An Important Announcement from OWA

Dear Friends,

It is with both sadness and gratitude that I share that my dear friend and fellow Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director Erin Scott will be leaving Ohio Women’s Alliance after four years of loyal service and leadership. This transition results from one year of intentional discernment and succession planning in recognition of OWA’s commitment to centering the leadership of women of color.

In 2015, Erin founded the Bad Bish network to connect progressive women with mentors and leadership opportunities; this is how Erin and I first met, and so began our idea for a grassroots statewide network of progressive women and femmes. While I am sad to see the end of this first chapter in our organizational history, I am so grateful to Erin for all she has done to help us get OWA off the ground and for her personal commitment to making space for women of color and young people to lead. This approach guided Erin’s work to build OWA’s operational, financial, and fundraising infrastructure over the last four years as I took the lead on strategy and programming.

Throughout it all, it has truly been an honor to lead alongside Erin and to watch the fruits of our labor grow into a strong organization gaining statewide and national recognition for centering Reproductive Justice to create an Ohio where all people can truly thrive. Thanks to her dedication and hard work since our founding, we have a robust foundation to continue successfully for many years to come. 

In 2022, Erin was named one of three illustrious Women on the Rise by YWCA Columbus for her accomplishments with OWA; her reputation for leading philanthropic and project management at many local, state, and national progressive organizations; and her contributions as a professor at The Ohio State University’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs—her alma mater—where she has been teaching nonprofit management since 2014. 

Erin will step down from her role as Co-Executive Director later this month, but she will remain on our team part-time through July to aid in this transition. In her next chapter, she will serve as the National Deputy Director of Development for Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), where she will guide and support the organization’s fundraising efforts across several states. I’m delighted to share that Erin will remain in the Columbus area, where she will continue to stay connected to OWA’s work. 

She says, “Launching and growing the Ohio Women’s Alliance has been the absolute joy and honor of a lifetime, and I am lucky to have done so alongside a leader I consider a role model, comrade, and dear friend. Despite my transition to a national organization, my commitment to a more just and equitable Ohio will not waver; rather, my role at SURJ reinforces my commitment to leverage my privilege to defeat white nationalism and center the leadership of women and queer folks of color. The Ohio Women’s Alliance will continue to thrive with Rhiannon at the helm, and with the exceptional leadership of the OWA team and members.”

Please join me in thanking Erin for her leadership, vision, and commitment to OWA over the last four years. If you would like to send her a message of gratitude, I welcome you to click here to do so.

Gratefully,

Rhiannon Carnes
Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director