From August 14th – 16th, Florida NOW members, feminists, organizers, candidates, and community leaders came together in St. Petersburg for the 2026 Florida NOW State Conference, Feminists Fight Fascism.
Across three days, we gathered to build connections, learn from one another, celebrate feminist organizing, and strategize about the work ahead. From political organizing and reproductive justice to censorship, bodily autonomy, racial justice, and building stronger movements across difference, the conference centered the need for an active, intersectional feminist movement and organizations.
Friday
The conference opened with a visit to the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, grounding our weekend in the history and ongoing legacy of Black communities in St. Petersburg.
That evening, attendees gathered for a Meet & Greet Reception with feminist candidates and community leaders. Esther Sanni, President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP, opened the evening as our first speaker.
Florida NOW President Julie Kent also presented our activist awards, recognizing members and organizers whose work continues to strengthen the feminist movement across Florida.
Saturday
Judi Marraccini, Conference Chair, kept everything rolling along. Saturday began with keynote speaker David Jolly, followed by two panels examining the role of feminists in political life and the future of the movement.
In “At the Table, Not on the Menu,” moderator Rene Flowers and feminist candidates Kyandra Darling, Caprice Edmond, and Jennifer Webb discussed running for office, challenging political norms, and turning community needs into policy change. Watch a preview of the panel here.
The panel “The Future of Feminism in Florida and Beyond,” moderated by Luna Plaza with Jamie Clinton, Cortés Marià Lewis, Miss Mei, and Kim Villanueva, explored how feminists can respond to rising censorship, sex stigma, white supremacy, attacks on bodily autonomy, and the erosion of democratic rights. Watch the full panel here.
Next door to the Plenary, we had exhibitors representing Florida nonprofits, selling feminist merch and the Silent Auction
Throughout the morning and afternoon, attendees also enjoyed live music from Joy Katherine Guthrie.
The afternoon brought a full slate of workshops led by Florida NOW members and movement partners. Across nine workshops, attendees explored religious freedom, book bans and bodily autonomy, mutual aid, the Equal Rights Amendment, zine-making, local organizing, sex worker rights, building connections across difference, GOTV organizing, Florida’s constitutional amendments, Black maternal health and birth justice, and civic and election participation.
Sunday Membership Meetings
Sunday continued with a Batik Suffragist Quilt Raffle before members gathered for the closing workshop, “Reflection to Action,” led by Julie Kent and Lianne McGowan of the Peace and Justice Institute.
The workshop allowed members to reflect on the weekend and consider how to carry those conversations into their own communities and organizing.
The conference concluded with our Florida NOW Membership Meetings, where members took part in organizational business including bylaws changes, resolutions, and officer reports.
We also celebrated a transition in Florida NOW leadership. After years of dedicated service to Florida NOW and the feminist movement, we said goodbye to outgoing board members Diane Lebedeff, Cheryl Orr, and Suzanne Southard. We are grateful for the time, knowledge, organizing, and commitment each of them has contributed to Florida NOW.
Members welcomed three new members to the Florida NOW Board, Sandra Weeks / Secretary, Amelia Poole/ Membership,Bea Wharton / Tech, and Linda Varonich / Partnership with President Julie Kent (Pictured above), beginning a new chapter of leadership for our organization.
Kim Villanueva, NOW President, offered closing comments, followed by closing remarks from Julie Kent, Florida NOW President.
Continuing the Work
The 2026 Florida NOW State Conference was more than a weekend of panels and workshops. It was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share organizing knowledge, celebrate the people doing feminist work across Florida, and build a shared vision for what comes next.
We left St. Petersburg with new connections, new leadership, new resolutions, and renewed energy for the work ahead. We also left with deep gratitude for the members who have carried Florida NOW’s work forward over the years and excitement for those stepping into leadership now.
As attacks on bodily autonomy, democracy, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, education, and reproductive justice continue, Florida feminists are organizing. We are building connections, supporting one another, and continuing to fight for a future rooted in collective liberation and justice.
To view the Digital Conference Book go to https://online.fliphtm15.com/Judi_atFLNOW/ejrj/
That link will be available until November 3rd.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in St. Petersburg and helped make Feminists Fight Fascism possible. The work continues!