Indivisible? Yes, even though our name is not “Indivisible” we registered with Indivisible as an existing group and take guidance and advice from that growing organization. What makes us different with other local Indivisible groups’ is that our focus is on women. We are supporters of NARAL Massachusetts, ACLU Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood Action Massachusetts, (and of course all of these groups national organizations) and more recently Moms Demand Action.

 Who are we and how did we get started?

 Cape Cod Women for Change was started in 2015 when we met, realized we were like-minded in many ways and became fast friends.  We began working with other groups around the state on Equal Pay legislation that had been filed in the MA legislature and needed advocacy.  We were both involved in other groups, but those groups were either focused on more finite women’s issues, or were not able to get involved in an issue that might have been considered partisan or divisive. We recognized a void and the need for a group that could advocate for issues that impacted women, families, and those with needs that were considered to the left of center politically.

We set up a website and Facebook page, and joined the MA Equal Pay coalition. Both of us are familiar with advocacy and we began our own campaign, posting and sharing Calls to Action that included details about who to contact and what to say to advocate for Equal Pay.  We found we had an interested audience, so we expanded our focus to issues to that needed support in the Cape area.

Like many others we were shocked and dismayed with the outcome of the 2016 election.  We resisted the impulse to bury our heads in the sand and grabbed on to that urge to fight back and resist, seeking new ways to take action. Interest in what we were posting increased even more. We expanded issues and shared Calls to Action. More people found us and Cape Women for Change grew, fueled by you and your shared passion.

As plans for the Women’s Marches began to come together, we did our best to keep up with the groups organizing for each march, and to aggregate this information, sharing who was doing what and how to contact them.  Since then, interest has steadily intensified.

All of us want to DO something. We are frustrated and angry with each move against our freedom and rights. We find satisfaction when we take action. There is an energy that is growing across this country fueled by similar passions. The issues that must be addressed are multiplying and coming at us at top speed. For some of us, the concerns are impacting us psychologically.  We are learning, however, that if we can continue to find ways support each other and come together it gets easier to face each news cycle.

We are watching people – especially those who are new to this – discover that speaking up, showing up, and fighting back is a way to take back some of the power they felt they had lost. As we exercise our rights to free speech, we can see the evidence that our actions have impact. We are seeing results.

We have added pages to our website, including Cape Cod and wider-ranging resources and we will be adding information and contacts for the newer groups that have sprung up since the women’s marches.

We will continue to post Calls to Action, asking you to make calls, send postcards, and to show up – with your friends – for hearings and other events where people’s voices must be heard. We will continue to do our best to provide research and provide background on the issues, adding links to sources along with contact information and suggestions about what to say with each call to action.

All of this takes time, and as we grow we need your help:

•  Please use your voices to speak out when we share calls to action.
• Join us at our meetings and events.
• Share our posts here on our website and on our Facebook page.
• And, if you can, DONATE to help us get this movement going.

We believe that along with the women (and men) who have found and use their voices, there are many among us who are still seeking to find and use their own voices.

We believe that educating you about the issues, allows you to educate others. Understanding the issues and sharing your knowledge with others is the first step in becoming leaders in your own community!

When we use our voices we are advocating.  When we advocate, we influence policy and create changes that work for all women and families. When we work as a collective voice, we make a difference.

Please click the link “Follow Website via Email” on the right to receive emails when something new is posted on this website. Fill out this simple form receive our newsletter (we promise not to inundate your email’s inbox!)  Like and follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodWomenforChange  for updates on ongoing issues and information that you can use.

Contact: CapeCodWomenforChange@gmail.com