Where in the World is Women Employed?
August brought with it beautiful weather, summer fun, and Chicago on the national stage as we close out the last full month of Summer before transitioning into back-to school, election season, and the pumpkin spice vibe that fall brings. But just because we enjoyed all summer has to offer this month, doesn’t mean that our advocacy and activism has slowed down any. We still showed up, showed out, and made quite the impact wherever our presence was requested. From attending a bill signing for a law we advocated for, to delivering a powerful presentation on Mapping the Road to Your Career Pathway, to kicking off a nationwide bus tour that amplified the voices of caregivers and care recipients, one thing is certain: the Women Employed train never stops moving. We even found time for some fun and camaraderie while celebrating Women’s Equality Day at the Chicago White Sox game!
To learn more about where we’ve been, check out our monthly recap, and be sure to follow us on all social channels (you can find us @WomenEmployed) to keep up with our travels and learn how you can be involved.
IL AFL-CIO Annual Convention and Workers Freedom of Speech Bill Signing
On Wednesday, July 31st, our President and CEO Cherita Ellens, and Director of Advocacy and Policy Sarah Labadie, joined Tim Drea, President of the IL AFL-CIO and other partners, as Governor Pritzker signed the Worker Freedom of Speech Act into law. We helped advocate for this law, and we are pleased that working people in Illinois will no longer be forced to sit through political or religious meetings at work.
Read more about why this measure is so important in the Sun-Times op-ed Cherita co-authored with Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, here: https://bit.ly/3YTWIDE
Community In Schools Chicago’s 2024 Summit
WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver, attended Community in Schools Chicago’s 2024 summit on Friday, August 2nd. There, organizations from their partner network to came together to network and prepare for the coming school year, and walked away with tangible skills to implement into upcoming academic programs, including lifting up student voices and incorporating SEL concepts with intentionality.
National Skills Coalition Policy Action Lab
WE’s Director of Advocacy and Policy, Sarah Labadie, and Director of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, attended the National Skills Coalition Policy Action Lab, August 14–15, 2024. The two-day convening brought together a mix of postsecondary, human services, and policy advocacy stakeholders from multiple states, and examined state progress, innovations, and promising strategies for providing holistic support to students. Attendees shared state policy and advocacy efforts, policy wins, models, and insights, and learned from peers across the country who are working to reduce basic needs insecurity and improve student success and equity, with a focus on learners pursuing short-term, career-oriented education and training programs at community colleges.
2024 National ACT State Organizations Virtual Conference
The 2024 National ACT State Organizations Virtual Conference took place on Thursday, August 15th. The ACT State Organizations is a network of professionals that work with ACT, an organization that is working to is transform college and career readiness pathways so that everyone can discover and fulfill their potential, to shape the education and workforce landscape at local and state levels. WE’s Programs and Research Coordinator, Efrata Sasahulih, delivered a presentation at the event on Career Foundations: Mapping the Road to Your Career Pathway. The conference also provided attendees with the opportunity to gain new perspectives, expand their knowledge, and find solutions to problems facing the education and workforce landscape.
Care and Democracy Brunch
On Tuesday, August 20th, we joined Family Values at Work Action to co-host the Care and Democracy Brunch, alongside national care partners, at the Sable Hotel at Navy Pier. Carol Joyner, Executive Director of Family Values at Work Action, provided welcoming remarks and served as the MC, and Women Employed’s President & CEO, Cherita Ellens, welcomed advocates to Chicago, lifted up recent state and local victories, and highlighted the importance of building a care economy that prioritizes paid leave, affordable child care, and other basic supports families need.
Starr De Los Santos, our Associate Director of Coalitions, also spoke about creating a future where care is valued and the importance of coalitions in building momentum for a care economy. We would like to thank everyone who attended to network and, share their care stories.
And huge thanks to Family Values at Work Action and Network partners Care Can’t Wait Action, Black Women’s Roundtable, , Citizen Action of New York, Family Forward Action, Main Street Action, Maine Women’s Lobby, MomsRising, New Jersey Citizen Action, Oakland Forward Action Fund, Paid Leave for All Action, Poder Latinx, Take Action Minnesota, and We Vote We Win.
Care Can’t Wait Bus Tour
The Care Can’t Wait coalition and Caring Across Generations kicked of their Care Can’t Wait Bus Tour in Chicago, on Monday, August 26th, to bring personal stories to the forefront of national change. They are traveling across several states to show that care isn’t just a local issue but a national movement. Featuring WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens and Associate Director of Coalitions, Starr De Los Santos, the Chicago stop of the bus tour highlighted the lack of equitable and inclusive care systems and brought together care advocates, elected leaders, and influencers in the fight for better care.
Women’s Equality Night at the Chicago White Sox Game
BIG thanks to the Chicago White Sox for including Women Employed at their Women’ Equality Day celebration on Monday, August 26th! It’s always special to gather with so many wonderful women including WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens; Chief of Staff, Mary Kay Devine; Senior Policy Analyst, Corinne Kodama; and Associate Director of Coalitions, Starr De Los Santos, and many more!
National Women’s Equality Day marks the adoption of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted many women the right to vote. And the expression to “give someone their flowers” means the decision to honor, thank, and recognize those special to you while they are alive to experience your appreciation. WE appreciates the Chicago White Sox for giving us our flowers by providing the opportunity for each of us to build our own bouquet with LUSH Flower Bar.
