“I had a lot of shame about going to prison, a deep-rooted shame. And I needed to do something where I felt I accomplished something positive that my family could be proud of, that my friends could be proud of, that I could be proud of,” says Vivian Nixon, executive director of College & Community Fellowship.

Nixon knows firsthand how difficult it can be to try and find purpose after years of incarceration. She also knows the power education has to transform lives. While trying to get a college education, she found that most of the services being provided to women leaving prison were grounded in low-wage jobs or substance abuse treatment. “Services that people absolutely need,” she says. “But College & Community Fellowship was the only organization I was able to find that focused on access to higher education and all the benefits that come with that.”

Nixon has long believed that expanding access to quality education is essential in the effort to end mass incarceration and empower overlooked communities. Through College & Community Fellowship, a Ford grantee, she helps women with criminal histories gain access to higher education.

She believes it’s important it is for society to reimagine how it views and treats formerly incarcerated individuals. “I think the easiest issue to solve is the way we think about the people we’re serving,” says Nixon. “Rather than having this transactional relationship with them, a checklist of things they need to become before they’re acceptable to society, let’s have a transformational relationship. And that’s why I believe education is important. Because education is not a transaction. It is a transformational process.”

Nixon’s story is part of the #FutureIsHers multimedia series of interviews, essays, and more, celebrating the innovators, risk-takers, and change-makers the Ford Foundation has proudly supported and the impact they’ve had on the lives of women and girls everywhere. Despite the many challenges women and girls face, around the world they’re rising up. Determined and persistent, they’re leading the way in showing us what gender justice looks like, disrupting inequality and creating a world where social change is possible: The future is hers.

multi-colored brush strokes

These videos are part of our featured series, The Future Is Hers, celebrating the power of women and girls around the world.

Other videos in this series

00:30
Steffania Costa has long brown curly hair and is wearing colorful looped earrings and violet and pink jumpsuit. She's standing next to copy that reads, "Technology is dominated by men... so the products we have reflect their values."

Technology is dominated by men, featuring Steffania Paola Costa di Albanez, a Ford Mozilla Open Web fellow

In technology, women’s needs and values should matter just as much as men’s do, says Steffania Paola Costa di Albanez. The Ford Mozilla Open Web Fellow is working to make all platforms more welcoming to women, particularly Black women, and designed to help fight gender inequality.

00:48
Paula Moreno has black braided hair and is wearing a black dress with a red wrap. She's standing next to copy that reads, "We have girls learning programming and learning to create solutions in their communities."

Girls in tech lead in Colombia, featuring Paula Moreno of Corporación Manos Visibles

Empowering women in technology can help address the issue of gender inequality. The first Afro-Colombian woman and the youngest person to lead a cabinet-level ministry in Colombia, Paula Moreno is encouraging young women to become the next generation of leaders in tech and beyond.

00:36
Susan Burton has black braids and is wearing thick-rimmed glasses and black earrings. She wears a purple top over a black blouse. She's standing next to copy that reads, "I thought 'my, this is magic. What's happening here.'"

Ending recidivism by helping women leave prison for good, featuring Susan Burton of A New Way of Life Reentry Project

Women leaving the criminal justice system face nearly insurmountable hurdles. They need support to not reoffend and get caught up in the prison cycle. According to Susan Burton, founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, expanding opportunities for women leaving prison can help end recidivism and create prison reform.

00:44
Sibongile Ndashe has dark dreads with highlighted tips tied up in a bun. She's wearing a white top with a red pattern. She's standing between copy that read, "We are really invested in not only working with courts but also with the people who are impacted by the laws."

Change for LGBTQIA people in South Africa, featuring Sibongile Ndashe of Initiative for Strategic Litigation

Violence against LGBTQIA people in Africa needs to be addressed beyond legal and policy changes, says human rights lawyer Sibongile Ndashe. She advocates for working with people affected by the law to disrupt inequality and create lasting social change.

00:29
Elizabeth Swavola has long brown hair and is wearing a black dress with a  blue and red-flowered pattern. Next to her is copy that reads, "Reform efforts are not reaching women to the same extent that they're reaching men."

