Kim Villanueva: The National Organization for Women—NOW

Kim Villanueva, President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), sits down with Dr. Nancy for an in-depth perspective on the power of sisterhood, feminism, the founding of NOW, and how it serves today’s women. Dr. Nancy stresses the relationship of organizations like Women Connect4Good and NOW during the current attacks on women, and Villanueva agreed, saying, “Sisterhood is powerful. We need to keep reinforcing that.”NOW was formed 60 years ago when women met in Washington, D.C., to push for implementation and enforcement of new EEOC laws meant to protect women in the workforce. Back in their hotel room, with little action in Congress, Betty Friedan wrote NOW on a napkin, and the first members put down their five dollars and joined.Villanueva explained that the organization is based on the NAACP as a civil rights organization and continues today with multiple issues: working to recognize the Equal Rights Amendment, stop violence against women, abortion rights, economic rights, racial justice. In 1966, women sought the economic right to own their own credit card without their husband’s signature and checking accounts in their own name. Today, women want to be able to buy a house and raise a family. She sees all of the issues as being connected and feels there’s a place in NOW for anyone who wants to change the way things are done. Even for people who claim not to be a feminist, Villanueva says there are common issues they care about, like equal pay, retaining the right to vote, and access to childcare—and the organization has a place for all.Currently, Villanueva said NOW is awarding grants for get-out-the-vote actions to encourage and build young women voters. She notes the irony of celebrating the 19th Amendment when the federal government is trying to restrict women’s voting through the SAVE Act and household voting, with men, as head of household, getting to vote. Villanueva stressed NOW’s educational component to show the importance of voting if you don’t like something the government is doing. Young women—all women—need to know.NOW has chapters throughout the U.S., and, Villanueva said, they have connections to resources to help women with personal issues and many ways to get involved. Check out https://now.org/ for more.About:Kim Villanueva joined the National Organization for Women in 1987 to be part of something larger than herself. For nearly four decades, she has fought on the front lines of women’s rights, serving as state president of the Illinois chapter of NOW, chairing NOW’s National Elections Committee, and co-founding NOW’s Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus. She has helped pass historic legislation in Illinois, including ERA ratification, reproductive health protections, and marriage equality.In July 2025, she was elected president of NOW by one of the largest margins of victory in the organization’s history. Along with Vice President Rose Brunache, Kim is half of NOW’s first all-woman-of-color leadership team. She is also NOW’s first Asian American president and its first out lesbian CEO. Get full access to Dr. Nancy O’Reilly and the Women Connect4Good Foundation at drnancyoreilly.substack.com/subscribe