11/08/2025
Happy one year birthday, Wood County Women’s Rights Alliance 💕🥲
One year ago today I sat down and created the WCWRA as a simple Facebook group. Never in a million years did I think it would turn into what we have now. It has been an unbelievably wild ride. Starting a non-profit has been the scariest, hardest, most rewarding, eye-opening, craziest thing I’ve ever done. All I knew going in was that I wanted to create a space to shine a light on what feminism really is. What INTERSECTIONAL feminism is! A space that was inviting, accessible, colorful!, WITHOUT watering down my values to be more palatable to this conservative state. And so, the WCWRA was born with a burst of pink, tears, and sincerity. I also really wanted to have some fun. Joy in the face of opposition is one of the most powerful tools and I think that’s a large piece of our success.
Over the last year we have grown into an organization, and just a group of people, that I am so proud of. I’ll never forget looking around the packed room at our first Viva La V***a, or speaking at the capitol, being invited to Reproductive Rights Day, or presenting the $3000 to the Pink Mammogram Fund, hearing your stories at Queen Mountaineer, little girls & their moms (and dads!) choosing a period kit at the St Joseph’s Landing back to school event, dressing as Pillomena for Planned Parenthood, seeing you all comment “you should come to a WCWRA meeting!” Or “I know her from the WCWRA!”, dancing at Hexes & Ho***rs, painting our first pantry, every single time I stock a pantry, and every single donation.
We’ve given away over 5,500 period products and 100’s of free contraceptives. We’ve made new friendships, and rekindled old ones. We’ve learned from each other. We’ve lifted up each other’s stories and experience. We’ve been pi**ed and scared and shed happy tears. We’ve celebrated trans joy, q***r joy, bodily autonomy, vulvas, ho***rs, healthcare, birth control, periods, and love in all its forms.
Thank you all from the depths of my soul for being here. For taking a chance on a girl in a bow headband and the WCWRA. My heart swells with pride knowing you all and doing this work alongside you. I am bursting with ideas and can’t wait to be even bigger & better this year. I’d do it all again in a second.
At the West Virginia Wonder Women luncheon they asked what our advice for other women in our state is. I said to keep pushing boundaries. You are stronger and more powerful than you think. You don’t have to settle. Your voice is important and worthy of being heard. I hope you never stop using it.
In gratitude & solidarity,
Isabelle
PS- please add a favorite memory or favorite thing about the WCWRA and I’ll choose a favorite and gift you a free sweatshirt/tee of your choice! 💕 we’ll also have cake at our meeting next Thursday AND a suggestion box for the upcoming year! 🫶🏻
