July 2025 Edition: Sacred Knowledge & Bold Action
“Recent studies and discoveries increasingly point out that we heal primarily in and through the body, not just through the rational brain. We can all create more room, and more opportunities for growth, in our nervous systems. But we do this primarily through what our bodies experience and do—not through what we think or realize or cognitively figure out.”
― Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother's Hands:
Racialized Trauma and the Mending of Our Bodies and Hearts
I was really inspired by how strong and powerful everything was. I feel connected, recharged and calmer.
Repairing Together (Tikkun Yachad) Attendee
Advocacy at the Speed of Trust
Saludos, it is Angelique here!
Relational advocacy is the practice of building power through connection. It centers human dignity, shared purpose, and trust—not just transactions or outcomes. Instead of operating from urgency, hierarchy, or harm, relational advocacy moves at the speed of relationship, allowing us to act from a place of care, clarity, and community.
It asks not just What are we fighting for? but Who are we becoming as we fight?
After sharing a delicious meal brought together by Heather, our Community Engagement Manager, and diving deep in conversation anchored by three questions, we sat in a circle last week at the Repairing Together (Tikkun Yachad): Collective Healing and Resilience event. I looked around at the diversity in identity, age, and experience—breathing and recalibrating together. It is somatic work, supporting the body in these difficult times.
Kelsey Schorr from Converge shared from her perspective what is happening and needed in the research field. It is always incredibly powerful to see all the different ways the work of justice is done. We all have our piece, and we all need each other.
In our Repairing Together gathering, relational advocacy came to life. We didn’t just share facts—we shared stories. We honored our grief and named our wisdom. We moved from isolation to interdependence. That is advocacy.
When we root our justice work in relationship, we begin to repair what systems have tried to sever.
This is how we build something different. Together.
I hope you find this edition of Repairing Together Advocacy Newsletter!
Let’s continue to repair, together.
With heart,
Angelique Rivera (She/Her)
Advocacy Manager &
NCJW Pittsburgh Team
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Repairing Together
by Angelique Rivera, Advocacy ManagerHow can we speak of healing
when so many are hurting?
How can we call on resilience
when it seems the rubber-band has broken?The earth cries out,
the people—
confused,
in fear,
in doubt.Dissociation is rampant,
old coping mechanisms
no longer a balm.What do we do
when silence—
and looking away—
are no longer accepted,
but instead
make us complicit?Where, and to whom,
do we go for hope
when it falls
on ears that do not hear?We gather—
to repair together.
We draw in closer.
We ask.
We listen.We check for hungry egos
that just want to be “good,”
and remind them:
Be brave instead.We remember
that we are each other’s keepers.
That everyone
is a unique story keeper.We heal together,
asking:
How can I make the load lighter today?We build resilience
by making sure
you are pouring in
as much as you’re pouring out—And that other people—
not just your people—
can feel as resourced
as you do
on your best day.The sun rises
without being asked.
The moon brightens
the night sky—
as a matter of fact.Welcome to NCJW Pittsburgh’s
Repairing Together (Tikkun Yachad),
where collective care,
collective power,
and collective action
in wisdom
are centered.
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In times like these—when our minds race, our bodies tighten, and the world feels heavy—it’s easy to forget that we’re allowed to pause. That we can take a moment to come home to ourselves.
This mini body scan is an invitation to do just that.
No perfection. No pressure.
Just a few breaths to return to your body, your breath, your now.You don’t need to feel calm for this to work. You don’t need to be alone or in silence.
You just need to be willing to meet yourself with a little care.Let this be a small ritual of presence. A reset.
Take it with you whenever you need.
Resource Highlight:
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
The body is where our instincts reside and where we fight, flee, or freeze, and it endures the trauma inflicted by the ills that plague society.
Are you curious about what questions we share at the Repairing Together Event?
What practices help you return to yourself when the world feels overwhelming?
When have you felt held or witnessed by someone in your justice work or healing journey?
What might become possible in our movements if care and resilience were seen as strategies, not side notes?
