About ERA NOW

Mission:

To show up, stand up, and speak up for equal rights for all.

Vision:

We envision a respectful, just, and interconnected society.

Principles:

• We believe in fostering civil discourse and listening to different perspectives even if we disagree.

• We believe in positive resistance to injustices and threats to our personal freedoms.

• We believe education and learning about important issues is a key step to positive progress.

• We believe in empowering and advocating for those experiencing injustice.

• We believe building relationships and working together are best practices.

• We believe in supporting local issues and public servants that are in harmony with the mission, vision, and principles of ERA NOW.

On November 25, 2016, Thomasine Heitkamp sent out a letter and Tara Richard Johnson set up a Facebook group. Below is a copy of that original letter that got us started.

Despite it being colder than a witch's tit the eve of December 14, 2016, a concerned group of women gathered in Thomasine Heitkamp's living room to talk about the 2016 election and advancing community well-being. This first meeting evolved into monthly meetings until COVID hit.

Equal Rights Association received its Certificate of Incorporation on March 20, 2019. Thank you to Sandi Marshall for all her work in making this possible and to all the original founders, Thomasine Heitkamp, Sandi Marshall, Tara Richard Johnson, Gail Stewart Hand, Kate Kenna, Monte Zingleman Gaukler.

On April 13, 2019, Equal Rights Association applied for and received a Certificate of Registration to use the Trade Name of ERA NOW. So, you will see us referred to as "Equal Rights Association" or "ERA NOW".

Equal Rights Association applied for and received 501(c)(4) tax exempt status from the IRS on October 30, 2019. Many thanks to Kylie Michelle Oversen for her expertise and work on making this possible. We use contributions to support issues that are in harmony with our mission, vision, and principles. Thank you to all who have given of time, talents, and monetary support. Donations to Equal Rights Association are not tax deductible.

Required during this process of becoming ERA NOW, we drafted bylaws. Here is the updated version on file with the ND SOS adopted on January 7, 2020. Thank you to all who helped make this possible and for showing up, standing up, and speaking up.