Women need prison reform, featuring Elizabeth Swavola, Vera Institute of Justice

To achieve gender justice, Elizabeth Swavola believes prison reform for women in the U.S. jail system is critical. Swavola, as part of the Vera Institute of Justice, is working to make sure prisons are reaching and supporting women just as they do men.

00:37
Selly Thiam has black dreads tied up in a knot and is wearing dark thick-rimmed eyeglasses. She has a nose ring and wears a black sweater over a black blouse. She's standing next to copy that reads, "There's a level of silence around African LGBT experiences... that we are Un-African, that we don't exist."

African LGBTQIA voices exist, featuring Selly Thiam of None on Record

Documenting overlooked communities is essential to disrupting inequality. African LGBTQIA voices exist—and need to be heard, says journalist and filmmaker Selly Thiam. By sharing their perspectives and encouraging them to tell their stories, we recognize their existence and begin to capture a fuller, more accurate picture of an equitable society.

00:43
Monica Simpon has dark dreads with light tips and wears beaded earrings, a black top, and leggings. She stands between copy that read, "My uterus, my queerness, my blackness... was honored in this movement."

Reproductive justice movement is my political home, featuring Monica Simpson of SisterSong

Monica Simpson found her calling when she established SisterSong, an organization that focuses on the reproductive rights of women in marginalized communities. She explains how the reproductive justice movement, with its intersectional framework, is key to gender equality.  

00:23
Steffania Costa has long brown curly hair and is wearing colorful looped earrings and a violet top. She's next to copy that reads, "What happens on the internet is a reflection of what happens in life. So harassment, sexism, chauvinism... the fight is the same."

Fighting sexism on the internet, featuring Steffania Paola Costa di Albanez, a Ford Mozilla Open Web fellow

Women need safe spaces on the internet. Steffania Paola Costa di Albanez believes gender inequality is possible when we address the issues women face online, which are the same as they face in real life, such as sexism, harassment and violence.

00:40
Susan Burton has black braids and is wearing thick-rimmed glasses and black earrings. She wears a purple top and skirt over a black blouse and boots. She's standing between copy that reads, "We send her back to the community with $200, no ID... and expect her to make it. It's impossible."

The criminal justice system is costly and unfair, featuring Susan Burton of A New Way of Life Reentry Project

The criminal justice system creates a burden on the U.S. economy with the amount of money it spends on corrections. Susan Burton, who founded A New Way of Life Reentry Project, advocates for prison reform by expanding the opportunities extended to formerly incarcerated women.

00:49
Vivian Nixon has short brown curly hair wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a burgundy blazer and skirt over a white collared blouse. She's standing next to copy that reads, "I had a lot of shame about going to prison."

How education can reform our prisons, featuring Vivian Nixon of College & Community Fellowship

College & Community Fellowship’s Vivian Nixon knows firsthand how higher education can be transformational in reforming America’s prison system. She helps women with criminal histories gain access to quality education to end mass incarceration and empower overlooked communities.

00:32
Isa Noyola has long dark curly hair and is wearing a brown patterned dress and black scarf. She's standing between copy that reads, "We're looking for a cultural shift."

For trans people to achieve equal rights, we need a cultural shift, featuring Isa Noyola, Transgender Law Center

A cultural shift, in which people understand gender in all its complexities, is essential for equality, explains trans activist Isa Noyola. She says trans people deserve equal rights before the law and also within society at large.

00:41
Sibongile Ndashe has dark dreads with highlighted tips tied up in a bun. She's wearing a white top with a red pattern. She's standing next to copy that reads, "The fact that my body, my person, is vulnerable at tall times... it means that I am unequal."

Equal rights means not being attacked, featuring Sibongile Ndashe of Initiative for Strategic Litigation

Inequality exists wherever LGBTQIA people are attacked and prevented from participating in society. For Sibongile Ndashe of the Initiative for Strategic Litigation, LGBTQIA rights are human rights that need to be protected and upheld to advance social justice.

00:39
Isa Noyola has long dark curly hair and is wearing a brown patterned dress and black scarf. She's standing next to copy that reads, "There are very few of us... so many of our leaders have been violently taken away."

