JASS’s core mission is to build, strengthen and galvanize women’s collective power for a just and sustainable world – for all. By “collective power” we mean the ability to create change that comes through grassroots organizing, alliance-building among diverse constituencies and galvanizing networks of allies around shared vision and agendas. In other words—movements.
JASS puts movement building at the heart of our work, believing that the change women want comes from the movements they build. History teaches us that change in institutions, social attitudes, policies and decision- making, as well as in our every day lives, especially for women, is made possible through the sustained demands and organized action of movements.
Feminist Movement Building: JASS calls our movement-building “feminist” because our work encompasses the struggles in women’s personal lives for dignity, safety, equality and control of our bodies, as centrally as their shared organizing and leadership in public arenas. All our work is imbued with an understanding of the need to challenge and transform power relationships so that women can rise and flourish.
"You can’t build a movement without a strong compelling vision. You need the courage to move in a bold new direction where feminist ideas are born, innovation is fueled, and change happens." ~ Hope Chigudu
JASS’ holistic approach to movement building is grounded in sustained work with women in their communities and the concrete demands of those constituencies. Located in both the Global North and South, JASS is a facilitator (accompanying and supporting activist leaders and movements) and an actor (involved directly in strategic action). We empower women activists and strengthen women’s movements by:
JASS and Feminism: JASS’ approach to feminism not only defends the rights and interests of women, but also upholds the equal value of all persons, transforming inequalities shaped by race, ethnicity, class and income, sexuality, ability, location, age and other factors.
For more feminist movement-building, JASS offers many resources and our work in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and Mesoamerica shows feminist movement-building in action.