buts. This is what we do.
Show the value you provide.
Find different ways to keep telling your community who you are, what you do, and why you matter.
Last notes from Women Funding Network’s Feminist Funded 2025.
1. “You want impact?” Long-term, core, flexible funding. If we want to win, this is how it’s done.
The Right does it and it works. The evidence is there.” -Happy Mwende Kinyili. Co-Executive Director, Mama Cash Fund.
2. “A lot of transformational breakthroughs come from small organizations most people have never heard of. Fund them.” -Raquel Willis. Co-Founder, Gender Liberation Movement.
3. “Oppressive systems are coordinated. Our response has to be just as coordinated and more.” -Carmen Perez-Jordan. President and CEO, The Gathering for Justice.
4. “Get off the sidelines. Move C3 and C4 dollars for the change you need. C4 funds help get a candidate elected; C3 dollars help them implement policies. When Progressives win, knives are out. They don’t have the resources and support to lead once they are elected.” -Amoretta Morris. President, Borealis Philanthropy.
If you ever wonder who you are in this moment, consider these words from Smith College Associate Professor and MacArthur Fellow Loretta J. Ross:
“I used to regret not being old enough to sit-in at lunch counters or march in the 60s for freedom, justice, and democratic values. This is our lunch counter moment. Are you standing up or sitting-in for justice or spitting on those who do?”
Professor Ross is one of the activists who coined the term “women of color” in 1977 and co-developed the theory of Reproductive Justice. She moderated a panel celebrating 40 years of Women’s Funding Network at Feminist Funded 2025.
There’s no time to be coy when confronting the attempted overthrow of a democracy. The January 6 Committee is doing the necessary work of investigating and stating the facts of what happened that day. Big “D” and little “d” democratic organizations have to take on the role of making the hearings known and communicating the findings. Most media has essentially abdicated their responsibility on this front. So far, finding out about the hearings seems to be more about luck than the results of a coordinated strategy. Other than the Twitter accounts of the January 6th Committee and its members, few Democratic Members of Congress prominently list the committee hearing dates and times.
These hearings are probably the most important in American history. They are about getting a full and accurate account of the attempted overthrow of the democratically elected government of the United State of America. Widespread shared understanding of the same baseline factual information is essential. When more people watch the hearings misinformation is easier to combat. If the people who participated in the attempted coup aren’t named and held to account, what would stop them or their allies from trying again?
So where’s the push to watch the hearings? If we don’t collectively bear witness again to the betrayal of January 6, justice isn’t likely. Republicans began downplaying the attempted coup hours after it happened. Maybe there’s a grand multifaceted communications strategy that will reveal itself tomorrow. If it comes, the goal must be to make sure there are real consequences for the perpetrators and accomplices. We can then as a nation begin the long overdue work of rejecting fascistic authoritarianism in American government. A just society is possible for all of us.
Equality, equity, and justice are sometimes used as interchangeable terms. They don’t mean the same thing. Here’s a practical way to tell the difference from Dr. Oni Blackstock, MD MHS.
Election Night Reflections
Speak plainly about who you are and what you believe in.
Name and claim the policies that work and make people’s lives better.
Lead with your values and relentlessly push back on lies.
If you’re interested in board service, how do you know if you’re ready? What skills position you to be the ideal board member? How do you find the right board?
Last Thursday, Silicon Valley Bank and theBoardlist hosted a virtual salon exploring those questions for women starting on their path to board service. A Seat At The Table: Landing Your First Board Seat featured an expert panel of board directors with diverse professional experience across technology, biotech, and consumer goods. In a conversation moderated by theBoardlist CEO Shannon Gordon, the panelists- Asmau Ahmed, Mandy Fields, and Shehnaaz Suliman gave the audience actionable and inspirational advice for pursuing board service.
Skills assessment emerged as a central theme in the conversation. It’s an important early step for determining board readiness. While women are generally prepared for board service before they even begin looking into opportunities, they may question if their skills align with an organization’s needs. It can be tricky connecting a skillset built over a career with the sometimes nebulous expectations an organization may have for its board of directors. This is especially true for a career path that crosses several fields. Asmau Ahmed used consulting as an example. The key skills consultants often demonstrate in their practice- providing strategic advice, making connections, and ensuring staff have what they need to do their work, are essential for board governance responsibilities.
Once you understand how your skills and experience match to potential board opportunities, follow these three steps to find the right board for you:
“Be a board warrior, not a board worrier.” For Shehnaaz Suliman preparation is key. This means being strategic and deepening your knowledge to position yourself for success. In Shehnaaz’s words, “You make your own future. Seize opportunities and capitalize on them. Never apologize for the spark that makes you a warrior.”
“Focus on the areas where you are strongest and tell your story.” Asmau highlighted this approach to bring into focus the unique value each person brings to a situation. Strengths aren’t untethered abilities, they exist in the context of who you are and how you do what you do. Don’t be shy. Name your accomplishments. Shrinking yourself and playing small doesn’t serve you.
Now that you’re prepared, know your strengths, and are ready to tell your story, put this golden piece of advice from Mandy Fields into action: “Leverage everything around you in your ecosystem to get where you need to go.” The bottom line is know what you want and go for it.
Meaningful board service is an expansive experience. When you recognize the value of your skills and expertise, you can cultivate fulfilling board opportunities.
DP Cogan Consulting 