Trans leaders violently taken away for their activism, featuring Isa Noyola, Transgender Law Center

Trans activists face unique, at times dangerous challenges when they choose to speak out for justice. Trans activist Isa Noyola shares what it’s like to lose people when fighting for social change, valuable voices violently taken away trying to advance trans rights.

00:47
Monica Simpon has dark dreads with light tips and wears beaded earrings, a black top, and leggings. She has copy next to her that reads, "Reproductive justice is about the human right to self-determine."

Reproductive justice is the right to self-determine, featuring Monica Simpson of SisterSong

Reproductive justice is an intersectional framework created by women of color to help organize communities around issues of inequality and social change. As artist Monica Simpson explains, reproductive justice is about the human right to self-determine—and is essential for gender equality.

00:37
Paula Moreno has black braided hair and is wearing a black dress with a red wrap. She's standing next to copy that reads, "I was the youngest woman to be a minister in Colombia."

Power as a way of serving society, featuring Paula Moreno of Corporación Manos Visibles

As the first Afro-Colombia woman and the youngest person to lead a cabinet-level ministry in Colombia, Paula Moreno is no stranger to breaking barriers. She sees power as a way of serving society, and is cultivating a new kind of leadership in her country through the work of Corporación Manos Visibles

00:44
Phoebe Boswell has shoulder-length dark curly hair with highlights and is wearing silver earrings and necklaces. She has on a black dress with red stars. She's standing next to copy that read, "My work becomes a place where I can define myself in terms that are mine."

Finding equity through art, featuring Phoebe Boswell, an #AfricaNoFilter fellow

Art has allowed #AfricaNoFilter fellow Phoebe Boswell the space to explore both her identity and the collective identities she feels connected to in her life. To her, art is a powerful tool that can help address race, gender and class inequalities.

00:41
Stephanie Ortoleva has shoulder-length light hair and is wearing a dark sweater with a brown patterned scarf. She's sitting next to copy that reads, "Women with disabilities are 20% of the world's women."

We need disability justice now, featuring Stephanie Ortoleva of Women Enabled International

Women with disabilities make up 20% of the world’s female population. Human rights lawyer Stephanie Ortoleva says the voices of women and girls with disabilities need to be centered because of their potential as change agents in the fight to end inequality.

00:46
Cecile Richards has short white cropped hair and is wearing a red dress. Next to her is copy reading, "The opportunity, I believe, is to now be our best advocates."

Women are critical to our economy and future, featuring Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood

For the first time in history, women make up more than half the global workforce. Feminist Cecile Richards believes this pivotal moment calls us to recognize the critical role women play in the economy—and in building a just, sustainable future.

00:50
Dina Bakst has long black hair and wears a black blouse, blazer, and hoop earrings. Next to her is copy reading, "There are workers in America who are literally one sick child away from losing their job."

A vision for workers’ rights, featuring Dina Bakst, A Better Balance

A longtime advocate of workers’ rights, Dina Bakst believes that workplace equity needs to be addressed with an intersectional lens. Economic justice can’t be achieved without tackling issues of maternal health, reproductive health, and racial inequity. To Bakst, workplace equity is a fundamental right for all Americans.

00:34
Stephanie Ortoleva has shoulder-length light hair and is wearing a dark sweater with a brown patterned scarf. She's sitting next to copy that reads, "Disabled women just aren't going to be silent anymore."

Disabled women matter, featuring Stephanie Ortoleva of Women Enabled International

Gender justice needs to include people with disabilities, and disability rights need to include women. Women Enabled International’s Stephanie Ortoleva says women and girls with disabilities deserve advocacy, protection and education so they can lead self-determined lives.

00:49
Fatima Goss Grave has short brown curly hair and wears a red top, black blazer, and a beaded necklace. Next to her is copy that reads, "I knew pretty early that I wanted to use the law for good."

Creating equality through the law, featuring Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center

Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women’s Law Center believes creating equality through the law is possible. She credits her family’s activism in the civil rights movement as the inspiration for her own trajectory to become the first lawyer in her family and an advocate for human rights and social justice.

00:35
Dina Bakst has long black hair and wears a black blouse, blazer, slacks, and hoop earrings. Next to her is copy reading, "When workers don't have to choose between their jobs and their families... there will be equality."

