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Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner
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Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is an award-winning author, frequent public speaker, the co-founder and the Executive Director/CEO of MomsRising.org, and board President of the MomsRising Education Fund. Started in May 2006, MomsRising has more than 1 million members (and growing), more than 550 contributing bloggers, and more than one hundred aligned national organizations, working together to increase family economic security; to help ensure families, children, and businesses can thrive; and to end discrimination against women and mothers.

MomsRising is bringing millions of people, who all share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America, together as a deeply engaged and educated multicultural, non-partisan force. This grassroots online and on-the-ground effort is mobilizing mothers, and all who have mothers, across America. MomsRising and its members are educating the public, organizing, and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to family economic security in our nation.

MomsRising has an estimated combined social media and blogging reach of more than 3 million readers. In both 2010 and 2011, Forbes.com, named MomsRising's web site one of the “Top 100 Websites For Women.” Bloggers on the site have included concerned moms, dads and others from all walks of life, including heads of national organizations, Members of Congress, and leadership from U.S. agencies.

With MomsRising co-founder and board President, Joan Blades, Rowe-Finkbeiner co-authored The Motherhood Manifesto. Released on Mother’s Day 2006, The Motherhood Manifesto makes the case that it’s time for a broad change in America’s policies for mothers and families. In both public and private sectors, radical shifts are needed to make parenting and the workplace compatible. The Motherhood Manifesto identifies and challenges the obstacles facing working mothers today, and proposes concrete solutions. In 2007, The Motherhood Manifesto won the Ernesta Drinker Ballard Book Prize. The book is also the basis for a documentary film of the same name, which aired on PBS stations across the country.

Rowe-Finkbeiner is also the author of The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy - Women, Politics, and the Future, which was awarded first place by the Independent Book Publishers Association in the category of Women’s Issues in 2005. This book is a part of the syllabus for college courses across the nation.

Rowe-Finkbeiner's writing also appears in several other books, including the anthologies: The Essential Hip Mama: Writing from the Cutting Edge of Motherhood; The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood and Social Change; Courageous Parents, Confident Kids; and Current Controversies: The Wage Gap, as well as other academic anthologies. Rowe-Finkbeiner also writes frequently about public policy, motherhood, health, and new feminism for blogs and magazines, and many of her magazine articles are currently being used in women's studies classes across the nation. She is the recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism award for magazine writing.

Rowe-Finkbeiner has been interviewed by major national as well as local media, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dennis Miller Show, CNN, NOW With David Brancaccio, To the Contrary, the Laura Flanders Show, New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, KPFA Radio and KUOW Radio. She is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.

Rowe-Finkbeiner is a regular public speaker and has spoken on family economic security, women's issues, online grassroots organizing, and other issues in numerous forums, including the Campaign for America’s Future Take Back the American Dream Conference, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, NetRoots Nation, Democracy Fest, the League of Women Voters National Conference, the International Leadership Association Conference, Town Hall, numerous universities, union events, rallies, and more. She has also testified before Congress, state legislatures and city councils about legislation affecting family economic security.

Rowe-Finkbeiner has been deeply involved in cutting edge politics and policy analysis for more than two decades. She’s worked as a consultant in the field of political strategy and policy analysis for clients such as the League of Conservation Voters EF, Audubon Society, NW Ecosystem Alliance, McDanel Land Foundation, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education, Atmosphere Alliance, and more. Previous to working as a consultant, during her tenure as Political and Field Director of the Washington Conservation Voters, she created a highly successful model statewide grassroots program to elect, endorse, and support environmentally responsible candidates.

Rowe-Finkbeiner has received numerous awards and accolades for her work. Among them are: fellowships in the Rockwood Institute Leadership program and the Hunt Alternatives Fund's national program, Prime Movers: Cultivating Social Capital; the Washington State League of Women Voters Good in Government Award; ParentMap Magazine’s “Super Hero” for families award. She was also one of the Women’s Media Centers’ Progressive Women’s Voices.

She currently serves on the board of the Economic Opportunity Institute, and as a Parenting Magazine Mom Congress Advisory Board Member. She served as board President for the Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education (WEAVE) and on the Executive Committee of the Washington Conservation Voters board for many years. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

Blog Entries by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

Immigration Policy Reform Can't Ignore Women

(14) Comments | Posted April 10, 2013 | 1:47 PM

Women comprise only 18 percent of Congress. Women comprise 0 percent of the "Gang of Eight" Senators who are drafting immigration reform policy right now. Yet, over 50 percent of all immigrants are women; and if you add children, then that group accounts for two-thirds of all immigrants...

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Lean In - Think this doesn't matter to you? Think again.

(7) Comments | Posted March 13, 2013 | 10:49 AM

Childcare costs more than college. Mothers with equal resumes are hired 80 percent less of the time than non-mothers and are offered lower starting salaries. It costs over $200,000 to raise one child from birth to age 18 (not including college).

All of...

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Standing Up to the Gun Lobby

(42) Comments | Posted February 15, 2013 | 1:37 PM

As we celebrated our loved ones with chocolates, flowers and sometimes even pink cards with massive glitter this week, I can't help but also think of the families who are missing people due to gun violence -- and about the importance of making our communities safer for everyone.

To...

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Moms to Military: Thanks for Fighting for Children's Health

(12) Comments | Posted November 12, 2012 | 1:41 PM

Today, we remember the many veterans who have sacrificed for our country and those who are currently serving far away from family, friends and the comforts of home. Such service can never be repaid. We also extend our thanks to the senior retired military leaders who have joined moms in...

