Check Out Ashlie Brady & Jenn Cohen The Feminist Uprising’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlie Brady & Jenn Cohen The Feminist Uprising

Hi Ashlie Brady & Jenn Cohen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! My name is Ashlie! I was born and raised in the Long Beach area by a strong single latina mom and grandma, who I think unknowingly gave me a deep-rooted love of politics and a fire for social activism. As a young woman in the queer community, I quickly became aware of the unique struggles and biases we face, and the extreme marginalization others face on a daily basis. This awareness turned into a passion for not just finding a voice for myself but advocating for other women to find theirs. It’s my childhood and my determination from owning a small catering business to starting a queer intersectional feminist nonprofit with one of my best friends that has taught me resilience, patience, and understanding people’s needs. All through out my life I have always stood up when I felt called to. In 2022 I joined Women’s marches and rallies through Planned Parenthood. It was at those rallies I met my working partner as well as my mentor Zoe Nicholson, who was one of the fasters for The Equal Rights Amendment in the 80s. Today, I focus on initiatives that support marginalized voices, champion reproductive rights, and push for real gender equality with my organization partner Jenn. Creating The Feminist Uprising has been incredibly fulfilling! We get the opportunity to create safe spaces where people feel they truly belong.

Hey! My name is Jenn! My journey into activism has been shaped by resilience and a personal commitment to inclusivity. Over two decades, I’ve battled multiple chronic, invisible illnesses, an experience that drives my advocacy for disability awareness. I was born and raised in Southern California where I currently live with my family. Growing up, I was always fiercely protective of the people around me with a very strong sense of justice. In 2021, I found myself drawn to the front lines of the fight for abortion rights, pouring my energy into marches and protests. I started small, managing photography and social media for a local women’s circle and soon stepping into a leadership role as co-director. My passion and commitment grew, and before long, I had the privilege of stepping into a new role as a California Democratic Assembly District Delegate, where I have had the opportunity to build relationships with legislators and work with other delegates to uplift communities in need of change. Then, in 2023, alongside my dear friend Ashlie, I co-founded The Feminist Uprising—a queer, intersectional feminist movement born out of our shared vision for a world with true gender equality, where every voice is heard and every person valued. Together, we’ve built an organization that not only champions reproductive rights and gender equality but also takes on the critical work of disability awareness and amplifying marginalized voices. Today, I’m grateful for every twist in the road that led me here—committed, empowered, and ready to help shape a future where inclusion and equity aren’t just ideals, but realities.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Can most women say life’s been smooth sailing? Hardly. Challenges keep coming our way, and one of the biggest revelations in recent years has been just how much women are still held back, despite the so-called progress we’ve made. Connecting with other women and listening to stories of shared trauma, struggle, and oppression is eye-opening and, at times, heartbreaking. The work we do really forces us to confront these uncomfortable truths, not only in society but also within our own lives. This recent election underscores just how much work is left to do. Once again, we saw a collective push by white women aligning with the patriarchy—a choice that ultimately undermines us all. As a community, we must recognize the privilege that enables such choices and work to bridge divides. Our focus now is on education, creating meaningful dialogue, and standing alongside marginalized voices to build real solidarity. Transforming our collective frustration into purposeful action isn’t always easy, but it’s what drives us forward.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We absolutely LOVE what we do! We get to work together as best friends, advocating and fighting for women’s rights and gender equality for all! In July 2023, we co-founded a queer, intersectional feminist nonprofit called The Feminist Uprising—or The F.U., if you’re feeling cheeky.

The F.U. is all about tackling systemic inequalities that disproportionately impact underserved communities, especially women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and low-income families. We’ve launched initiatives that raise awareness about health issues and explore the intersectional challenges so many of us face. Our work even brought us to D.C., where we spent two weeks outside the White House, urging President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment.

Locally, we bring it back to the community by hosting an annual fair for women and girls in Long Beach. It’s a completely free event, packed with community resources, tons of swag, and lots of fun! It’s been an incredible honor to have it formally recognized by Senator Lena Gonzalez and the City of Long Beach.

What matters most to you?
At our core, we’ve always been driven by a love for civil rights and humanity. Advocating for women and young girls is absolutely essential to us. The shocking reality is that we still don’t have constitutional equality for women in this country! The Equal Rights Amendment was introduced over a century ago, yet true gender equality is still out of reach. Without it, making real progress on protecting reproductive rights, ensuring justice for women who’ve been wrongly incarcerated, or providing survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault the support they deserve remains an uphill battle. And let’s not even get started on healthcare. Imagine how transformative it would be to have medical research and practices that genuinely consider women’s needs. At the end of the day, we’re passionate about building a world where every woman can finally take a deep breath, knowing she has the protections and resources she needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thefeministuprising.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefeministuprising
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFeministUprising
• Other: https://linktr.ee/TheFeministUprising