Hi Friend,

Drumroll, please! We’re so excited to present you with our 2022 Legislative Report Card. Check it out here to see how legislators voted on our priority bills. We made important progress this year through collaboration with partners and elected leaders who stand up for feminist values.

Speaking of our values... this week the Senate passed a bill that will help address our planet’s climate crisis, which will seriously reduce greenhouse gases and help ensure a future (for us to keep fighting for justice on other fronts!).

It also offers the biggest changes to healthcare policy since Obamacare, and address inequality by lowering the cost of insurance for lower income people, and drug prices through Medicare.  

What it does *not* do is offer any of the human infrastructure that had been part of negotiations for the last year: paid family and medical leave, childcare, and other care economy supports. We can celebrate the wins and still recognize that caregivers – largely women – are still overlooked and under-supported. That means it’s on us to keep addressing the care crisis here in Maine. Read below to find out how you can join our work on paid family & medical leave, rural power-building, and more. 

In Solidarity,
The Maine Women's Lobby Team
Ambureen, Catie, Dania, & Destie

PS: If you’re in Greater Portland, join us TONIGHT for drinks and chats at Fore River Brewery for feminist community happy hour from 4-7PM!  You can drop through anytime or register here.

Paid Leave Possibilities

The Maine Paid Leave Coalition is excited to pass paid leave through the Legislature next session. However, we know we have an election and a long process between now and then.  That is why the Maine Women’s Lobby has partnered with Maine People’s Alliance and filed papers to move a people’s referendum for PFML in November of 2023. This gives us two chances to make PFML a reality next year.  
Email us or visit mainefamilyleave.org to find out how you can Take Action!

Rural Leadership Cohort

Do you live in Lincoln, Hancock, or Aroostook County? Have you always wished you had a bigger team of feminists and gender activists to connect with? This cohort will offer training, solidarity, community building, and action planning. We will support cohort members with stipends if needed, shared strategizing, and the tools and supplies to take action in your own communities.

For more information, apply using this form by August 12th.  Contact Ambureen Rana at [email protected] if you have any questions!

Volunteer with us at the Common Ground Fair!

Join us at the Common Ground Country Fair this year on September 23, 24 and 25, 2022. If you want to volunteer with the Maine Women’s Lobby and enjoy the fair sign up here.

Everyone who signs up will get an email with more information and details about the event.

Coming Soon:

Keep on the lookout for registration and dates for…
- Feminist Institute happening THIS September,
- Gender Justice Dance Party HALLOWEEN COSTUME Brunch, and
- EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE ALL FALL OF THE PATRIARCHY LONG

Want to throw a party with us near you to help us grow our community and yours? A meet and greet with local friendly food trucks? A coffee hour karaoke? A feminist roller blade soiree? We’ll dare to dream big. Email [email protected].

ICYMI:  Fueling Our Fire

We were so grateful to build the span and depth of community at Broadturn Farm on July 21with so many of you! If you have not seen them yet, check out the photos from Fueling Our Fire.

Election season, we’re coming for you!!!!!

Support elections, support gender just policies!

Together, we will invest in a future that is anti-racist and gender just. This election season, we need gifts to fuel our ability to:

- help voters stay informed. Please have a look at this year’s report card, just the first of many tools.
- launch a rural leadership cohort, to provide activists who are already organizing in rural places additional training, resources, and financial support to lead in their own communities on these issues.
- grow our members' skills around what really works to move the needle, with a series of trainings throughout September.
- provide places and spaces for action on key races in partnership with our allies who share our vision of a gender equitable future.

Give a gift today.

Thank you for considering a gift. If you would like to be even more incredible, support our ability to advocate this session for good public policy by becoming a monthly donor – this type of dependable gift sustain us every season of the job, through the thick and thin of the campaigns. And we always welcome gifts of time! Click below to sign up for our volunteer list.

Volunteer today!