(Pictured left to right: Andriann Barboa, Carla Stokes, Jessica Danforth, and Ileana Jiménez)

Young girls of color are resilient, creative, and powerful. And they grow up to become resilient, creative, and powerful women who go on to do whatever they can to make the world a better, more fun, and safer place for young women of color. Anything can provide a catalyst for change–a tragic event, an everyday occurrence, or a seemingly small question–. While many people will allow for life’s circumstances to get them down and keep them there, there are plenty of women of color who inspire our young girls, make them think, and help them to raise their voices.

This list of 10 amazing women of color is just a small percentage of the countless women of color who are doing big things. Some I’ve known for years, some I’ve recently met, and some I’ve admired through their work with the intention of meeting them someday. All of them I (and many others) are inspired by. Check out their work, connect with them, share ways that you can work together, and become inspired. Last but not least, share what you’ve learned in this post with the women and girls of color in your lives. The more women of color we have making a difference in the lives of young girls of color, the more young girls of color will grow up and pay it forward.

These women really are infusing passion and creativity to improve the health and lives of women and girls of color. Read more about them and be inspired: (more…)

It may not seem like much, but signing a petition for a cause you care about is a great way to raise awareness, generate broader dialogue, and bring about change. And with online petitions becoming easier to make these days, anyone can make a petition, and many people can sign them.

Gone are the days where signing a petition solely involved several sheets of paper and a pen to sign with. Creating and signing an online petition is easy, and when you hit SEND, your signature goes directly to the person, group, or organization that the petition is intended for.

I tend to sign at least one online petition a week. Knowing that I’m signing my name on something that can potentially improve the life experiences of someone or a group it very satisfying, especially when said cause for the petition starts to gain some national and international attention.

Two of my go-to online petition sites are Change.org and Care2. I’ve gathered 9 petitions from these sites, focusing on women and girls. Read more on these petitions and take action today. All it takes is a few minutes. You never know what can happen.

Stop Blocking Native Women’s Access to Emergency Contraception: This petition created by Change.org user Sunny Clifford, a Native woman living in South Dakota, protests the Indian Health Service’s refusal to grant Native/Indigenous women access to emergency contraception (EC). 1 in 3 Native women are raped in their lifetime, and being told that EC is only available to you if you travel an hour away from your reservation to a doctor that can prescribe EC to you is not a good look at all. This petition goes directly to Dr. Yvette Robideaux, director of IHS, to demand access to EC without a prescription and without seeing a doctor. Sign the petition.

Seventeen Magazine: Give Girls Images of Real Girls: This petition was created by Change.org user Julia Bluhm. Julia is part of SPARK Movement  , and after finding out that Seventeen Magazine alters the photos of young girls in its magazine, Julia created this petition to stop magazines like Seventeen, as well as toy companies, and other big businesses from creating products, photo spreads and advertisements that do a disservice to girls’ self-esteem. This petition goes directly to Seventeen Magazine editor-in-chief Ann Shoket, and demands Seventeen Magazine commit to one unaltered photo spread a month. Sign the petition.

Free Marissa Alexander: Marissa Alexander is a mother of three children, and is currently incarcerated at the Pretrial Detention Facility in Jacksonville, Florida. This petition, created by Change.org user Lincoln Alexander, points out that Marissa, who is a victim of domestic violence, fired a single gun shot into a ceiling in her home in an attempt to prevent her husband from attacking her. When her husband left the home, he contacted police and falsely reported that Marissa shot at him and his 2 sons. The police took Marissa Alexander into custody. Florida is the home of the “stand your ground law”, and for standing her ground, Marissa is incarcerated for protecting herself. This petition goes directly to the United States Senate. Sign the petition. (more…)