Mary's Pence

08/14/2026

Here's a lovely update from our partners in Mexico! Red de Mujeres Morelenses por una Economía Solidaria

We were grateful to welcome Mabel, leader of the Mary’s Pence program in Central America and Mexico, ESPERA, for a week filled with workshops, conversations, and visits with ESPERA groups.

From a conflict-resolution workshop focused on emotions and new ways of navigating challenges, to conversations with women building and strengthening their productive initiatives, each gathering offered opportunities to share knowledge, reflect, and learn from one another.

We’re inspired by the perseverance, creativity, and solidarity of the women and groups who continue building stronger futures together through the ESPERA program.

Thank you to all who shared their stories, knowledge, and experiences with us. We keep learning, growing, and building together!

08/12/2026

Congratulations to Bridget Peterson on beginning her candidacy with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration!

Bridget served at Mary’s Pence through the St. Joseph Worker Program in 2019–2020, and we’re grateful to have been part of her journey. Since then, her commitment to justice and service has continued to shape her work — from advocating for workers’ rights and working on cases seeking to recover stolen wages to now beginning this new chapter in religious life.

Stories like Bridget’s remind us that the impact of our work extends beyond the programs we support. It lives in the relationships we build, the values we share, and the people who carry a commitment to justice into their communities and work.

We’re proud to have been a small part of Bridget’s journey and wish her joy and courage as she begins this new chapter!

Read more about Bridget’s journey:

On Aug. 2 in Mary of the Angels Chapel, the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula, Bridget Peterson was welcomed into the candidacy phase. This is the first step in the process to become a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bridget g...

08/07/2026

Olga found confidence, stability, and new opportunities through Mary's Pence's ESPERA program. Today, she's leading women's groups, investing in her coffee farm, and pursuing her dream of sharing her coffee with the world.

Her story is one of many made possible through our partnerships with women's organizations across Central America.

Learn more about ESPERA, Mary's Pence program in Central America, and the inspiring women behind this work: https://maryspence.org/espera/

08/06/2026

On a sunny spring day in Nicaragua, the excitement was palpable since early morning. Women entrepreneurs arriving at the Central Plaza from nearby towns carefully arranged their products and greeted one another with smiles. Each table reflected the hours spent creating, growing, preparing.

Read our story using the link below and learn how Mary's Pence is providing women with the confidence and resources to market and sell their products.

https://bit.ly/3RdUqxQ

08/03/2026

"I left feeling stronger...", said Leslie Farrington, Executive Director at Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, Mary's Pence current grantee partner.

Those words capture what the Mary's Pence Grantee Gathering is all about.

For three days, women leaders from across the country came together to share challenges, celebrate successes, and learn from one another. While each organization serves its community in a unique way, they are united by a shared commitment to justice and equality.

Because lasting change doesn't happen in isolation. It grows through connection.

Learn more about our Grantee Gathering here https://bit.ly/4yDEGoA

07/30/2026

Looking for your next great read? 📚

Our 2026 Summer Reading List is here! Throughout history, we have looked to artists as truth-tellers. Authors on this year’s Summer Reading List paint with their words tales of coming of age in Honduras, explorations of how patriarchy harms both men and women, education about our broken justice system, and reflections on surviving domestic violence, including books by leaders in our own community, former and current grantees!

We invite you to explore these recommendations and carry their ideas into your conversations and communities.

Explore the list and let us know: Which book is on your summer reading list? We'd love to hear your recommendations, too!

🔗 Find the full reading list here:

Throughout history, we have looked to artists as truth-tellers. Authors on this year’s Summer Reading List paint with their words tales of coming of age

07/27/2026

At Mary's Pence, every grant represents thoughtful conversations, careful discernment, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve.

In her reflection, Quaker Volunteer Carol shares what she witnessed while participating in Mary's Pence's grantmaking process and why it changed her understanding of philanthropy.

Read Carol's story: https://bit.ly/4fydten

07/24/2026

[English below]

Mujeres del programa ESPERA de Apopa compartieron sus conocimientos sobre la elaboración de pan artesanal con mujeres de CESPPO. Esta actividad fortaleció sus habilidades técnicas y promovió un valioso intercambio de experiencias y aprendizajes entre ambas organizaciones. Actividades como estas, facilitadas gracias a Mary’s Pence, permiten a las mujeres ampliar sus capacidades para crear nuevas oportunidades de generación de ingresos y avanzar en su empoderamiento económico.

Women from two Mary's Pence partner organizations in El Salvador came together for a traditional bread-making workshop, with participants from Apopa sharing their knowledge with women from CESPPO. This activity strengthened their technical skills while fostering a valuable exchange of experiences and knowledge between the two organizations. Activities like these, made possible through Mary's Pence, help women expand their skills, create new income-generating opportunities, and advance their economic empowerment.

Learn more about Mary's Pence program in Central America and become a supporter! Click here: https://bit.ly/4flbQ4H

07/23/2026

Grantee Spotlight!
Congratulations to our grantee partner, The CHAAD Project, for supporting restaurant workers who stood up against wage theft, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Their collective action led to a legal settlement that brings accountability and sends a powerful message that workers deserve dignity, fair pay, and safe workplaces.

We're proud to partner with organizations like The CHAAD Project that empower women and marginalized communities to advocate for their rights and create lasting change.

Read more about this important victory here

After experiencing widespread wage theft, sexual harassment and retaliation, Plaintiffs have won a settlement in their case against The Duplex, a Chicago-area restaurant.  The win follows a legal challenge brought by six workers who reported a pattern of workplace violations, including fai

07/21/2026

Please join us in welcoming Sarah-Nhi, our summer intern at Mary's Pence!

Sarah-Nhi is a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar and rising sophomore at Yale University, where she is pursuing a B.A. in Global Affairs. She recently studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, through the SIT International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy program.

Through her transformative feminist coursework and interactions in the non-profit space, she was inspired to pursue an experience where women empowered women. The organization’s guiding frameworks of trusting and supporting women to address systemic issues in their own communities have deeply resonated with her. ⁠

We're also grateful for our partnership with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, whose support has made this internship possible. We look forward to all that Sarah-Nhi will contribute this summer. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation