Over the years, NOW, LOVE has always been a space where women could learn, connect, inspire each other and support each other to take action. For a number of years, we met in-person, each month to focus on various topics of import to NOW, LOVErs. We often invited local organizations to deepen our learning on the topic, and to direct us toward actions they knew would have positive impact in that arena. BIPOC voices and perspectives were always actively invited to guide the conversation and group’s direction. Each gathering left NOW, LOVErs with broader perspectives and a greater understanding of steps they could take (individually and together) to turn their values into action.
 
In recent years, as illustrated below, NOW, LOVE has devoted its attention to the creation of a unique package titled the Anti-Racism Action Nuggets. The nuggets build on NOW LOVE’s history of being a place for people to learn, connect, inspire each other, and take ACTION.  Read more about it HERE. 
Each of the gatherings listed below were co-facilitated by NOW, LOVE co-founders Linda Usdin and Val Uccellani, and supported by NOW, LOVE Communications Director, Meg Logue.

2020

JANUARY   >
Immigration Issues in Louisiana > In our first network gathering of the year, we were joined by members of Islas, Familias Unidas, Puentes, and Project Ishmael for a discussion about immigration issues in Louisiana. We learned about the landscape of local efforts and identified concrete ways to support their ongoing work.
FEBRUARY   >
Just Mercy Dialogue > Public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson is helping us all to examine the realities of racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. In early February, a group of NOW LOVErs attended a screening of Just Mercy at the Broad Theater. A week later, we held an intimate facilitated conversation about Stevenson’s work.
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We highly recommend this compelling interview with Stevenson, originally aired on WWNO.
MARCH   >
Landscape of Elections in Greater New Orleans > We held a network gathering with organizations working in our community to ensure fairness through the census, redistricting, voter registration, get-out-the-vote, and other efforts.

In connection with this gathering, we composed a LOVE in Action Resource for the network.
JUNE   >
Safe + Fair Elections > In our first ever virtual network gathering, we built on our learning from March and convened for an informative and inspiring conversation about upcoming elections.
AUGUST   >
Creating Anti-Racist Communities > Amidst growing calls for justice and accountability for police violence around the country, NOW LOVE gathered for a dialogue around how to build anti-racist communities.
SEPTEMBER   >
We held our first Connect, NOW event with Ellevate, LA to begin building relationships and bridging the divide between left- and right-leaning women in Louisiana.
OCTOBER + NOVEMBER   >
In a reprise of our 2018 midterm elections action, we Projected Our Values on the Superdome ahead of the early voting period for the general elections. Throughout these months we compiled and shared out resources for voters and encouraged members to vote their values in the 2020 elections.
DECEMBER   >
​Envisioning NOW LOVE’s Work > After an historic election season, the network gathered to envision together what NOW LOVE’s work will look like moving forward.

2019

MARCH   >
A House Divided  >  This session, facilitated by Julianna Padgett and Troi Bechet, invited NOW, LOVErs to consider how we might shift our current divisive dynamics to get a different political system. The "House Divided" process is designed by the National Issues Forum.

At this time, we also announced the launch of our Connect, NOW initiative -- a series of engaging conversations among women of diverse perspectives in our area -- and we held a short series of follow-up dialogues on Addressing Racism Together (A.R.T.) with CRA.
MAY   >
NOW, LOVE leader Troi Bechet wrote and starred in a new play, Flowers for Halie at the Southern Rep Theatre. Two groups of NOW, LOVE women attended the play to support Troi and witness her incredible talent.
JUNE   >
NOW, LOVErs Julianna Padgett and Betty DiMarco produced a Women's Health Advocacy Report based on what they learned from some of the leading women's health advocates in our community. We held a gathering dedicated to discussing the report and how we might support the good work being done in our state.
AUGUST   >
Addressing Racism Together (ART) > A series of in-person dialogues that explores the complex issue of race. ART was created and led by Troi Bechet of the Center for Restorative Approaches.

