Developing leaders for gender justice is a critical part of our work. In fact, Jahajee Sisters began because existing community leaders were not speaking up on issues impacting women.
From 2010-2012, we held 3 week-long Young Women’s Leadership Institutes to support young women to build their gender justice analysis and challenge gender-based violence. Two of those institutes focused on young Muslim women, a marginalized group within the community with unique experiences. Our alumni have gone on to take their places in the social justice movement as advocates and organizers, and to assume leadership positions in community-based organizations.
This year, we completed our 2017-2018 Leadership & Empowerment Institute, our first 6-month multi-generational leadership program for 20 women and gender-nonconforming people, ages 18-60. The training provided: 1) personal transformation tools and practices that allowed participants to heal from trauma and become bold, courageous leaders; 2) political education that supported participants to build a shared, intersectional gender justice analysis; and, 3) a leadership pipeline for emerging leaders to co-design and implement advocacy efforts that transform our community.
