Midyear Momentum: How We’re Growing, Grounding, and Going Forward
As we reach the midpoint of 2025, United Women of Color stands at a familiar intersection of challenge and opportunity. Even in moments of uncertainty, our mission remains clear: to amplify civic participation, build power through community care, and protect our people through education, organizing, and storytelling.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to—and where we’re headed next.
Community Engagement, Reimagined
This spring, we launched the LIGHT Institute, welcoming a new cohort of local leaders into a journey of advocacy training, intergenerational dialogue, and community project development. Participants are now developing their own impact initiatives using tools like our Passion Project Planning Framework and monthly coaching sessions.
We also hosted a Protest Art Pop-Up & Listening Session to mark the five-year anniversary of the George Floyd protests in Huntsville. It was a deeply emotional and creative space for grief, memory, and resilience. Much admiration and gratitude to visionary activist Iris Billiter for curating such a powerful gathering.
Books, Bans & Bold Truths
We cannot afford to be silent.
Our “Banned Book Friday” and “Mini-Doc(umentaries)” digital storytelling series continue to shine light on the stories they don’t want us to read—and the people they don’t want us to remember.
This summer, in partnership with the Huntsville Library Foundation and Snail on the Wall, we hosted a special author conversation with Kyra Davis Lurie as part of her book tour for The Great Mann—a poignant retelling of The Great Gatsby, reimagined among L.A.’s Black elite. The June 10th release came just in time for the 100-year anniversary of The Great Gatsby’s original publication.
Food, Safety, and Belonging
Through our growing network of food pantry partnerships—including neighborhood-based Madison County Little Free Pantries—we’re helping meet basic needs in our communities. Special thanks to Amia Robinson, our Volunteer Coordinator, who continues to lead this work through equity-centered outreach and collaboration with grassroots partners.
We’ve also strengthened statewide relationships, partnering with Alabama Arise to provide legislative advocacy workshops, and with Yellowhammer Fund to distribute safe sex kits—ensuring that our community has tools to protect both physical well-being and civic power.
Internal Growth, External Impact
Internally, we’ve used this season to realign. Thanks to multi-year support from the Groundwork Project, we’ve been able to focus on organizational care—conducting role-by-role staffing evaluations, launching midyear review processes, and hosting monthly anonymous staff surveys to improve communication and accountability.
This support also allows us to expand our digital storytelling work, helping us document and share the rich narrative of our community’s resilience and resistance.
Looking Ahead
We’re preparing for:
Our 7th Anniversary Celebration. August 22, 2025, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. RSVP!
Deeper collaborations in Morgan County, including a Candidate Forum on August 21, ahead of the August 26th municipal elections
Election Guides for Decatur and Madison—thanks to a small subgrant from Alabama Forward
A 9/11 Event featuring Major Asha Castleberry-Hernandez, author of the newly released Why National Security Matters: A Memoir, who will share her national security expertise and lived experience with our community (sponsorships available)
A Community Time Capsule to preserve banned books, letters from residents, and a printed copy of the U.S. Constitution
Our TikTok Launch – Coming soon!
Next month, we’ll be launching a monthly donor campaign, inviting folks to contribute just $5–7 a month to help sustain our organizing and storytelling through these rapidly changing times. Our first milestone goal is to grow a base of 500 monthly supporters—because small, consistent gifts from a committed community can make a big impact.
We’re also exploring what it means to resist burnout and build sustainable structures for the long haul. Because it’s not just about what we do—it’s about how we care for one another while doing it.
Thank you for riding with us.
—Angela Curry
Executive Director, United Women of Color
