Dear CWIP Members and Friends,
Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP) was founded in 1981 with a vision to create an equitable, inclusive, and connected social sector. Our mission was and continues to be to build an inclusive community that educates and empowers Chicagoland women to grow personally and professionally and to advocate boldly for themselves and their communities. Our members are passionate about helping other women advance in society, and we believe this includes an undeniable right to make decisions for themselves.
The recent Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v Wade and 50 years of precedent, and the imminent threat to other landmark cases related to individual and collective protections, is devastating. This ruling will undoubtedly put the lives and livelihoods of pregnant people throughout the United States at risk and will disproportionately impact Black and brown communities, the poor and those with marginalized identities. CWIP believes that preserving women’s rights means maintaining the ability for women and woman-identifying individuals to make decisions regarding their health and bodily autonomy.
We recognize that our membership will continue to need time and space to process this news and its impact on their own lives and the lives of others in our community. The CWIP Board of Directors cares deeply about the Individuals that we seek to serve as an organization through our programming and outreach and we will be steadfast in our efforts to foster a supportive and engaged community for women across Chicagoland and beyond.
-CWIP Board of Directors