The changes in priorities and direction of the government that come with a new president always create apprehension among citizens who feel at odds with the new administration.

We know there are women, for example, who worry about the short- and long-term impacts to their lives from Donald Trump’s election as 45th president. This includes everything from health and reproductive care to workplace equality and fear about increased violence toward women.

“Sisterhood is powerful,” a slogan that emerged from the feminism of the 1960s, is a reemerging rallying cry being heard across the country.

Nationally, a Women’s March on Washington and offshoots in other cities, is scheduled for Jan. 21, the morning after Trump’s inauguration. The Facebook event page associated with the march explains it is “meant to be a celebration of women’s rights and a statement to the incoming president ‘that women’s rights are human rights.’” March organizers say at least 100,000 are planning to attend the Washington event, while thousands of others say they’ll be marching in other cities.

Sisterhood also found its voice through the presidents of the Seven Sisters — prestigious schools such as Smith and Mount Holyoke that were historically women’s colleges — who sent an open letter to Stephen Bannon, newly appointed senior counselor to President-elect Donald Trump, about his disparaging comments toward the schools and women. They call for leaders of this country to provide a “message of inclusion, respect and unity.”

And here in the Pioneer Valley, there are organizations supporting women. One of the most recognizable is the Easthampton-based Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. Since 1997, the fund, according to its website, has fueled “progress toward gender equity by funding the most promising solutions, collaborating with results-oriented partners, and by elevating the collective power of local women to take charge, and to lead with purpose.” And one of the ways it has done so is through multi-year grants targeting organizations that serve women and girls in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties.

Because more people have donated money to the fund in recent times, the organization is boosting its grants this year to about a quarter million dollars. With that money, it plans to provide grants of $80,000 per year for three years.

The organization says the maximum amount it has awarded has been $20,000 per year, for three years.

The fund also plans to provide with each grant a $7,500 scholarship each year to its Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact. Since 2010, the institute says it has trained “women in the nuts and bolts of impacting policy from the citizen perspective. By helping women develop these two sets of skills — individual leadership development and policy change — we aim to advance social change for a more equitable and just society.”

Elizabeth Barajas-Román, chief executive officer of the fund, said recently that “multi-year grants allow us to partner with organizations in a sustained way that helps make a significant impact in communities. This funding will increase our ability to positively affect the lives of women and girls.”

Providing support to the women’s fund will allow it to continue to back the work, education, health and aspirations of women. It’s a circular effort that will help influence our local lives and the national dialogue, no matter who might be sitting in the White House.

The changes in priorities and direction of the government that come with a new president always create apprehension among citizens who feel at odds with the new administration.

We know there are women, for example, who worry about the short- and long-term impacts to their lives from Donald Trump’s election as 45th president. This includes everything from health and reproductive care to workplace equality and fear about increased violence toward women.

“Sisterhood is powerful,” a slogan that emerged from the feminism of the 1960s, is a re-emerging rallying cry being heard across the country.

Nationally, a Women’s March on Washington and offshoots in other cities, is scheduled for the morning after Trump’s inauguration. The Facebook event page associated with the march explains it is “meant to be a celebration of women’s rights and a statement to the incoming president ‘that women’s rights are human rights.’” March organizers say at least 100,000 are planning to attend the Washington event, while thousands of others say they’ll be marching in other cities.

Sisterhood also found its voice through the presidents of the Seven Sisters — prestigious schools like Smith and Mount Holyoke that were historically women’s colleges — who sent an open letter to Stephen Bannon, newly appointed senior counselor to President-elect Donald Trump, about his disparaging comments toward the schools and women. They call for leaders of this country to provide a “message of inclusion, respect and unity.”

And here in the Pioneer Valley, there are organizations supporting women. One of the most recognizable is the Easthampton-based Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. Since 1997, the fund, according to its website, has fueled “progress toward gender equity by funding the most promising solutions, collaborating with results-oriented partners, and by elevating the collective power of local women to take charge, and to lead with purpose.” And one of the ways it has done so is through multi-year grants targeting organizations that serve women and girls in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties.

Because more people have donated money to the fund in recent times, the organization is boosting its grants this year to about a quarter million dollars. With that money, it plans to provide grants of $80,000 per year for three years.

The organization says the maximum amount it has awarded has been $20,000 per year, for three years.

The fund also plans to provide with each grant a $7,500 scholarship each year to its Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact. Since 2010, the institute says it has trained “women in the nuts and bolts of impacting policy from the citizen perspective. By helping women develop these two sets of skills — individual leadership development and policy change — we aim to advance social change for a more equitable and just society.”

Elizabeth Barajas-Román, chief executive officer of the fund, said recently that “Multi-year grants allow us to partner with organizations in a sustained way that helps make a significant impact in communities. This funding will increase our ability to positively affect the lives of women and girls.”

Providing support to the women’s fund will allow it to continue to back the work, education, health and aspirations of women. It’s a circular effort that will help influence our local lives and the national dialogue, no matter who might be sitting in the White House.

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