Crazy Strong Feminists: The women behind MARCH ON

A regular feature showcasing the many people who make MARCH ON a reality

Penelope Chester is a MARCH ON board member, working closely with the Executive Director on strategy, communications, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

What inspires you right now? What are you most excited about in 2018?

I’ve been inspired daily by the work being done by women in the movement. And I’m most excited about fostering community for people with progressive values and making voting exciting.

How can people get involved in MARCH ON?

How can you help? If you want to help MARCH ON, you just have to jump in with a good idea, or a skill you think we need — we are a collective of people across the country, and we can use lots of different support from all kinds of sources! MARCH ON affiliates are a decentralized network of organizers, perfect for getting involved at the local level.

Tee Hanible, Director of MARCH ON Veterans, is a former Marine, philanthropist, Harvard graduate student, and author.

How did you get involved in activism?

I’ve always been a voice on women’s issues and racial injustice, specifically police profiling and police brutality, even as an active duty Marine. Prior to retiring I was given a unique opportunity to star as a host on FOX’s American Grit alongside WWE’s John Cena. That put me on a national platform and allowed me to use my voice to amplify the plights of others.

What are the most pressing issues you personally want to focus on right
now?

The most pressing issues that I’d like to focus on would be the racial disparities that have and continue to plague this country, especially in light of our current administration. Also veteran issues such as homelessness and assaults, because I have seen first-hand how those things impact lives forever.

Lindsey Kanaly, MARCH ON board member and head of affiliate outreach, was lead organizer for the Women’s March on Oklahoma in 2017 and MARCH ON Oklahoma 2018.

What inspires you right now?

The vast amount of women choosing to run for elected office all across the US.

What are the most pressing issues you personally want to focus on right now? Why are they important to you?

I personally want to focus on civic education. Oklahoma has a very low voter turnout record. Many people lack the basic knowledge of how our government works: locally on up to the federal level. I am determined to help educate more people about civics and why they should care so they have the tools to cast their vote in an educated way. I have numerous other issues that are important to me personally like women’s incarceration rates, systemic racial inequities, and women’s empowerment.

Beth Robertson is the website designer and developer for MARCH ON. She owns her own business, Robertson Consulting Group, providing website design, development, and maintenance to small business owners.

Why do you think MARCH ON is so important right now?

After January 2017 so many people wanted to get involved in organizations to promote the progressive platform, plus many people were fired up to fight against the new president and his administration. MARCH ON is here to support all those grassroots efforts to organize and get active.

Can you tell me something about the group of women (and men) who are involved with MARCH ON?

The team at MARCH ON is really quite extraordinary. I’ve been so impressed every step of the way by the depth of knowledge, commitment and true willingness to step up and help out. To me, that is the real power of this movement.

MARCHROOTS is a project of MARCH ON. We’re working at the national, state, and local levels to harness the power of those who marched on January 21, 2017 and take that passion straight to the polls in 2018 and beyond. We’re not afraid to resist, question everything, reach across the aisle, show up for what we believe in, and laugh to keep from utterly losing it.

Right now the movement needs YOU to take a poll. And hey, while you’re at it, host a party! Operation Marching Orders puts the marchroots — that’s you! — square in the center of the movement. This movement belongs to all of us. Head to www.operationmarchorders.com to register now.