ART weaves together introspection, conversation, and action in a safe, but challenging environment. This was a meaningful and memorable experience for our NOW LOVE members who participated. Across the sessions, we:
  • Created a deep and shared understanding of the current and historical context of racism;
  • Developed skills to respond to racism and inequity in healthy ways
  • Built and strengthened relationships among participants
  • Explored personal and collective power to address racism, foster equity + promote healing;
  • Developed individual/ collective action steps to achieve racial equity
SEPTEMBER   >
We held a network gathering centered on Supporting in Action. Topics we explored together were: Health Advocacy, Fair Elections, Your Upcoming Ballot, and The Power of Listening.
NOVEMBER   >
Excursion to the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace & Justice > NOW, LOVE took a road trip to Montgomery, AL to deepen our learning about the country’s racist history, and to expand our ideas about how to build racial equity in our own lives, today. The museum, located on the site of a former warehouse where black people were enslaved, uses interactive media, sculpture, videography and exhibits to immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of the domestic slave trade, racial terrorism, the Jim Crow South, and the world’s largest prison system.

2018

JANUARY   >
Reflections + Aspirations for 2018  >  In this kick off session we presented a summary of our first network-wide survey of NOW LOVE members, and exchanged aspirations for 2018
FEBRUARY   >
Reproductive Justice: Making a Difference, Locally  >  Planned Parenthood New Orleans Health Center, Petrice Sams-Abiodun. Throughout this month, we also organized and co-hosted a series of intimate gatherings and tours of the health center titled “We’re More Than You Think”.
MARCH   >
Indigenous-Led Environmental Justice  >  Leaders from L’eau Est La Vie, Cherri Foytlin and Anne White Hat led a session on decolonization and the Bayou Bridge Pipeline.
APRIL   >
Knowing Others through Stories  >  Historypin’s StoryBox, Lynette Johnson
MAY   >
At this time of year, we focused on supporting kindred organizations. For example:
  1. we were a sponsor of Women Donors’ Network on Reflective Democracy;
  2. NOW LOVE co-founder, Linda Usdin, co-facilitated a series of citywide NOLA4WOMEN events designed to explore challenges faced by females at different stages of life; and
  3. we focused our May communication on ways in which NOW LOVE members could actively support kindred organizations in New Orleans.
JUNE   >
The Mayoral Transition: A Dialogue About Issues that Matter to You  >  Co-Sponsored by The Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES). This forum was to encourage women to engage with the new Mayor's administration in ways that support the core values of a healthy society. The panel featured:
  • Mayor LaToya Cantrell - New Orleans' first woman mayor
  • Dr. Kathleen Kennedy - Co-Chair of the Transition
  • Andrea Chen - Member of the Transition Team
  • Betty Di Marco - Public Safety Sub-Committee of Transition Team
  • Emily Wolff - Director of the new Office of Youth + Families
We opened the floor to questions from the audience, and heard from the Mayor and her transition team members on a variety of subjects, ranging from affordable housing to caring for our youth and our elderly to advocating for a moral state budget.

We didn't have time to get to every single question, so the Mayor's office sent us written replies to all of our unanswered questions! You can view those responses here.

Check out WDSU's coverage of the event here, or view the video below.
JULY   >
Summer break  >  NOW, LOVE took a month off
AUGUST   >
Addressing Racism Together (ART) > A series of in-person dialogues that explores the complex issue of race. ART was created and led by Troi Bechet of the Center for Restorative Approaches.

