On an unusually warm January afternoon, 28-year-old Icy Coomber attended a poster-making session for the fourth annual Women’s March in Washington, D.C.

Unlike the friend she accompanied to the event, Coomber did not participate in any of the previous anti-Trump demonstrations. Three years ago, the first march drew hundreds of thousands of people to the nation’s capital and hosted sister marches in cities around the world.

But the Women’s March has struggled since then, facing controversy for some of its leadership and criticism for being a space for primarily white, cisgender women. Last year, three founding members stepped down following allegations of anti-Semitism, and a new, bigger board took their place.

Now, the Women’s March is back on Jan. 18 with a restructured lineup and mission — and some people who did not feel enticed to join in the past are giving it a second chance.

“When we’re talking about women’s rights, I feel like black women or women of color are usually left out of that conversation,” Coomber said. “But I think not going, not representing people like me, doesn’t help anything. I’m trying to have a change of heart.”

The community art build that Coomber attended is part of the organization’s goal to foster deeper partnerships with existing movements. After polling its base of supporters, the Women’s March decided to focus on three main topics for this year’s events: climate, reproductive justice and immigrants’ rights.

After Controversial Leaders Step Down, The Women’s March Tries Again In 2020

Photo: Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR