More people than ever are fighting for women’s equality all over the world. As we fight to continue the legacy of the suffragettes, we are quick to remember all of the women who came before us – pioneers, engineers, soldiers of freedom and equality. It’s also important to honor and celebrate the women surrounding us today. We live in a world where we walk each other to our cars and watch each other’s drinks, but there are so many more ways that we can support women and fight for their equality.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we want to highlight some of our local nonprofits dedicated to empowering and supporting women in our community in Austin, Texas. There are numerous organizations advocating for and supporting women in need, but here are a few of our favorite nonprofits serving women right in our hometown.
The SAFE Alliance is an organization that exists to provide support to victims of abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, and more. They serve as a merger between Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace, two of Austin’s oldest human services agencies and even has roots in one of the nation’s first Centers for Battered Women. There are many ways to support the SAFE Alliance – by volunteering to prepare food, sorting donations, or hosting activities for moms and children. Click here to learn more about how to get involved.
While homelessness continues to be a pressing issue in our community, the Saint Louise House is working to help low-income mothers escape poverty and homelessness and to develop long-term stability and self-sufficiency. This organization provides not only affordable housing, but life skills and community resources to empower women to transform their lives and overcome the cycle of poverty. Learn how you can support this organization by clicking here.
Another resource for mothers in Austin is Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, which provides essential prenatal and postnatal care and services to Black and Latina women. Women of color statistically have a higher infant mortality rate and are less likely to receive essential prenatal care. Mama Sana works to provide free culturally-specific pregnancy services including birth companions, childbirth preparation workshops, and perinatal support groups. Visit their volunteer page to learn more about how you can get involved.
Dress for Success is a worldwide organization with a strong presence in Austin. This nonprofit works to help women establish a solid work history to permanently escape the cycle of poverty by providing professional work clothes and essential skills to advance their career. Dress for Success believes that each woman should have the tools to become economically independent and map their goals into a reality. Find out how to support this group by clicking here.
Empowering women is just one battle in the fight for equality, but it is one that we must fight every day. While we make efforts to shop locally and support small businesses, it’s important to also support causes and charities local to you, too. Remember to lift up and support those around you, and we can all come together to achieve true equality!
By Grace McDonald
Austin, Texas