ART weaves together introspection, conversation, and action in a safe, but challenging environment. This was a meaningful and memorable experience for our NOW LOVE members who participated. Across the sessions, we:
  • Created a deep and shared understanding of the current and historical context of racism;
  • Developed skills to respond to racism and inequity in healthy ways
  • Built and strengthened relationships among participants
  • Explored personal and collective power to address racism, foster equity + promote healing;
  • Developed individual/ collective action steps to achieve racial equity
SEPTEMBER   >
OCTOBER >
Inspiring Action around Midterm Elections > In these months, we focused on midterm elections.  We had stations on the following topics to encourage in depth discussions and action:
  1. Influencing key elections across the U.S. through  “Postcards to Voters.”
  2. Advocating for fair elections by sending letters "From New Orleans, with Love" to elected officials and the media.
  3. Supporting efforts in New Orleans to inspire young people of color to register and vote.
  4. Educating NOW, LOVERs about the unanimous juries amendment on our ballots.

Know Your Ballot > We produced a plain-language guide for the 2018 LA Ballot Amendments, available to LA voters in English and Spanish.

Project Your Values > On October 26 and 27, NOW LOVErs gathered at various buildings in downtown New Orleans to project large scale messages asking viewers:

Believe in Justice + Equity?
Believe in Anti-Racism + Inclusion?
Believe in Honesty + Respect?
Believe in Integrity?

“The values of this network are who I am- and when I'm not, it's who I aspire to be.  To have them projected throughout the city ... gave me a greater sense of worth and belonging; the projection was a sharing of those feelings,” said Chita Manuel, NOW LOVE member.

Petrice Sams-Abiodun, a NOW, LOVE member, reflected that the projections were an opportunity, “to engage others in our community in connecting to what really unites us, our values. Voting our values is important now more than ever given the current political, social and economic climate.”
NOVEMBER   >
Community Building > During this gathering, we reflected on the successes and learning moments from our actions around the midterm elections, discussed a proposed focus for NOW, LOVE in 2019, and offered space for community exchange and immediate action.
DECEMBER   >
End of Year Celebration! NOW, LOVErs gathered for a wonderful party at our home base, Ashé.

2017

JANUARY   >
Being an Ally  >  Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES), Denese Shervington + Lisa Richardson. During this month we also helped organize women for the Women’s March / J20 Rally
FEBRUARY   >
Taking Action  >  This was a self-directed gathering in which we organized around the following action areas: anti-harassment, criminal justice, education, environmental justice, grassroots organizing, health care, immigration, and elections.

During this month, we also presented on a panel through Loyola University Women’s Resource Center Feminist Festival.
MARCH   >
Influencing Your Legislators  >  Legislative Agenda for Women (LAW Allies), Julie Schwam Harris
APRIL   >
Restorative Conversations  >  New Orleans’ Center for Restorative Approaches, Troi Bechet
At this meeting, we also began the development of a Grassroots Organizations Document
MAY   >
Taking Action, Locally  >  Indivisible NO and Metairie, Lara Cruger + Suzanne-Juliette Mobley
JUNE   >
Strengthening and Expanding our Organizing Efforts  >  Our Voice Nuestra Voz, Mary Moran
JULY   >
Summer break  >  NOW, LOVE took a month off
AUGUST   >
Gerrymandering: What it Is + How to Tackle It  >  Indivisible, Louisiana
SEPTEMBER   >
An Afternoon Talk with Kimberlé Crenshaw  >  A large special event co-hosted with IWES.
A recording of this talk is available to NOW, LOVErs. Please reach out if you would like to view it.
OCTOBER   >
During this month we encouraged smaller, follow-up conversations on intersectionality, and shared resources, virtually.
NOVEMBER   >
Exploring Intersectionality  >  Facilitated by Pamela Jenkins
DECEMBER   >
Challenging Conversations: Moving Past Our Differences  >  Valerie Uccellani

Documentary Screening Series > We hosted the third installment of our series: AWAKE + Bayou Bridge Shorts Series, followed by a panel featuring Meg Logue (350 New Orleans), Pastor Harry Joseph (H.E.L.P. Association of St. James), and Jessi Parfait (United Houma Nation), and MC'd by Anne Rolfes (LA Bucket Brigade).