Where in the World is Women Employed?
When one thinks of the word “advocate,” it just makes sense that Women Employed (WE) would come to mind. For over five decades, we have been at the forefront of nearly every major advancement for working women in the U.S. Advocating for fair and equitable workplaces and improving the economic status of women so they can thrive. Don’t believe us? Take a look at where we’ve been.
We closed out August with our partners at Raise the Floor Alliance for an evening of solidarity and resistance. We spent Labor Day marching in the #WorkersOverBillionares Labor Day Rally. We delivered a moving presentation on Navigating the Nursing Career Pathway. And we traveled to New York City to attend the United Nations General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Media Zone to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Latina Equal Pay Day campaign. We even found time in the middle of our advocacy work to celebrate late summer (and one another) at a WE family brunch hosted by our Senior Research Analyst, Corinne Kodama―and later in the month, watched her be honored for her tireless research that uplifts the voices and needs of women who are too often overlooked.
But while we are out in the field working hard to grow the economic power of women, it is you, our supporters, who make all this possible. And we thank you for coming along on this ride with us, month after month, as we share what your support fuels. We hope you enjoy this month’s edition of Where in the World is Women Employed, and invite you to read all the way to end to learn where you can join us next.
Raise the Floor Alliance Labor Day Soiree
On Wednesday, August 27th, WE’s Sarah Labadie, Director of Advocacy and Policy, joined our friends at the Raise the Floor Alliance Labor Day Soiree at Herban Produce, a Black-owned urban farm on Chicago’s west side. There, Sarah and participants ate, drank, and heard from organizers and comedians for an evening of joy, solidarity, and resistance.
Chicago #WorkersOverBillionaires Labor Day Rally & March
WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens; Director of Advocacy and Policy, Sarah Labadie; Senior Research Analyst, Corinne Kodama; and Programs and Research Coordinator, Efrata Sasahulih, marched in the #WorkersOverBillionares Labor Day Rally on Monday, September 1st. They joined activists, labor unions, workers centers, and others to push back against both companies and the Trump administration’s alarming policies that threaten even the most basic rights and benefits for workers, as well as efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion. The march went from the Haymarket Memorial, which commemorates a key piece of labor history, then moved on to places that served as emblems of our fight.
WE Staff and Family Brunch
Special thanks to WE’s Senior Research Analyst, Corinne Kodama, for hosting the WE team at her home for a potluck-style family brunch on Saturday, September 6th! Staff enjoyed delicious food, beverages, and each other’s company for a much-needed day of bonding and laughter.
Chicago Healthcare Workforce Collaborative Quarterly Meeting
The Chicago Healthcare Workforce Collaborative (CHWC) held their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, September 9th. There, attendees―including WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver―got to meet our Advocate Trinity partner, Bridget Borum, Director of Career Mobility, in person for the first time, and connected with our long-time Healthcare Career Pathway’s partner, April Harrington.
Illinois Organization of Nursing Leaders (IONL) Annual Conference
WE’s Senior Research Analyst, Corinne Kodama, presented on “The Road to RN: Navigating the Nursing Career Pathway Maze” at the Illinois Organization of Nursing Leaders (IONL) annual conference on Thursday, September 11th, in Naperville, IL. This conference was for seasoned nursing executives, aspiring leaders, and nurses starting out, and provided a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and gain actionable insights to propel their organizations forward.
2025 Health & Medicine Awards Gala
Please join us in congratulating Corinne Kodama, WE’s Senior Research Analyst, who was selected as the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Dr. Steve Whitman Research Award recipient! From student debt to survivor equity, Corinne’s research uplifts the voices and needs of women too often overlooked. Corinne was honored on Wednesday, September 17th at the 2025 Health and Medicine Awards Gala, along with other Illinois leaders who embodied Health & Medicine’s mission to advance health equity and social justice across our state. WE’s Executive Vice President, Sharmili Majmudar, and Programs and Research Coordinator, Efrata Sasahulih, were also in attendance to watch Corinne accept her award.
Forum For Excellence Conference
WE’s ASPIRE team (ASPIRE Senior Program Manager, Christina Green; ASPIRE Program Specialist, Lauren Wheeler; and Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden) attended the annual Forum for Excellence Conference on September 17th and 18th. Taking place in East Peoria, Illinois, the Forum for Excellence highlights the continuing partnerships of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
United Nations General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Media Zone
On Wednesday, September 24th, 2025, WE’s Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research, Sharmili Majmudar, attended the United Nations General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Media Zone in New York City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Latina Equal Pay Day campaign — and to recognize the championship of the movement to get to pay equity for Latina/x women and all women.
The event was hosted by Justice for Migrant Women, and the incomparable Monica Ramirez. It was a moving and inspirational event and a great reminder that movements are made up of individuals and individual effort.
Women Employed is proud to be a partner with the Latina Equal Pay campaign and we will continue the fight until all women are paid equitably, and the value of their labor and their worth is recognized. Si se puede!
Still to Come!
Navigating the Maze Webinar
- Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
- Time: 3:00 p.m.
- To register: https://bit.ly/4nQIegZ