*Optional: We’d love to hear and share your responses in our newsletter anonymously or with attribution. This is how we fill each other’s hope cup! Send your answer to arivera@ncjwpgh.org
Image: Event organizer Yvonne Rainey speaks to the crowd at Allegheny Commons Park on the Northside on July 17
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As we gathered on July 17 despite the muggy heat at Allegheny Commons Park with over 100 fellow community members and NCJW-Pittsburgh’s partners in the Voting Is Power (VIP) coalition, I was struck by how important and true these words from John Lewis, the great civil rights leader, remain seven years after he wrote them:
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
John Lewis, a Freedom Rider, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and March on Washington organizer, is perhaps best known as one of the leaders of the Birmingham to Selma march. It was there that he and his fellow nonviolent civil rights marchers crossed the Edmond Pettus Bridge and were attacked by police and a posse of white men newly-deputized by the county sheriff. Mr. Lewis was beaten nearly to death on that Bloody Sunday. Despite all he’d been through, he continued his fight, on into the U.S. Congress where he served 17 terms, never relenting on his quest to ensure the right to vote for all Americans. He passed away on July 17, 2020.
The event on the 17th was part of the annual, national commemoration of John Lewis’ life and legacy, and the fifth held here in Pittsburgh.
At the Pittsburgh event, after making some noise, we heard from our own local civil rights leaders - people like Yvonne Rainey of the John Lewis Transformative Justice Coalition, and Tim Stevens from the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) as well as elected officials seeking to follow Congressman Lewis’ lead of taking the fight into our government offices, including state representatives Aerion Abney and Arvind Venkat, Mayor Ed Gainey, and City Councilman Khari Mosley. County Council Representative Jordan Botta read a Council proclamation recognizing the day, and Congressman Lewis’ legacy.
As “Lift Every Voice and Sing” played and we held candles in remembrance of a great man gone but not forgotten, we stood in community, centered in hope, nonviolent resistance, and a commitment to “good trouble.”
NCJW-Pgh is proud to stand in on-going solidarity with 29 other organizations as part of the non-partisan Voting Is Power (VIP) coalition. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in our efforts to ensure an inclusive democracy, please contact Rachel at rmartingolman@ncjwpgh.org
You can also support John Lewis’ legacy by contacting your U.S. Representative and/or U.S. Senators and asking them to support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, HR 14, which would modernize and revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965, strengthening legal protections against discriminatory voting policies and practices.
Event organizer Yvonne Rainey speaks to the crowd at Allegheny Commons Park on the Northside on July 17.
Rachel Martin Golman
Sr Director of Social Impact
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Last week, I had the opportunity to table at the JereBear Fair, hosted by Jeremiah’s Place—an organization that protects children and strengthens families by providing a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support during moments of critical need.
As I shared about the Working Moms Support Group, a young mother approached the table with her child. When I explained what the group offers, she paused and said,
“Really?! I’m going to cry. I’m going through something and could really use support.”Every mother deserves that kind of support—a space to exhale, to connect, and to know she’s not alone. It truly takes a village.
The Working Moms Support Group offers just that: a space where connection is celebrated, not stigmatized. Where moms come together to share resources, build relationships, and be reminded of their strength.
MomsWork offers a Working Moms Support Group twice a month. These small, in-person groups give working moms parenting kids 18 and under, including moms seeking employment, the opportunity to be heard, to network, and to share strategies for managing it all, as well as find and trade resources in a safe, judgment-free environment. The sessions are facilitated by a licensed therapist and free childcare is provided.
In August, we are offering two sessions. First, on Tuesday, August 12th, we will be meeting at 5:30pm. A pizza and salad dinner will be provided for moms and kiddos. Later in the month, we will meet on Thursday, August 21st at 7pm. This later session will provide snacks, sweets, and tea to participants. Sessions fill quickly, so make sure you register early!
If you’re navigating the wild terrain of motherhood and longing for a community of care, we hope you’ll join us.
