Where in the World is Women Employed?
At Women Employed, we know a few things about not being all work and no play. We also know you can make an impact AND have a good time doing it. For instance, this month, we attended a ‘90s-themed prom, an outdoor festival, and we were even invited to the White House for the 60th Anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We also facilitated trainings, attended conferences, and advocated for the needs of Chicagoans at the 2025 City Budget Roundtables. We know it can be nearly impossible to keep up with all our meetings, events, and work in the community, so we have compiled a recap for you, our dedicated supporters, so you’re not left wondering where we’ve been and what we’ve been up to.
Enjoy this month’s edition of Where in the World is Women Employed and make sure to read all the way to the end to learn where we’ll be next!
Career Foundations Training
On Thursday, June 27th, WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver, and Policy, Programs, and Research Coordinator, Efrata Sasahulih, held a Career Foundations training with ScaleLIT’s Career Navigators. Part of their training covered tips for delivering Career Foundations in a workshop format and setting up easier ways for participants to register.
The Network’s Affording Survival Launch Event
WE was invited to learn about The Network’s new pilot project, Affording Survival, on Thursday, July 18th. This guaranteed income pilot will provide at least 60 survivors of domestic violence a guaranteed income for 12 months. Senior Career Pathways Manager Tara Driver represented WE at the event, which featured leaders from The Network and key partners who discussed their progress and what this project hopes to accomplish. WE are excited to be a partner in this program!
College Changes Everything
WE’s ASPIRE Senior Program Manager, Christina Green; Director of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden; Intern, Anagha Arla; and ASPIRE Program Specialist, Lauren Wheeler, attended the College Changes Everything Conference on Thursday, July 18th. The conference convened change makers and higher education professionals from across the state to share knowledge and examine the impact of community health on educational equity. Christina Warden cohosted a round table conversation at the conference to discuss how to support MSIs (Minority Serving Institutions), followed by a robust discussion that participants found so engaging and valuable that it ran over the allotted time.
Earlybirds Club Dance Party
WE was selected as the nonprofit beneficiary for the Earlybirds Club Dance Party on Friday, July 19th. Chief of Staff, Mary Kay Devine attended the ’90s Prom-themed event on behalf of Women Employed. The Earlybirds Club describes themselves as a “dance party for ladies who got sh*t to do in the morning,” and donated 10 percent of the proceeds from their sold-out event to Women Employed. Click here read the Chicago Tribune’s Earlybirds Club Dance Party recap. And to learn more about the Earlybirds Club and register for any of their upcoming events , visit https://www.early-birds.club
2025 City Budget Roundtables
Women Employed’s Director of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, attended the 2025 City Budget Roundtables on Saturday, July 27th. Along with representatives from SEIU and the Childcare Coalition at Kennedy King College, attendees asked for affordable child care, increased pay for child care workers, support for the construction equity ordinance, domestic worker portable benefits progress, and additional investments in Chicago Office of Labor Standards and workforce development barrier protection funds.
SEIU HCIIMK CareFest
On Sunday, July 28th, Senior Research Analyst, Corinne Kodama represented WE at SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri & Kansas’s CareFest. The one-day event included musical performances, wellness and youth activities, food, and fun for guests of all ages. Corinne shared know-your-rights information about equal pay and the new paid leave laws in Chicago and Illinois, and promoted our healthcare career pathways research study.
60th Anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens, was invited to the White House on Monday, July 29th for the 60th Anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which created the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This event featured remarks from Senior Administration Officials, workers, experts, and advocates about the history and impact of Title VII. There, guests heard from Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council; Charlotte A. Burrows, Chair of the EEOC; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the first woman chair of the EEOC; and many others!
Paving the Path to Adequate and Equitable Higher Education Funding
On Tuesday, July 30th, the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education held a press conference and roundtable introducing SB 3965, the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act. This legislation represents the next step toward an Illinois public university funding approach that focuses on ensuring institutions have the funding they need to serve the students they have, building adequacy, equity, stability, accountability, and transparency into the process. WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens moderated the panel discussion featuring Representative Carol Ammons and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford on the urgency of a student need-centered funding approach for the state’s public universities. Read our statement for more about the day’s events and the importance of this bill.
Still to come!
Chicago White Sox Women’s Equality Night, August 26th: Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Women Employed. To purchase tickets, visit https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Womensequality24
Institute for Women’s Policy Research: Power + Summit, September 23–24: For information and to register, visit https://www.powerplus2024.com/
