On this week's episode, we speak with President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Kim Villanueva.

Villanueva oversees NOW’s 550 chapters and 100,000+ members in all 50 states. NOW has 354,000 followers on Facebook and 39,000 on Instagram. Villanueva leverages these platforms to consistently call out the ways in which women's rights are being infringed upon, and she rallies NOW’s grassroots members around specific policy battles, such as rallying women in opposition to the Save Act.

NOW’s core missions include the urgent mission to advocate for economic justice and being on the frontline advocating for policies that help women and families.

Villanueva’s passion for social justice stems from her lived experiences as a bi-racial lesbian in the Midwest. The oldest of five girls, Villanueva was raised by her father, a university professor who immigrated from the Philippines, and her mother, a registered nurse.

For Villanueva, feminism is a "family value" rooted in the Catholic social justice ethos her immigrant parents instilled in her and her sisters—and driving her to improve the world that the 8-year-old niece she is raising will inherit.

She is the bridge builder for the modern feminist movement, serving as the vital link between NOW’s historical legacy and its future impact with her "grassroots action = national impact" approach.

2026 NOW Conference

https://now.org/2026-now-conference/

Celebrating 60 Years of Feminist Power, Progress, and Possibility

June 26 – 28, 2026

Alexandria, VA

Membership page

https://secure.everyaction.com/AOCp2-yGb06cNxg8XF4O5w2

• (00:00:00) - Meet National President of the National Organization for Women Kim Villanue
• (00:00:58) - Kim Kardashian on the Fight for Women's Issues
• (00:03:32) - How does the mission of NOW today support women?
• (00:04:38) - The Christian Leadership Style: We, Not Me
• (00:05:48) - The Women of the American Cancer Society
• (00:08:42) - NOW Conference's 20th Anniversary
• (00:09:27) - Looking back at the Women's Movement
• (00:11:17) - Storytelling in the Elevator
• (00:12:12) - Among the Women of the US
• (00:13:34) - What Women Can Do to Advocate for Their Lives
• (00:14:35) - Women of the 60th Anniversary
• (00:16:12) - The 60th Anniversary Vibe
• (00:17:01) - Women's 150th Anniversary
• (00:18:26) - The 250th Anniversary
• (00:19:21) - Vital Women Podcast: Call to Action

Salomé Mondelus, the President and Founder of the GLOW Foundation Alliance, is an organization dedicated to community empowerment, philanthropy, and creating an alliance for those who need it most. Based out of West Palm Beach, her work is all about turning visibility into impact.

https://www.glowfoundationalliance.org/

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

Welcome back to the Vital Women Podcast. I’m your host, Ivette O’Sullivan. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting extraordinary leaders using their voices for positive impact. Today’s guest is someone very special to me. We share a common history as alumni of Empire State College.

She is a proud multicultural storyteller and native New Yorker—a Brazilian American with Jewish-Russian roots who turned early adversity into a superpower. At just thirteen years old, she stepped into the role of motherhood, raising her daughter, Jess. While many might have seen that as a barrier, she used it as fuel—graduating from college and building a world-class career.

Since 2003, she has become an internationally acclaimed photographer, named by Harper’s BAZAAR as one of the best in the world. She is the visionary behind Women Who Surf and The Portrait Project, a speaker, and a dear friend. Welcome the incredible Judith Rae.

Below are the links where people can find Judith.

https://judithrae.com/

Join my newsletter: https://judithrae.com/newsletter

IG @judithraenyc

YouTube

https://youtube.com/@judithraenyc?si=okSlQm0QbTP7VI0J

Women Who Surf series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLreN4hR6XIIG4njb3o9ADW-qtj6T2b3sa&si=EhyRtAPSUVgTTCxS

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithrae/

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/judithraenyc/

Substack

https://substack.com/@judithrae?r=4hvyem&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile&shareImageVariant=light

• (00:00:00) - Vital Women
• (00:01:32) - Judith Wolff on Her Multicultural Background
• (00:10:12) - What Motivated You to Continue Your Photography Career?
• (00:13:43) - Portrait Project
• (00:17:32) - Women Who Surf
• (00:24:16) - Toastmasters and TEDx
• (00:27:06) - Cultivate: Women Entrepreneurs and Creatives
• (00:30:41) - Judith Ray on How To Show Up