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The Pennsylvania Senate still needs to pass the 2025-2026 budget. The House has already passed the budget which includes dedicated funds to make childcare more accessible and affordable in our state. The passage of Governor Shapiro's proposed budget would establish the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program to distribute annual retention and recruitment funds to qualified child care providers.
Child care programs have struggled to recruit and retain the workforce they need to keep classrooms and programs open due to the extremely low compensation in the sector and this is constricting the supply of child care for working families. The proposed investment of $55 million for the new and recurring Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention line item in the 2025-2026 state budget will begin to address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families, businesses and the economy.
We need your help. Your Senator needs to hear from you RIGHT NOW. Tell your Senator that you support the investment of $55 million in our child care system. We need this funding now more than ever.
Pennsylvania must take steps to end the child care teacher staffing crisis. Too many PA families are struggling to find affordable, high quality child care while child care rooms remain closed due to an inability to attract and fairly compensate the child care workers so critical to the overall health of the PA economy.
Heather Visnesky
Community Engagement Manager
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Children's clothing and accessories sizes 0 months - 14 years are free every day Thriftique is open. Simply choose the items that you can use, and take them to the register to be counted. This program is completely free and open to everyone. Please help us get the word out about Free Kids Clothing!
If you have children's items in good condition to donate, we would love to take them off your hands! We are also always looking for folks to volunteer a few hours of their time to process donations, sort, and hang them. The more help we have, the more families we can serve. If you are interested in volunteering with the Free Kids Clothing program at Thriftique, email Heather at hvisnesky@ncjwpgh.org.
Thriftique Essentials Voucher Program
For over a decade, NCJW Pittsburgh has offered direct support to the community through our clothing voucher program, originally intended to help women who were in financial transition and entering or re-entering the workforce in need of business attire.
The current iteration of the program is called Thriftique Essentials and has expanded to provide clothing, shoes and accessories, furniture, linens, small appliances, and housewares to recipients. The program operates in partnership with area organizations and agencies providing direct services to our Pittsburgh neighbors. This year, we have partnered with 18 area non-profits to distribute the vouchers.
This month, we are highlighting our partnership with Dress for Success Pittsburgh! Dress for Success Pittsburgh signed on as a Thriftique Essentials partner this year. Their mission is to empower women and nonbinary people across the region to enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence. They provide professional attire, career development, and a supportive community to help women thrive in their careers.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh envisions a world where women live free from poverty, are treated with dignity and respect, and contribute to the growth of their families and communities. Their impact extends across Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh’s mission is in perfect alignment with the spirit of Thriftique Essentials, and we are so grateful to count them among our wonderful partner organizations!
Our awesome Community Engagement Manager Heather Visnesky wrote a wonderful Op-Ed on Paid Leave that was published in this past Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Repairing Together (Tikkun Yachad) Event: Naming Loss While Fueling Change
A gathering to acknowledge what we carry, nurture shared care, and build the resilience we need to keep showing up for justice—together. Healing isn’t separate from the work. It is the work.
This is a free event and all are welcome. Dinner will be served and free childcare will be available (space is limited). We encourage attendees to wear comfortable clothing suitable for light movement and stretching.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM ET
Did you know? National Thrift day is August 17th and we are throwing a Block Party at Thriftique! There will be great deals on everything in the store all day and customers will get an opportunity to get 30-100% off their ENTIRE ORDER!
Joining the party will be local community partners, up-cycling vendors, and food from Mexa Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Dumplingz. We are so excited to have a fun family thrift day and celebrate with all our lovely customers and supporters!
Thriftique is our mission-focused social enterprise resale shop selling carefully curated, designer-centric inventory. All sales, community outreach, and partnerships support NCJW Pittsburgh’s mission to increase equity through the empowerment of women. In our 8,400 sq foot shop in the heart of Lawrenceville, you’ll find high-quality, new and gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, home goods, art, books, and furniture at affordable prices.
If you can’t join us at the Block Party, we hope to see you in the store sometime soon!
Until Next Month!
Repairing Together Advocacy Newsletter
Building Collective Care, Collective Power, and Collective Action
