RI NOW (RI National Organization for Women)

09/29/2025

Long time no chat! Let’s try this again.

Please join us THIS WEDNESDAY for a Happy Hour W(h)ine with us! Any whines you have, let ‘em out! Grab a beverage of your choice & hang out.

So many folks feel so isolated and disconnected to peers and loved ones. This is your antidote, so come hang out with the incredible RI NOW Board and learn about what NOW is up to these days.

This Wednesday, October 1st, 6-8pm
Patrick’s Pub 381 Smith Street

See you there!

06/13/2025

📣JUNE 14th UPDATE: We’re changing the narrative! The State House No Kings protest will be anything but small, so spread the word now. We’re standing up for democracy, our constitutional rights, for Medicaid/Medicare, voting rights, social justice, education, our planet, our children, our country. NOW is the time to
Indivisible Guide Indivisible 50501 Rhode Island NAMI Rhode Island ACLU of Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed Rhode Island Community Food Bank The Arc Rhode Island Rhode Island House of Representatives Women's Fund of Rhode Island Rhode Island Coalition for Educators of Color Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Rhode Island Library Association Rhode Island Center for Justice PSL Rhode Island Common Cause Rhode Island AMOR RI - Alianza para Movilizar Nuestra Resistencia RI NOW (RI National Organization for Women) Working Families Party Rhode Island Democratic Socialists of America Women's March

11/02/2023

**The RI NOW Board**

RI NOW offers many different ways to engage in the movement. We meet people where they are and find the best way for them to contribute as part of a team given the demands of life! Please reach out to our board members at any time to learn more -- especially if you are interested in events, membership, legislative advocacy, fundraising. These are areas where we always have a need.

We are in the process of developing our committees, and would love you to join us! Please reach out to [email protected] with questions or if you’d like to join a committee.

The Team
- PRESIDENT: Lesley Bunnell
- VICE PRESIDENT: Jan Shapin
- SECRETARY: Emily Martineau
- TREASURER: Jessica Mayernik
- COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Bridget Eileen Madden
- MEMBERSHIP CHAIR: Tracy Cooper Ramos
- LEGISLATIVE CHAIR: Giona Picheco
- VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Darlene Allen

11/02/2023

RI NOW has a new Board of Directors. They will serve on the board for the 2023-2025 cycle. https://www.rinow.org/blog/2023/11/2/2023-25-bod-press-release

As noted in the previous post on our page, 2022 was a planning year. For 2023 an interim board worked to revive the organization. We now have a permanent board in place for the next two years.

Be sure to follow our social media and blog for future news from RI NOW. See our press release for information on the new Rhode Island National Organization of Women Board of Directors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rhode Island National Organization of Women (RI NOW) held its Annual Meeting and elected a new Board of Directors for the 2023-2025 term. The new board is comprised of: Lesley Bunell, President Jan Shapin, Vice President Jessica Mayernik, Treasurer Emily Martineau, S

08/01/2022

IMPORTANT PAC UPDATE: Given the board capacity, the RI NOW PAC will take a planning year and resume endorsements in future special, primary, and general elections. As such, the RI NOW PAC will not be hosting a local and state endorsement process this year. While we may not be endorsing particular candidates, we will continue to support elected officials and coalitions that work towards the RI NOW five main goals: 1) advancing reproductive freedom, 2) promoting economic justice, 3) ending violence against women in all forms, 4) securing LGBTQ rights, and 5) ending racism. For more information or to join our board read our newest newsletter below!

Updated information regarding RI NOW PAC 2022 Endorsement Process   RI NOW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) UPDATE RI NOW PAC Endorsements Given the board capacity, the RI NOW PAC will take a planning

07/20/2022

ICYMI: Our June newsletter includes updates from our interim president and our leadership application!

RI NOW is looking for new board members A message from the Interim President I am reaching out with an update on RI NOW and my interim position. As you know, I have been serving as interim president

07/14/2022

We are so grateful to the GROWING number of folks speaking out to urge Governor Dan McKee to direct the state employee health plan and the state Medicaid program to cover abortion. More groups everyday asking our governor to do all he can to protect the right AND access to abortion!

SHOUT OUT to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - ACOG Rhode Island, Amnesty Pvd, BLM RI PAC, Brown College Democrats, Coyoteri.org, The Economic Progress Institute, Haus of Codec, Latino Policy Institute, LGBTQ Action RI, League of Women Voters of Rhode Island , Medical Students for Choice of Brown University Alpert Medical School, Physicians for a National Health Program - RI Chapter, Protect Our Healthcare Coalition RI, Reclaim RI, Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), RI Democratic Women's Caucus, RI NOW (RI National Organization for Women), SHIP, SISTA FIRE RI, South County Huddle, SURJ RI - Showing Up for Racial Justice Rhode Island, UUCSC, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and Women's Fund of Rhode Island.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/EACAsignon2ndGovEO. And make a call to the governor to say,"The right to abortion is being taken away from state employees & low-income Rhode Islanders. Please, direct the state employee and Medicaid health plans to include abortion. More than ever, we need to protect and improve access!" (401-222-2080)

06/28/2022

RI NOW is an all volunteer board and is looking for new applicants to join our Executive Board and Political Action Committee (PAC). After a transition in leadership the Executive Board is looking for folks to fill a variety of officer level and outreach positions and we have current openings on the PAC board. Now more than ever, we need to support equitable access to reproductive healthcare in RI and throughout the country. Link to apply in our bio!

06/28/2022

RI NOW is an all volunteer board and is looking for new applicants to join our Executive Board and Political Action Committee (PAC). After a transition in leadership the Executive Board is looking for folks to fill a variety of officer level and outreach positions and we have current openings on the PAC board. Now more than ever, we need to support equitable access to reproductive healthcare in RI and throughout the country. Apply today: https://bit.ly/3y3sajN

05/19/2022

Honored to work with so many amazing groups to urge Speaker Joe Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and Governor Dan McKee to pass and sign the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act! As the Supreme Court is ready to overturn Roe, we need to expand ACCESS to abortion care to all who need it. !