Why Young Men in the US Should Pay Attention to and Advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment
July 31, 2024
By Jenny Horn
The ERA Coalition, an organization led by women of color, represents millions of people and more than 260 allied organizations whose common mission is to see the Equal Rights Amendment ratified and implemented within the United States Constitution. As we continue our fight towards the constitutional protections of those on the account of sex, many new companies, businesses, individuals, and organizations have followed suit and joined forces to become members of the ERA Coalition. As a show of our gratitude and continued support, we would like to take a moment to lift up our newest members this month, and spotlight a few of them.
In June of 2022:
Thank you so much to all of our new partners for their essential support in pursuit of the continued ratification and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment within the United States Constitution. This month’s member highlights include Vote Run Lead, Advance Native Political Leadership, and Cal Fire!
Vote Run Lead
Vote Run Lead trains women to run for office, and win, reaching over 55,000 women all across America. Vote Run Lead alumni are serving on city councils, county boards, state houses, supreme courts, and in Congress. Their co-founders and leaders have been working together for nearly 15 years, with a growing family of team members in 6 states, and a national trainer pool of the country’s best political coaches. Launched in 2014, today Vote Run Lead is 4 times the size of our start, reaching tens of thousands of women – nearly 60% of whom are women of color, and 20% of whom are from rural America. They are working rapidly – with partners like the YWCA USA, and New American Leaders and local women’s foundations – to increase women’s representation at every level of government. Vote Run Lead partnered this month with the ERA Coalition to work in an intersectional manner to best ensure safe and equal futures for current and coming generations through the implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment within the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the ERA’s sure positive impact on the livelihood of women across the country.
Advance Native Political Leadership
Advance Native Political Leadership is the first and only national Native American-led organization working to address the vast disparity and unique barriers that exist for Indigenous peoples in U.S. politics. Their theory of change explains that when Native peoples and communities have access to national networks, innovative tools for community organizing, strategies for civic and voter engagement, and pathways to leadership, they inherently advance all of the communities’ health and wellbeing. Advance Native Political Leadership was founded to address the need for increased Native American representation in elected and appointed office at all levels across the country, and is partnering today with the ERA Coalition this month to help fuel the momentum needed to finally publish and implement the Equal Rights Amendment within the U.S. Constitution, helping countless women within the Native American community fulfill their pursuit of equality and happiness.
CAL FIRE
The men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. In addition, the Department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. Beyond its wildland firefighting role, CAL FIRE is an "all-risk" department. It may very well be a CAL FIRE engine and crew that is dispatched to the scene of an auto accident, or to a home where a child has become the victim of a drowning incident. The Department is always ready to respond - medical aids; hazardous material spills; swift water rescues; search and rescue missions; civil disturbances; train wrecks; floods, earthquakes and more. The OSFM, State Fire Training, and CAL FIRE Academy programs provide training education and certification programs for the California Fire Service. Through practical training exercises and classroom courses, every California firefighter is exposed to training standards that have been approved by CAL FIRE and OSFM, each among the best institutions in the nation for fire training education. Cal Fire is partnering with the ERA Coalition this month to expand horizons within their activism and community, ensuring recognition and private protections for the increasing number of women included in their workforce.
Organizations can become a partner in the ERA Coalition by signing up online!