Walking the Talk: WOMEN’S WAY’s Commitment to Gender Inclusion
By Laura Belmont, WOMEN'S WAY Board Chair
At WOMEN’S WAY, we are proud to stand at the forefront of advancing equity and justice. We accomplish this through our programs, grantmaking and capacity building, and advocacy. And also through our intentional self-reflection at the individual and organizational levels. As an organization rooted in uplifting women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals, we know that the work of inclusion must begin at home. That’s why our board and staff are embarking on a powerful journey toward greater gender inclusivity–one that aligns with our mission, sharpens our competencies, and strengthens our impact.
This spring, WOMEN’S WAY launched a comprehensive gender inclusivity training program led by the brilliant Tristan Katz (they/he), a nationally recognized equity-inclusion facilitator. Tristan brings a unique blend of compassion, rigor, and cultural fluency to the table, drawing from years of experience in digital strategy, anti-oppression work, and queer and trans advocacy. Their approach is deeply informed by intersectionality and a commitment to shifting dominant narratives that often marginalize and harm queer and trans people.
Why We’re Doing This, Now
Gender justice is under attack. From restrictive legislation targeting trans and nonbinary youth to persistent economic and healthcare inequities facing women and gender-expansive individuals, the urgency for organizations like ours to take a clear and courageous stance has never been greater.
But leadership requires more than statements. It demands alignment between values and practice. For WOMEN’S WAY, that means interrogating the assumptions baked into our internal structures, deepening our understanding of gender beyond the binary, and ensuring our team culture is one where all people feel seen, respected, and empowered.
We are committed to doing this not as a one-off training or checkbox exercise, but as a sustained investment in cultural transformation. As a board and staff, we are not only asking “What more can we do for gender justice externally?” but also “How can we embody that justice in the ways we work together, govern, and lead?”
