This book would quite literally not be possible without a whole team of brilliant people playing major roles in its creation. First and foremost, it owes its very existence to the superstars at MomsRising, including its members, volunteers, and team. This book comes directly out of our work together, our stories, and the expertise of every single person in our movement. This book is yours, and is the reason why 100 percent of the proceeds of this book go to MomsRising to help provide the fuel to keep us all marching.
Many leaders helped bring this book into the world, and some were there every step of the way. I’m looking at especially Donna Norton, Monifa Bandele, Ruth Martin, and dream hampton. Thank you. These women braved many versions of chapters at all times of the day. Thank you for fielding dozens of emails, phone calls, and texts with more questions than I can count, and for the massive amount of brilliance you shared. This book would not be in existence without you. And, the entire movement wouldn’t be strong without you, either. Donna Norton, your leadership in founding and building MomsRising from the very start—over the past eleven years—has been absolutely essential to our success. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. Monifa Bandele, your vision has created an unstoppable movement and advanced an incredible number of wins, and your leadership has shaped and built our organization and nation. I’m in awe. Ruth Martin, you turn ideas into action, and while we are millions strong, your leadership leverages our power and makes our marches fruitful. dream hampton, your wisdom and insights always lead to the truth of these issues. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m thankful you do! The words, ideas, and inspiration you all provide are woven into every sentence of this book. I wish there was a way to convey how grateful I am, but these are the best I can do here: Thank you.
To everyone who went above and beyond in contributing their ideas and policy expertise to this book project, I’m eternally grateful. Beth Messersmith offered invaluable help by leading the way on envisioning, outlining, and creating The #KeepMarching MomsRising Advocacy and Organizing Tactics and Tips guide, which laid the framework for many of the action plans in the book. I’m also thankful to Gloria Pan for her expertise on all things gun safety, #KeepMarching organizing, and wordsmithing; Sara Alcid, who shared expertise on workplace justice; Beatriz Beckford for her expertise on how to break the school-to-prison pipeline, social emotional development, trauma-informed care, and education; Nina Perez for her expertise in dual language learning, early learning, and more; Felicia Willems for her expertise on health care policy; Xochitl Oseguera, Khadija Gurnah, and Carolina Rubio for their brilliance in immigration policy; Nadia Hussain for her expertise in maternal justice; Elyssa Koidin Schmeir for her expertise in budget and tax policy; Lauren Hipp for expertise in early learning, dual language learning, pre-K, and childcare; Sili Recio for expertise in social media and content; Danielle Ness for graphics, images, and artistry; Nathan White for all things technology; Olivia Roskill for helping pull together the stories; Keisha Robinson for keeping everything on track; Lisa Lederer for rapid grammar fixes and wordsmithing brainstorming; Marc Boone for beautiful images; and Maggie Humphreys for her expertise on economic security policies and how to run for office—and win! The best of this book reflects the brilliance and passion you all bring to these issues.
A standing ovation to the MomsRising team, who provided information, expertise, ideas, inspiration, and brilliance, including Sara Alcid, Beatriz Beckford, Christina D’ Allesandro, Diarra Diouf, Abbie Gately, Khadija Gurnah, Lauren Hipp, Donna Hoffman Cullinan, Sarah Howard, Maggie Humphreys, Nadia Hussain, Anita Jackson, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Elyssa Koidin Schmeir, Ruth Martin, Rosie McLaughlin, Beth Messersmith, Susan Milotich, Danielle Ness, Casey Osborn-Hinman, Xochitl Oseguera, Gloria Pan, Nina Perez, Sili Recio, Migdalia Rivera, Keisha Robinson, Tina Sherman, Karen Showalter, Ruby Sinreich, Mason Trapp, Nathan White, Jennifer Whitley, and Felicia Willems. And a giant special thank-you to the one and only Joan Blades for being a founder of MomsRising in 2006 and helping to spark a movement that’s now over a million women strong. I am humbled and honored every day to work with you all on the MomsRising team.
To the members of MomsRising: Thank you. Thank you for leading the way, sharing your stories, calling elected leaders, sending letters, signing petitions, attending meetings, organizing, and so much more. You inspired this book. Thank you.
Meghan Stevenson, word wrangler, your talents helping to take this to the finish line on a tight timeline are awe-inspiring. Thank you also to Robin Templeton for early and important edits, to Stacy Phillips Booth for making sure the endnotes were beautiful and perfect, and to Jill Marr for moving mountains for this book. Sarah Jane Glynn, data detective extraordinaire—I don’t know how you do it, but every number and data source seems to be at your fingertips. Thank you, Sarah Jane, for making this book well researched and definitely not fake news. My dear friend and brilliant reality checker, Kirstin Larson, offered incisive edits and well-timed perspective for which I’m incredibly grateful. And a giant thank-you to Krishan Trotman for believing in this book and bringing it to life!
Thanks also go to Rinku Sen, Pramila Jayapal, Elisa Batista, Celinda Lake, Rebecca Cokley, Holly Finkbeiner, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Kim Gandy, Erin Villardi, Shireen Mitchell, Ai-jen Poo, Alicia Garza, Miriam Yeung, Lucy McBath, Cheryl Contee, Yiqing Dong, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, Bob Bland, Janaye Ingram, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Paola Mendoza, Tamika Mallory, Mary Olivella, Ashley Boyd, Adam Bartz, asha bandele, Ann Crittenden, Mia Birdsong, Allison Branham, Scott Dudley, Katie Bethell, and Ilyse Hogue for inspiring me and sharing their brilliance for this book and over the years.
Thank you also to the women who have led the way and on whose shoulders we stand, including those in my own family who inspire me to this work: my great grandmother Elizabeth Brewster Wolcott, as well as Jane Wolcott Steinhausen, my grandmother, and, perhaps most importantly, Jane Steinhausen Semich, my departed and dearly missed mom.
A special thank-you to my daughter, Anna, for brilliant insights, for keeping me on my toes, for teaching me through her wise observations as she grows, and for inspiring me to keep typing, and for my son, Connor, who spent time editing these pages and has taught me so much as he’s grown up that’s reflected in this book. And, Bill, thank you for always believing I can do things that I’m not sure I can do, reading a thousand drafts, sharing important insights, and then bringing chocolate. I’m so very thankful for you.
Thank you also to my family: my dad, Stephen Rowe, who has always had an eye to social justice and worked toward it; my sister and brothers; and also to my dear stepfather, Bebop (Chuck Semich). Thank you also to all my friends who gave advice and cheered along the way, including Julia Morse, Jen Stone, Kerry Miyashita, Amy Friedan, and Justina Chen. Thank you also to the Facebook community, who kept me on track reaching word count goals and shared important insights throughout this process. It would take an entire second book to thank everyone adequately whose support and inspiration made this possible—and one day I want to write that book.
Ultimately a book has no meaning without a reader. All the work and dedication from those listed here, and many more, made this book for you so that we together can do this work and make the changes we all need. To you, who holds this book in your hand, thank you. Thank you for caring, for sharing, and for marching.