WXF May 2025 Newsletter
UNMUTED Screening Tour Now Live!
We’ve officially launched the grassroots screening tour for UNMUTED — and we’re inviting organizations, universities, and communities around the world to host exclusive screenings and be part of this powerful movement to end gender-based violence. Each screening comes with a discussion guide, promotional toolkit, and opportunities for deeper engagement.
Sign up to host a screening here or email unmuted@picturemotion.com with any questions!
WXF’s Charlotte Attends Storytelling Workshop
Charlotte recently attended Bo Eason’s Personal Story Power Event. The workshop was led by former NFL player and acclaimed performer Bo Eason. Like the name suggests, the three-day workshop focused on how to utilize the power of personal story to attract an audience, adapt one’s communication approach, and build trust with audience. We look forward to implementing the concepts into our work!
From Sierra Leone to the U.S.: The Fight for Reproductive Health
Original Article from Politico and The Associated Press
Sierra Leone may soon become the second West African country to decriminalize abortion under a proposed Safe Motherhood Bill, allowing the procedure in cases of rape, incest, and life-threatening conditions. While initially broader, the bill was narrowed after pushback from religious leaders, and a parliamentary vote is expected soon.
Meanwhile, on the States side, the Trump administration is withholding Title X funding, threatening critical services like birth control and cancer screenings at clinics such as Planned Parenthood. The freeze could impact over a million primarily low-income women, worsen healthcare disparities, and result in $3 million in lost annual funding for Planned Parenthood across five states.
DID YOU KNOW
Title X was established in 1970 when Congress passed the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, it was the first federal program dedicated to providing comprehensive family planning and preventive health services.
Photo From: Wikipedia Commons
Honoring Notable Women Born in May
Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)
Born in Los Angeles on May 26, 1951, Sally Ride made history as the first American woman in space. After joining NASA in 1978 as part of the first astronaut class to include women, she launched aboard the space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. As a mission specialist, Ride operated the shuttle’s robotic arm and helped deploy satellites.
She held a PhD in physics from Stanford and used her platform to inspire young people, especially girls, to explore science, technology, engineering, and math. After retiring from NASA, she became a professor and co-founded Sally Ride Science, a nonprofit dedicated to making science education more inclusive and accessible.
Did You Know?
Sally Ride was only 32 years old when she made her first spaceflight, making her the youngest American astronaut to reach space at the time.
Support us by donating to our impact campaign.
If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.
We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.
Learn more about our work and also contribute here:
