The Ground Is Shifting — And So Are We: A letter from Bridget Burns, WEDO Executive Director

Hi friends,

I don’t need to tell you that things are rough out there right now. Lately, I’ve felt the ground shifting beneath my feet.

As a new administration in the U.S. moves swiftly to dismantle human rights; dehumanize immigrants and trans people; strip away protections for our air, water, and land; and erode even the pretense of democratic institutions, I — like many of you — have felt exhausted and afraid. Especially for my friends and neighbors already bearing the brunt of these attacks.

But this isn’t just happening in one place. Across movements, across borders, we are witnessing the unraveling of hard-fought gains. The backlash is coordinated, strategic, and global—driven by forces of white supremacy, patriarchy, and authoritarianism that seek to consolidate power by deepening inequality and division. It is a stark reminder that power is always contested, progress is never guaranteed, and change built on fragile foundations can be easily swept away.

But as the ground is shifting, so are we.

Organizations like WEDO were forged to counter moments like this — moments designed to entrench inequalities, sow division, and stifle our collective power. Resistance is not just a reaction; it is a practice, a way of being in the world. And right now, more than anything, we need solidarity.

Yes, this moment is exhausting, but it is also revealing. It is exposing what was built to last—and what was not. What holds under pressure, and what crumbles. And most importantly, it forces us to ask: What are we building now that will withstand whatever comes next?

I’m writing to you from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I’m meeting with over 150 global leaders and advocates working toward social and climate justice. The theme of the gathering is People Power & Solidarity: The Hope and Anchor in the Storm. And that is exactly what this moment demands: real solidarity. Not just words, but action. The kind that resists injustice, that organizes in our communities, that refuses to cede ground.

Because this isn’t just a test of our resilience. It’s a test of what we have understood as “progress.” If the foundations of rights and protections can be undone by the breath of a dictator, were they ever as strong as we believed?

Our job now is not just to react, but to assess, adapt, and ensure that what we are building is made to last.

This is what WEDO has always done. And we are not going anywhere.

Here’s what we are focusing on right now — and ways you can get involved too:

1. 1. Mobilizing Resources Where They’re Needed Most
      We’re connecting donors and frontline feminist groups — especially those facing budget cuts — to ensure vital funding reaches the hardest-hit communities. Contribute to our partners supporting frontline women, human rights, and land defenders like MADRE and, Disability Rights Fund, and donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds to help distribute resources to locally and regionally led mutual aid and collective efforts that secure reproductive services here in the U.S.
   2. Building Bigger, Bolder Coalitions
      We’re uniting feminists, climate advocates, and global justice organizations because when we struggle together, we are strongest. Through collective work with U.S. allies in the Feminist Green New Deal Coalition, to global partners in the Climate Action Network, we are learning from each other and strategizing for the moment. Watch this space for upcoming dialogues on global feminist climate organizing and take action locally by joining a Feminist Mass Organizing call.
   3. Speaking Truth and Holding Power to Account
      We’re tracking policy rollbacks at the UN and beyond, amplifying frontline voices, and ensuring those dismantling rights are met with resistance. Stay informed, share critical updates, and raise your voice. Let us know what’s happening in your community.

If you follow WEDO, you know we are not afraid to challenge broken systems. In 2017, when Trump first pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, we wrote:

“We simply cannot and will not let the whims of individual leaders, fear mongering, and misinformation dictate our future. We will build in, with, and across movements to articulate what a just world that promotes human rights and the integrity of the environment looks like. We will push towards that vision with courage, with care for one another, and with a reinvigorated commitment to protect and respect people and the planet.”

And we did.

Under the first Trump administration, we built a coalition of feminist advocates in the U.S. to advance a Green New Deal centered on care and community. During COVID, we created a community of practice to track both progress and disruption — to expose deep global inequities and put forward a bold vision for economic justice. Through it all, we remained relentless in our pursuit to protect people and planet — just as we do now, with eyes wide open.

Aurora Levins Morales writes:

“To live a lifetime of audacity, dwelling in the place where joy meets justice, year after year, can only be sustained by being so in love with a vision of what’s possible that we no longer flirt with despair.”

I won’t promise the next months and years will be easy. But I can, and will, promise that we will not be strong-armed into complacency. We are NOT small and we will not be made to feel small. Our movement — and our world — needs us all now more than ever.

I’d love to be in conversation with you — what’s on your mind, and how can we support each other in this moment? I’m ready to hear from you.

In Solidarity,

Bridget Burns
Executive Director
WEDO

P.S. In times like these, celebrating milestones and measuring progress can feel daunting. But we can’t let that stop us. Our upcoming Impact Report will showcase how far we’ve come, hard lessons learned, and the bold path we’re charting forward. We hope it will both ground you in what’s possible and fuel your resolve for the work ahead. Stay tuned — more soon!