We need to build an economy that supports all workers, featuring Dina Bakst, A Better Balance

Equality is a fair and stable economy that supports the rights of millions of American workers. Dina Bakst of A Better Balance has a vision for building an economy where workers across the economic spectrum are able to care for themselves and their families without risking their jobs.

00:44
Cecile Richards has short white cropped hair and is wearing a red dress. Next to her is copy reading, "I grew up in Texas where women really didn't have much of any power."

We need more women in government, featuring Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood

Cecile Richards, feminist and former president of Planned Parenthood, was inspired by her late mother, the former governor of Texas, to push for more women in government. She believes we need to create more opportunities to see women in government at both the state and federal level.

00:50
Fatima Goss Grave has short brown curly hair and wears a red top, black blazer, and a beaded necklace. Next to her is copy that reads, "Equality really is that vision for women and girls to... be who they want to be."

Equality is women and girls living free from discrimination, featuring Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center

Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women’s Law Center finds inspiration in seeing young, Black activists exercise their power. She envisions a future where women and girls realize full equality and are free from discrimination.

00:42
Phoebe Boswell has shoulder-length dark curly hair with highlights and is wearing silver earrings, necklaces, and black and white beaded bracelets. She has on a black dress with red stars. She's standing between copy that read, "History has been written mostly by people who don't look or sound like us."

Africa needs to tell its own stories, featuring Phoebe Boswell, an #AfricaNoFilter fellow

Africans can change the narrative around Africa and drive social change. Visual artist and #AfricaNoFilter fellow Phoebe Boswell advocates for Africans to take ownership of their history, their stories and their futures.

00:36
Selly Thiam has black dreads tied up in a knot and is wearing dark thick-rimmed eyeglasses. She has a nose ring and wears a black sweater over a black blouse and colored patterned slacks. She's standing next to copy that reads, "Queer people have existed in Africa since the beginning of time, and this is something we need to understand."

Queer African history must be told and documented, featuring Selly Thiam of None on Record

Shifting the narrative around African LGBTQIA people begins with making sure their personal stories are told, shared, and preserved. According to journalist and filmmaker Selly Thiam, giving voice to LGBTQIA stories by documenting them can help in disrupting inequality.

00:40
Elizabeth Swavola has long brown hair and is wearing a black dress with a  blue and red-flowered pattern. Next to her is copy that reads, "In a business community, if something wasn't working you would fix it."

It’s time for prison reform in the U.S., featuring Elizabeth Swavola, Vera Institute of Justice

America’s criminal justice system urgently needs reform, says attorney Elizabeth Swavola. The system now hurts individuals and families and prevents them from living in a just and equitable society. We need to shift thinking to make sure reform is designed to dismantle inequality.

00:36
Lourdes Rivera has short dark curly hair and is wearing dark-rimmed glasses, earrings with an orange stone, a black blazer over a burgundy dress, and a large pendant necklace. Next to her is copy that reads, "The Government has positive obligations to help you realize your rights."

The government should help you realize your rights, featuring Lourdes Rivera of the Center for Reproductive Rights

Women having individual agency over their bodies is an essential part of gender equality. But, reproductive justice advocate Lourdes Rivera believes, the government has a role to play in fighting inequality by helping secure human rights for all citizens.

00:38
Lourdes Rivera has short dark curly hair and is wearing dark-rimmed glasses, earrings with an orange stone, a black blazer and burgundy top, and a large pendant necklace. Next to her is copy that reads, "Reproductive rights have been an interest of mine since I was a child."

Reproductive rights are human rights, featuring Lourdes Rivera of the Center for Reproductive Rights

Lourdes Rivera of the Center for Reproductive Rights believes women should have agency over their bodies. As a longtime advocate for women, she maintains that gender equality can only become a reality when society treats reproductive rights as human rights and protects them with law.

00:42
A photo collage of women in history surrounding the text, "The Future is Hers".

The #FutureIsHers – Join us, on our campaign to reimagine what equality looks like

Around the world, women have become an unstoppable force for social change. They are rising up to create solutions to the biggest issues facing society, from institutional racism to abortion rights. In the #FutureIsHers, we spotlight the women rewriting the rules, redefining power and reimagining what equality looks like.