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The Elephant in the Living Room

(27) Comments | Posted October 29, 2012 | 5:15 PM

There's an elephant in the living room, and she's getting impatient. While many politicians stand ready to support the stabilizing impact and economic importance of gender equality overseas; too often those same politicians turn their backs on gender equality policies here at home. In the last debate, for example, which...

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#DebateFail for #Women and #Moms

(9) Comments | Posted October 4, 2012 | 3:52 PM

Sometimes a tweet can say it all: "Missing from the debate: #women #fairpay #childcare #paidsickdays #kids #moms #debatemoderator - #risers #momsvote #Kids2012"

Let's face it: Last night both Governor Romney and President Obama missed a chance to win over women and mom voters.

The debate last night was...

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School Rules = Lower Obesity

(3) Comments | Posted August 31, 2012 | 4:20 PM

What makes it more likely that an overweight or obese 5th grader won't remain obese by the 8th grade? Location, location, location!

A recent study in the Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine by Bridging the Gap shows that an overweight or obese 5th grader who lives in...

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How Health Reform is Already Helping Tracy, Julie, Nan, Cindy & Other Moms Like Me

(1) Comments | Posted June 28, 2012 | 7:06 PM

I sat on the edge of my seat, with butterflies in my stomach, waiting for the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act.

Why?

I, like millions of other moms, have family members with pre-existing conditions who've already been helped by the consumer protections in the Affordable...

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This Mother's Day Moms Are Off the Sidelines and Playing to Win

(4) Comments | Posted May 13, 2012 | 10:17 AM

It's Mother's Day, Spring grass is growing, and soccer balls are flying. I love soccer. I love watching both my son and my daughter run like the wind as they dribble the ball down the field. I love standing on the sidelines rooting for their teams.

This doesn't, however, make...

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It's Not a "Mommy War," It's a War on Moms

(444) Comments | Posted April 13, 2012 | 10:26 PM

There is no question that Hilary Rosen should have chosen her words more carefully when she said that Ann Romney, mother of five sons, "never worked a day in her life." Raising children is work. It's immensely rewarding work, but it's work just the same. Ann Romney is...

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Sex, Contraception, Motherhood & the Current Madness

(133) Comments | Posted February 21, 2012 | 1:39 AM

Sex, freedom, religion, women's rights, motherhood, birth control, and politics.

It's a volatile mix.

And right now there's a growing drumbeat of attacks on universal access to full coverage for crucial contraceptive health care that cannot be ignored:

  • The Panel: You've likely seen the picture that shocked our nation...
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A Day Of Thanks & Of Aspiration: No Child Should Be Hungry On Thanksgiving, Or On Any Day

(3) Comments | Posted November 24, 2011 | 2:40 AM

I asked my daughter, "What's your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?" 



She answered in one exuberant word, "Eating!" 



Eating. While many celebrate by eating together on Thanksgiving, far too many children in our nation (nearly 1 in 4) live in families who are struggling to put food...

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Women's Equality Day: What the Heck Do I Tell My Daughter?

(270) Comments | Posted August 26, 2011 | 10:25 AM

Today is Women's Equality Day. At the center of my mind today is:

What the heck do I tell my daughter?

How do I tell my daughter about the fact that despite many gains made for women's (and mothers') equality, women still don't earn equal pay...

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Only One Woman on the "Super Committee"? Ouch!

(319) Comments | Posted August 12, 2011 | 2:02 PM



Only one woman on the "Super Committee"?

Ouch!

Here's the math: Women are 50.7% of our population, only 17% of Congress, and an appallingly low 8% of the Super Committee. 



This lack of representation on the debt ceiling Super Committee which is charged with...

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Mother's Day, Daughters & The Sisterhood of Spies

(4) Comments | Posted May 8, 2011 | 1:21 AM

In a picture newly entered into my cell phone, my daughter--who's taken to wearing t-shirts proudly proclaiming herself to be a ninja--stands brightly smiling beside a green sign with "History's Surprising Sisterhood of Spies" written across the top in bold type. On the last stop of a multi-day tour of...

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A Lifetime Limit Would Limit Violet's Life on Earth

(1) Comments | Posted March 23, 2011 | 1:58 PM

Let's face it. At some point, we all get sick. And, sometimes lightning strikes and we, or our families, get sicker than we ever even wanted to imagine. Most people plan for healthy lives, try to eat healthy, and regularly pay insurance premiums. So it's not until lightning strikes that...

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How Can Anyone in Their Right Mind Repeal Health Care Reform?

(21) Comments | Posted January 19, 2011 | 2:39 PM

Save lives, help small businesses, cut the deficit, and grow jobs.

How could anyone be against that?

Yet efforts are afoot in Congress to repeal the new health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, before it's even fully implemented as is planned over the next several years. In fact,...

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Living Up to Our Kids' Expectations

(2) Comments | Posted January 14, 2011 | 4:17 PM

Wednesday night was the memorial for nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green and the other victims of the Jan. 8 tragedy, which killed six and left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life. I'm still stunned with sadness by the horrible events of last Saturday.

As the mother of two children, one...

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Mama Grizzlies for Health Reform (Heck yah, we're all Mama Grizzlies for our kids)

(25) Comments | Posted September 22, 2010 | 4:11 PM

There's been a lot of media coverage lately about the rise of high profile political moms in the Tea Party movement, and, of course of Sarah Palin herself who's said, "You don't want to mess with moms who are rising up... you don't want to mess with Mama...

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Don't Pop the Bubbly Yet for Women's Equality Day

(83) Comments | Posted August 26, 2010 | 3:39 PM

It's Women's Equality Day, the date marked to celebrate women getting the right to vote in our nation 90 years ago today. It's both hard (and easy in some sad ways) to believe that it was just 90 years ago that women got the right to vote in...

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