Where in the World is Women Employed?
The weather this May have been unpredictable, but our passion for removing barriers to equity for working women is not. Whether we attended a film screening on the future of fundraising and philanthropy, marched for our rights, or witnessed Mayor Brandon Johnson’s announcement of a $7 million investment in the child care workforce, our advocacy has not let up. We even traveled not once, but twice to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., for back-to-back summits on affordable housing, education, and health systems, and how to shape and influence state and federal skills policy. And we finished the month strongly with our signature fundraising event, The Working Lunch.
Read on to learn more about our very eventful month. And be sure to read all the way to the end and follow us on our social media channels for up-to-date information on where we are going next and how you can join us.
Rethinking Philanthropy: Uncharitable Film Screening & Panel
On Thursday, April 24th, Rethinking Philanthropy held a film screening of Uncharitable at Steppenwolf Theatre. The event was sponsored by Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management and Evolve Giving Group, and attended by WE’s Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research, Sharmili Majmudar, and Director of Development, Anne Puotinen. Following the screening was a thought-provoking panel discussion on the future of fundraising and philanthropy moderated by Evolve’s Jamie Klobuchar and featuring Michelle Morales, President of the Woods Fund; Dorri McWhorter, former President and CEO at the YMCA Chicago; and Edgar Ramirez, President and CEO of Chicago Commons.
May Day Rally
Working people united across the country on Thursday, May 1st — May Day — to march for our rights, for our dignity, and to demand an end to the assault on our civil liberties. WE staff, advocates, and volunteers powered through the rain and marched with laborers, working women, parents, community members, students, and everyday people who are coming together and raising their voices. The three-mile route began at Union Park and ended at Grant Park.
Special thank you to our Marketing and Advocacy Council members for bringing their creativity, ideas, and activism to help make our rally signs!
2025 Housing IS…. Summit
In Washington, D.C., the Housing Is Summit took place on May 1st and 2nd. Housing Is helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes by establishing, broadening, and deepening efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results for low-income individuals and families.
WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver, facilitated a session on The Power of Three: A Cross-Collaborative Approach to Removing Educational Barriers to Employment. Joined by Gionna N. Branch, Director of LevelUP (FSS) Program, Chicago Housing Authority and Stephenie McLean, LevelUP (FSS) Coach, Chicago Housing Authority, the interactive session highlighted the collaboration between the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Women Employed (WE), and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to help CHA residents secure family-supporting jobs.
National Skills Coalition Skills Summit 2025
The National Skills Coalition held their Skills Summit in Washington, D.C. May 5th through May 7th.
Each year at the Summit:
- Local organizers and stakeholders engage with federal policymakers.
- Changemakers and skills advocates get practical guidance and gather ideas to develop state policy plans.
- Dynamic panels influence and shape the field’s conversations.
WE’s Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, and Programs and Research Coordinator, Efrata Sasahulih, joined advocates, training providers, policymakers, and business leaders for a three-day gathering to shape and influence state and federal skills policy.
YAY: STAR Ordinance Passes Out of Committee!
On Tuesday, May 13th, all “ayes” rang out from the Chicago Workforce Committee in favor of the STAR (Skilled Through Alternative Routs) Ordinance! Sponsored by Alderman Villegas, this ordinance would allow relevant work experience to be considered as equivalent to a college degree to increase eligibility opportunities to city employment for workers skilled through alternative routes (STARs). STARs are aged 25 or older, active in the labor force, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have developed their skills through alternative routes such as community college, apprenticeships, bootcamps, and most commonly, through on-the-job experience.
With the leadership of our partner Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), supporting partners like New Moms and Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), and the many worker voices that were represented at this meeting, WE did it!
Press conference: City investment in child care
Also on Tuesday, May 13th, WE’s Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research, Sharmili Majmudar was present at the North Lawndale YMCA for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s announcement of a $7 million investment in the child care workforce.
From SEIU HCII’s statement: “…a major victory for child care in Chicago: after months of organizing, 3,000 Chicago child care workers have won raises! This victory didn’t happen overnight. It happened because child care workers came together as a union and built a movement that has brought together workers, parents and community supporters. Working together, we’ve been raising the alarm about the city’s growing child care crisis and the need to invest more in early childhood education. We organized city-wide, holding town halls, showing up at the Mayor’s budget listening sessions, testifying before the City Council and delivering a petition with over 1,800 signatures to City Hall.”
WE even got a shout out from the podium as a member of the coalition, thanks to Christina Warden, Vice President of Policy and Programs’ work representing us during the work that led up to that day.
The Working Lunch
WE held our signature fundraising event, The Working Lunch, on Thursday, May 22nd. Nearly 600 activists and community leaders in philanthropy, business, media, and politics joined WE all in support of Centering Women’s Voices. This year, we heard testimonials from women who spoke to the importance of our work; honored and celebrated leaders who have dedicated their lives to Centering Women’s Voices by actively listening, understanding their experiences, and bringing their voices to the tables where fundamental and systemic change happens at all levels; and were moved by our keynote speaker, Andrea Zopp.
We would like to thank all of you for your support, whether you attended in-person or virtually, donated, purchased a raffle ticket, or sponsored our annual gathering, you are what made this event a success. YOU are what fuels our work!
Learn more about The Working Lunch, and check out event photos, at https://womenemployed.org/twl
Still to come!
- Saturday, June 14th: Rally with Women Employed in downtown Chicago at the No Kings Day Rally.
- Tuesday, June 24th: Join Women Employed and the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition for a screening of the film Lilly, and a conversation.
- Wednesday, June 25th: Join Women Employed’s Advocacy Council for a panel discussion with the 2025 class of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program!
