October 1, 2024

Ms. Welcomes Melanie Jiménez

by Melanie Jiménez

Melanie Jiménez (she/her) joins Ms. Foundation as a Program Officer.

What brought you to Ms. Foundation?

I’ve known of the Ms. Foundation’s thoughtful approach to partnering with organizations for several years, but I only recently came upon an opportunity that felt so aligned, and I had to apply! I strongly believe that deeply investing into movement building will allow liberating narratives around gender and racial justice to progress more quickly. I am beyond thrilled and genuinely honored to join an effort in bringing crucial resources to collective organizing for women and gender-expansive people, especially at such a tumultuous political moment.

What gets you out of bed every morning?

The feeling that the day will escape from me if I don’t join it! I very much love mornings. I appreciate and enjoy spending those few moments absorbed in whatever draws me in before I start the day.

What badass feminist/woman inspires you?

I tend to be moved and inspired by mass organizing. I remember when I first processed the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, I had such a profoundly emotional reaction to it all and a deep gratitude for the women of my past and present resisting and pushing back. Now, two years later, it sometimes feels like the needle is barely moving towards any sort of unified progress. However, I think that our current moment is a beautiful one of questioning the ideas of gender and challenging deeply rooted societal norms that are imposed on women’s bodies.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Some advice I’d give to younger me is to breathe—to let go of things more easily and lean more into the flow of life. I’d also let her know that whatever feels like a huge decision in the moment really won’t be that life-defining later on! We can give definition to what matters in life and what we really want from our unique journey.