Ray of Hope Walk & Sistersong, Partnership Closeout
Left to Right: ROHW Co-Chair, Virginia Clark; SisterSong Membership and Development Coordinator, Christian Adams; 2019 VP of Community Relations, Brenda Lopez
As we organize our communities and create new and powerful ways to support survivors of gender and sexual violence we want to highlight the Ray of Hope Walk (ROHW) and the great work done over the last two years.
Through the ROHW, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. built a powerful partnership (2018-2019) with a visionary organization and leader in the Reproductive Justice movement, SisterSong. Their incredible commitment to end violence against women through their reproductive justice trainings, art & culture programming and community organizing inspired our sisters and we are honored to have had the opportunity to learn from them.
We are incredibly excited to announce that over the past two years we raised for $23,000.00 SisterSong through the Ray of Hope Walk (ROHW) to end violence against women; $14,000.00 of which were raised in 2019.
L.O.T.Y.S performing at the ROHW in New York City
In 2018 and 2019 the walk took place in Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; and New York City, NY and Atlanta, GA. Across four cities, about 2k sisters, friends and families marched to end violence against women. The walks featured performers such as L.O.T.Y.S. and the Resistance Revival Choir, speakers, poets and resources provided by various aligned community organizations. SisterSong leadership participated at each walk, sharing their mission and fighting alongside us as sisters.
Left to Right: 2019 VP of Community Relations, Brenda Lopez; SisterSong Membership and Development Coordinator, Christian Adams; 2016-2018 VP of Community Relations, Michelina Ferrara; Board of Trustees Chair, Stephanie Rivera
Ray of Hope Walk will continue challenging our communities to be a part of this movement; working with powerful organizations such as SisterSong, towards a world that is safe, equitable and nurturing for all women and girls. A world where all forms of violence against women is non-existent. We are excited to wrap up the 8th year of Ray of Hope Walk and embark on this next year with the intention, love and strategy needed to drive this initiative!