About Us
The Jacksonville chapter of the National Organization for Women was founded in 1970 by 14 charter members led by the chapter’s first president, Vicki Wengrow, who is still a Jacksonville NOW member. The chapter’s founding coincided with Women’s Equality Day, August 26, 1970, fifty years after women won the right to vote. The charter followed on February 3, 1971. One of the charter members, who remained a feminist activist throughout her life was Dr. Edna Saffy. The text of the Equal Rights Amendment is carved on Dr. Saffy’s tombstone.
Jacksonville NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of women and girls in all aspects of social, political and economic life. Jacksonville NOW provides a structure to coordinate action, build and participate in coalitions with other organizations to foster understanding, to expand our perspective and to exchange information and ideas.
Jacksonville NOW is part of a state organization, the Florida National Organization for Women, and a national organization the National Organization for Women. Nationally, NOW is the grassroots arm of the women’s movement. The National Organization for Women is dedicated to a multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. NOW has hundreds of chapters and thousands of members and activists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
In 2020, Jacksonville NOW started a political committee, (PAC) in order to endorse state and local candidates and donate to their campaigns. We provide Voters’ Guides for state and local elections. We work to create change through involvement in the political process, lobbying at the local and state levels, organizing actions and events, and advocating for issues. We actively engage in political campaigns and support candidates who promote equality and human rights.
Our chapter currently is comprised of more than 100 members.
Jax NOW Priorities
Jax NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights. Our priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women’s health issues; opposing racism; fighting bigotry against the LGBTQIA community; and ending violence against women.
