Where in the World is Women Employed?

7 min readAug 26, 2025

The seasons may be changing, but one thing that remains steadfast is WE. Whether it’s in the form of traveling to Detroit, Michigan to learn about basic student needs, strengthening sisterhood among women entrepreneurs, protecting women from the federal administration’s actions, or shining a light on policies and power structures, this past month has been filled with action, advocacy, and achievements. We even found time to celebrate the retirement of long-time friend to WE, Rev. C.J. Hawking, for 18 years of unwavering leadership, justice, compassion, and faith in action.

Each month reminds us of why our work is important, and this past August was no different. So, here’s a look back at the moments that helped us to shape a more equitable world for working women. And be sure to read all the way to end to learn what seeds we are planting for their future and how you can get involved.

College Students Basic Needs Network: Great Lakes (CSBN-GL) Convening

Christina Green, WE’s ASPIRE Program Manager, attended the College Students Basic Needs: Great Lakes Convening on August 5th and 6th at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. The Illinois team gathered to discuss student basic needs in the region and hear updates on the work that states in the Great Lakes are accomplishing to provide more resources and supports to students. Christina was joined by members from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and Partnership for College Completion to work on a proposal for an action grant that will help kickstart a plan to learn more about student basic needs in Illinois. The following is a group photo of all who attended the convening.

SHESolidarity

Our Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub (WE Hub) and Mujeres Latinas en Acción hosted a bilingual summer gathering for women entrepreneurs from across Chicagoland who are interested in community building, shared learning, and exchanging resources on Friday, August 8th.

We call our co-hosted events SHESolidarity, where we advance our shared goal of strengthening sisterhood among women entrepreneurs — especially Black and Latina/x women — through stories, strategy, and support.

We had the opportunity to go shopping and support the various businesses launched by the entrepreneurs who have completed the Mujeres program, “Empresarias del Futuro.”

Special thanks to CJ Harris, who facilitated the featured workshop on how AI tools — especially from Google — can help small businesses streamline marketing and operations, and grow with confidence.

Thanks to all of the partner organizations who shared their resources, tools, and information:

To learn more about WE Hub, please get in touch with WE Hub Manager, Raven Hargest, at rhargest@womenemployed.org.

Standing Up for Illinois: Protecting Women With Lieutenant Governor Stratton

On Friday, August 15th, WE’s President and CEO Cherita Ellens joined a panel of experts at a roundtable event, hosted by Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, on the impacts of the Trump Administration on women in Illinois. “Standing Up for Illinois: Protecting Women” featured healthcare practitioners, researchers, and economic and workplace experts focusing on the effects that the federal administration’s actions―including the “Big Bad Bill,” executive orders, federal staffing reductions, and more―will have on women’s access to healthcare, their opportunities in the workplace, and on their pocketbooks. Panelists also talked about the better path that Illinois is forging to protect women, families, and communities.

It was a gripping and eye-opening conversation, and made it even more clear how important it is to stand up and take action.

AND, as a bonus, we even ran into Kenia Murrieta Alberto, a 2023 alum of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program! She just finished up an internship on Capitol Hill with IL Rep. Delia Ramirez, and she also recently graduated! Congratulations, Kenia!

You can watch the full recording of the event here: https://multimedia.illinois.gov/ioci_vid/Archive/2025/WebpageOnly/LGOV/081525-ProtectingWomenRoundtable/081525-ProtectingWomenRoundtable.mp4

Working Women Wednesdays

This month, Women Employed had the opportunity to host two Working Women Wednesday chats, organized by The 75 Million Project, with female legislators who are making bold change for women and families in their states. This Instagram Live series shines a light on the policies and power structures that shape working women’s lives and lifts up the leaders who are advancing bold, systemic change. Because when women, particularly women of color, are underpaid, underrepresented, and underserved, it is not by accident. It is by design. That is why we need solutions that are just as intentional.

On August 13th, Cherita Ellens, WE’s President and CEO, hosted a conversation with Michigan State Senator Stephanie Chang, on the important progressive policy work that Senator Chang is undertaking to support working women in Michigan. You can view the full conversation here.

On August 20th, Sharmili Majmudar, WE’s Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research led a conversation with Minnesota State Senator Erin Maye Quade about the importance of centering families and working Women of Color in policy spaces. You can view the full conversation here.

You can add YOUR voice to The 75 Million. Sign on to join the campaign today.

Celebrating the Leadership of Rev. C.J. Hawking, Executive Director, Arise Chicago

WE’s Chief of Staff, Mary Kay Devine, represented Women Employed at the retirement celebration for Rev. C.J. Hawking to honor her 18 years of unwavering leadership at Arise Chicago. The room was filled with faith and community leaders; elected officials; representatives from unions, government agencies, and other nonprofit partner organizations; members of the Arise Chicago staff (and alums); and of course, workers who benefited from C.J.’s lifelong advocacy for dignity and worker rights.

Women Employed has worked shoulder to shoulder with Arise throughout C.J.’s 18-year tenure as Executive Director. Together, we’ve won improved rights for domestic workers, paid sick time and expanded paid time off in the City of Chicago, and an end to the subminimum wage for tipped workers in Chicago. We have educated workers about their equal pay rights, and collaborated on many other campaigns that have improved the lives of working families.

At her celebration, C.J. shared a few key points to provide encouragement for us to remain steadfast in the fight for worker justice.

Consider the present time as having a generational arc. The development of Project 2025 tactics goes back to the 1980s, so we won’t be able to unravel the impact in just three years.
Remember, our movement is rooted in agape love — a love that transcends self-interest, that is centered on seeing the humanity in one another.
Arise Chicago stands ready for the moment we’re in and incoming Executive Director, Laura Garza, is ready to lead!

Thank you, C.J., for 18 years of justice, compassion, and faith in action! While you might be retiring, we know you will continue to contribute to this world in incredibly meaningful ways!

Still to Come!

Labor Day Rally

Monday, September 1, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
Haymarket Memorial, 151 N. Desplaines St., Chicago, IL
Questions? Email WE’s Director of Advocacy and Policy, Sarah Labadie at slabadie@womenemployed.org
Register here

ASPIRE Conference

Friday, September 12, 2025, 1:00–2:00 pm CST
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ffi3LFrCTJCa0f2dKiDcrQ

Advocacy and Marketing Council Fall Kick-Off Social

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, 5:30–7 p.m.
WE’s office, 67. East Madison, Chicago, IL
Questions? Contact WE’s Communications Coordinator, Racquel C. Fullman at rfullman@womenemployed.org
RSVP by Monday, September 15th: https://bit.ly/45QRw5j

Where in the World is Women Employed?

Written by Women Employed

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