f the status quo
At NOVA, our unyielding commitment is anchored in our foundational principles, values, and mission to foster a world where justice and equity are not a dream but a reality for all women. We cultivate an environment where women are empowered to embrace their authentic selves, radiating a strength that fuels the liberation of everyone within their sphere of influence, inspiring communities to soar and effect transformative change.
WOMEN WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.
Women hold the keys to shaping a future beyond our wildest dreams. Unleashed to function at their fullest potential, the metamorphosis they will ignite promises to be nothing short of revolutionary. The world as we know it is far from perfect and we can't afford to stand idle; it's time to trade in complacency for action, beginning with individual and local initiatives. Indeed, every seismic shift begins with a ripple - even the smallest step can make an immeasurable difference.
The road may be steep and the journey tough, but we're more than ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. It starts with self-transformation - cultivating a spirit that dares to challenge the status quo, embracing your unique identity and harnessing your intrinsic power. Then, it's time to look the world in the eye, say, “F it” and rise to meet your destiny.
These are the platforms we strive to influence through our initiatives, each an opportunity to empower another NOVA woman, catalyzing a ripple of change that expands into a tide of transformation.
Advocate for policies that address systemic racism and promote racial equity. Ending police brutality, providing equitable opportunities, ensuring fair housing, and promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of society will take dismantling the current system to achieve. It starts with you: educating yourself on these issues, speaking out when you see injustice and voting at the local level are just a few ways to get started.
Prioritize gender equality, including equal pay for equal work, reproductive rights and protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Regardless of how a person identifies or whom they love, they are entitled to every right a white man receives, if not more. NOVA fearlessly fights for every woman. Period.
Our society should represent what our world actually looks like. In order to create a society and enact laws, programs and initiatives that protect and represent every individual we must have a diverse representation that reflects the individuals for whom the representation vows to work.
Push for the rights of individuals with disabilities, including access to healthcare, education, employment and public spaces.
Women's rights and gender equity, including reproductive freedom and care, equal pay, and protections against gender-based and domestic violence are only the fundamental rights women are entitled to. Go further and push even harder for Black and Brown women to sit in leadership positions, receive support and funding for entrepreneurship and have more protection in almost every societal setting. All women need space to flourish and utilize their unique powers to change the world. Give it to them and watch women create a supernaturally iconic world.
Really, why is this even debated… We don’t have enough space here, but let’s start by recognizing that someone’s skin color does not disqualify them from basic, inalienable human rights. Police reform, criminal justice transformation, voting rights, economic equity, reproductive justice and reparations are just the start.
Protection for LGBTQIA+ individuals, including non-discrimination laws, marriage equality and access to healthcare are needed more now than ever. We must push further than the basics and begin to support transgender rights and protections, ban “conversion therapies”, offer more support to LGBTQIA+ youth and advocate internationally to decriminalize non-cissexual orientations. LOVE IS LOVE.
Advocate for the protection of refugees and immigrants, including asylum seekers and undocumented individuals. We must reform immigration policies and create a better pathway to citizenship and family reunification.
Prioritize mental health parity laws that require insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as they do for physical health conditions. Mental-based diagnoses carry the same impact on an individual’s life as physical ones, if not more.
Everyone should have access to high-quality mental healthcare, regardless of their income or insurance status. We need increased funding for mental health services and the expansion of telehealth services.
The damaging impact of mental health stigma has led to individuals not seeking care, the inability to live an honest life and ultimately a decreased quality of life. NOVA fearlessly advocates for increased education and awareness to reduce stigma and promote mental health literacy. THE FUTURE IS STIGMA FREE.
Mental health issues can impact productivity and quality of life in the workplace. Advocate for employers to prioritize mental health by providing mental health resources, support for employees and an inclusive, positive environment.
Trauma can have a significant impact on mental health and how we operate and interact every day. Trauma-informed care can address the root causes of mental health issues and promote healing and resilience. It is the ultimate self-healing that can lead us to our highest self.
Don’t delay action on climate change. Enact policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources and promote sustainable practices in agriculture, transportation and manufacturing.
Protect our world’s natural resources, including forests, oceans and wildlife habitats. Support efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling and composting.
Marginalized communities are often disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. We must pursue policies that promote environmental justice and equitable access to clean air, water and land.
Argue for the reduction of mass incarceration, including decriminalizing drug offenses, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and promoting alternatives to incarceration.
Defend restorative justice practices that prioritize rehabilitation and reconciliation over punishment and promote community-based approaches to crime prevention and rehabilitation.
Campaign for police reform that includes increased accountability, training in de-escalation tactics and community policing strategies that prioritize trust-building and non-violent conflict resolution.
Press for a single-payer healthcare system that provides comprehensive coverage to all individuals, regardless of their income or insurance status.
Support policies to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, including negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and allowing the importation of cheaper, albeit safe, drugs from other countries.
Prioritize mental healthcare as an essential component of overall healthcare, pressing for increased funding and access to mental health services.
Public education is a cornerstone of democracy and social mobility. Advocate for increased funding for public schools and teacher pay. And safer schools for our children, but that’s a whole conversation in itself.
Make college more affordable. Let’s start by increasing funding for Pell Grants and reducing student loan debt. Eventually, college should be free.
Increase funding and support for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in minority and marginalized communities and for girls.
Promote progressive taxation, where the wealthiest individuals and corporations pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes to support programs that benefit the greater good.
Promote a living wage that enables individuals and families to afford basic needs and participate fully in the economy.
Back protections for workers, including fair labor practices, workplace safety, and access to paid sick leave and family leave.
FOR CHANGE TO TRULY REVERBERATE ACROSS THE WORLD, AUTHENTICITY MUST BE AT ITS CORE.
Only when we embrace our true selves, honoring our deepest values, can we navigate the path that matters most and discover our unique purpose. We are each a distinctive spark, a one-of-one, with a potential impact that can echo across the globe.
What resonates with me most – and what I believe to be my life's mission – is forging a lasting legacy that revolutionizes lives, particularly those of women and underrepresented, marginalized communities.
The corporate world might balk at such audacious declarations (though they shouldn't be seen as audacious; they're fundamental rights), but this is my life's purpose. I boldly step into the challenge of reshaping our world, no matter the magnitude of that transformation. I am committed to seizing every opportunity to nurture a world pulsing with love and radiating light.
I INVITE YOU TO STEP INTO YOUR NOVA SEASON AND JOIN ME ON THIS JOURNEY. TOGETHER, WE WILL CONQUER.