On this very rainy 4^th of July, I am feeling more reflective than celebratory. Tomorrow, when the sun is shining and I’m with my family, I will be celebrating and relaxing, but today I feel drawn to continuing to push forward our work at Prosperity Catalyst.

In some ways it feels appropriate since the work we are doing is very much in line with our country’s Independence Day ideals (or maybe this is my justification for working too much?). When I look back at the origins of our independence, I am humbled by the tales of courageous and visionary leaders who took a stand for what they believed to be just and true. These leaders were willing to imagine a new and audacious vision for the future of the United States. This vision has certainly benefitted me as a U.S. citizen and paved the way for the opportunities and well-being that I enjoy every day.

I see the same drive, vision and idealism in the women leaders that Prosperity Catalyst works with around the world. In Haiti, we are working with women leaders who are helping women gain the confidence, support and tools that they need to re-envision a new life for themselves and their families. In Iraq, we are working with women leaders who are helping the most disadvantaged women survive and ensure their basic rights and safety. These women leaders literally put their safety and well-being on the line to advance freedom and independence for the most disadvantaged women in the world.

I recently had the great fortune to meet one such leader: Suaad Allami. She is the leader of one of our Iraqi NGO partner organizations and was in Washington DC to be recognized by Vital Voices at the 13^th Annual Global Leadership Awards and was celebrated on stage with Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Diane Von Furstenburg and Alyse Nelson applauding her achievements. Suaad is the Founder of Women for Progress, a grassroots women’s group that focuses on providing women with access to their legal rights and social support.

I was incredibly proud to see one of the world’s most courageous grassroots champions of change – one we decided to partner with in Iraq – celebrated in this way. Suaad’s work is incredibly vital to the lives of women in Baghdad. Women in Iraq were already vulnerable in many ways due to decades of conflict, and are likely even more vulnerable as the country faces new and evolving instability. We are delighted to be partnering with Suaad and Women for Progress to now offer some of the women who have benefitted from her program economic opportunity. In combination, our work can help make an enormous difference in offering war widows freedom and independence.

Thanks to the work of Vital Voices, Suaad’s story has been shared in their own video here as well as with the Washington Post.

We know that women who are economically independent and free help create a more peaceful and prosperous society – one like that that we envisioned here in the United States in the 1700s.

Today our Baghdad team reports that life is beginning to come back to Baghdad and people are back in their offices. Banks are open again. So our team plans to resume our work again. We look forward to having your support as we support women leaders as they shape a new future for themselves and their countries.

Happy 4^th of July weekend!

Siiri