We are living through a moment unlike any in at least four decades of American politics. Women’s rights, long a battleground, are under relentless attack. The fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022 set off a domino effect, with state after state both tightening restrictions and implementing full-on abortion bans. Basic health care is becoming harder and harder to access for women and trans people. And the question remains - how do we take back our power?
On March 8th, we joined The Meteor’s Meet the Moment summit at the Brooklyn Museum, an International Women’s Day gathering devoted to the urgencies of 2025—immigration, political power, women’s sports, and the future of our health.
Aurora James and Diane von Furstenberg
The wood lined auditorium opened up at noon with a mix of women from all ages, backgrounds, and careers—scattered into seats, moving with an energy that felt curious, organized, and somewhat proud. The stage opened with comedian, actress, writer, and filmmaker Negin Farsad, who set the tone with a mix of light-hearted jokes surrounding family, reflections on visiting Iran, and the absurdities of just living in this moment. A mix of laughter and comfort swarmed around the room.
The talks that followed were of past and future. Fashion icons Diane von Furstenberg and Aurora James shared two giant chairs on stage, trading compliments and familiar experiences before unveiling a sneak peek of Hulu’s Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge documentary.
Nigerian-American writer and entrepreneur Glory Edim was joined by author and activist Jamia Wilson for a sobering conversation on the accelerating wave of book bans targeting Black women writers. Glory Edim is the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl and author of Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves from Penguin Random House. They honored the words and stories from Black women that have carried power across time and political movements. Stories and words that our government would rather erase. “Our words matter, and we’re still here,” Edim said, embracing Wilson.
Jamia Wilson and Glory Edim
The power in the room was visceral. Disability rights activists Keely Cat-Wells and Xian Horn took the stage, speaking power to the necessity of accessibility in all spaces—from airports to public parks. Their work collectively builds on the legacy of Judy Heumann, the legendary disability advocate featured in the documentary Crip Camp. Heumann, who passed away in 2023, spent a lifetime fighting for the world to make room. Cat-Wells and Horn carry that torch into a new political era.
Keely Cat-Wells and Xian Horn
Padma Lakshmi paid a touching tribute to the unforgettable legacy of Cecile Richards, while leaders from Future Forward Women laid out what’s at stake in upcoming elections—the numbers, the consequences, the potential. The President and CEO of Future Forward Women, Dr. C. Nicole Mason, is ready. Making her case for a movement that doesn’t just resist but reclaims our power.
The throughline of the afternoon was unmistakable: This fight didn’t start with us, and it won’t end with us. But in this moment, it belongs to us.
