Where in the World is Women Employed?

So, here’s the thing. School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that our work stops, takes a break, or goes on pause. It’s just heating up (all pun intended).

June saw us facilitating a webinar on original research that explored the healthcare career journeys of Chicago women. WE participated in discussions surrounding collaboration, systems change, and the growing intersectionality of the challenges facing workers and job seekers across Illinois. WE celebrated with one our partners for their 35th anniversary. And WE got to know Career Founations recipients during one of our site visits. Oh, and how could WE forget about welcoming the 2026 cohort of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program and traveling to Washington, D.C. to recognize the contributions women have made to this country for more than 250 years.

Talk about a packed month!

Want to learn more about where we’ve been? Check out this month’s edition of Where in the World is Women Employed.

Workforce Wednesday Webinar Presentation

On Wednesday, June 3rd, WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver, and Program Manager, Efrata Sasahulih, presented on Navigating the Maze: Challenges and Successes in Healthcare Career Pathways for the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support (ICSPS) Workforce Wednesday Webinar series. The presentation was an overview of WE’s qualitative research study that explored the healthcare career journeys of Chicago women who started in entry-level roles. WE also shared models of success, proposed policy and practice recommendations, and previewed of our pilot project with Advocate Trinity Hospital to establish sustainable internal career pathways.

Chicago Jobs Council Hosts 45th Annual Meeting

Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) held their 45th Annual Meeting, “Together in This Moment: Building Power, Advancing Opportunity,” on Friday, June 5th. The event brought together workforce development leaders, advocates, policymakers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners for discussions surrounding collaboration, systems change, and the growing intersectionality of the challenges facing workers and job seekers across Illinois.

WE’s Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, attended the Annual Meeting, which also celebrated work happening across the workforce ecosystem through CJC’s Year in Review presentation, as well as the launch of the new CJC E-Learning Hub; and honored leaders whose work has had a lasting impact on workforce policy, practice, and systems change.

Award recipients included:

• Field Builder Award: Greater Chicago Food Depository
• Betty J. Willhoite Award: Wendy Pollack, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
• Inaugural Bob Wordlaw Award: Brenda Palms, North Lawndale Employment Network

The event concluded with attendees reflecting on the work ahead and the importance of continuing to build power together across communities and systems.

The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program Launch

The 2026 cohort of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program (SLP) — WE’s paid summer internship — kicked off on Monday, June 8th. Led by WE’s Program Manager (and SLP alum!), Efrata Sasahulih, this year’s group of eager and passionate interns gathered at WE’s office for a day of onboarding, connecting with one another, meeting staff, and learning more about the various projects they will take part in over the next eight weeks. We are so excited to have them for the summer and look forward to seeing how their projects unfold throughout the duration of their time with us!

College Affordability Summit: FAFSA & Beyond

WE’s Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, co-presented about our work on the Lumina FutureReady States initiative at the 2026 College Affordability Summit June 9th through June 11th. Hosted by Midwestern Higher Education Compact, the summit brought together practitioners, policymakers, and postsecondary partners to strengthen financial aid efforts across the region.

Goals from the three-day convening included:

• Equipping state-level stakeholders to address emerging topics related to college affordability that advances states’ postsecondary attainment and workforce development goals.
• Strengthening intra-state and cross-sector sharing of best practices on college and career attainment, cost transparency, financial aid policy, and FAFSA completion support.
• Promoting regional and national collaboration, with a particular focus on the Midwest, by highlighting organizations and initiatives advancing FAFSA completion and college affordability and by facilitating dialogue around the sharing of resources and effective practices across states.

The 75 Million Hill Briefing

On Wednesday, June 10th, WE’s President and CEO, Cherita Ellens, traveled to Washington, D.C. for The 75 Million’s Hill Briefing. Cherita was joined by coalition partners and congressional champions across the country to recognize the contributions women have made to this country for more than 250 years, and to discuss what policies can better support the 75 million women in America’s workforce now and in the years ahead.

2026 Illinois Future Ready States Convening with National Skills Coalition

WE hosted the 2026 Illinois FutureReady States Convening with the National Skills Coalition on Monday, June 15th. Guests from Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), and advocates such as Partnership for College Completion (PCC), Young Invincibles (YI), Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), National Able Network, and Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) came together to provide input to the Governor’s Illinois Attainment Working Group and to review progress and make future plans for increasing revenue streams in Illinois to provide holistic supports for students to earn credentials of value.

Arise Chicago’s Annual Faith-Labor-Action Breakfast

Arise Chicago held their annual Faith-Labor-Action Breakfast on Wednesday, June 17th. WE’s Director of Advocacy and Policy, Sarah Labadie; Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden; Chief of Staff, Mary Kay Devine; and Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research, Sharmili Majmudar celebrated our partner’s 35th anniversary along with workers, advocates, government leaders, unions, faith leaders, and elected leaders from the city, state, and Congress. The program was filled with inspiration from domestic worker leaders who completed Arise’s Institute, a keynote by April Verrett, SEIU President, and rousing speeches by Governor J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Representative Delia Ramirez.

New Moms Site Visit

WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver, went on a site visit to New Moms on Monday, June 22nd. There, she got to know the participants in an intimate environment curated by their instructor, Ashleigh.

Summer Leaders Panel Discussion

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our June 24th Advocacy Council meeting that featured a panel discussion with this year’s cohort of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program. It is always a pleasure to come together with WE supporters, Investors, partners, staff, and SLP alums!

The Summer Leaders shared their intersecting experiences as college students, workers, and caregivers. We appreciate their honesty and vulnerability as they discussed a variety of topics, including:

The many impacts the current federal administration has had on their daily lives on campus — from dismantled student support programs and clubs, reduced work study hours, empty food pantries, loss of scholarships, and ICE agents on campus!

They shared their challenges with balancing a full class load with the necessity of working 2–3 jobs to be able to cover rent, food, and books — despite receiving financial aid and/or scholarships. On top of their rigorous academics, each intern in their own way has a responsibility for showing up for their families and tending to various caregiving responsibilities.

In the face of the college affordability crisis and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs, the Summer Leaders reflected on the many ways they participate in civic engagement on campus and in their hometowns. These courageous young people are standing up and speaking out to oppose ICE, fighting for the freedom of speech and the right to protest, for worker rights and economic justice, for immigrant rights and respect, and against all unjust wars across the world.

Stay tuned, we’ll share updates about this year’s Summer Leaders across our digital platforms while they work with us through the end of July!

Center for Changing Lives Site visit

On Wednesday, June 24th, WE’s Senior Career Pathways Manager, Tara Driver visited our Career Foundations Consortium partners at Center for Changing Lives. There, she was able to catch up with their Career Foundations Instructor and Bilingual Employment Coach, Juanairis Castaneda-Arellano, and meet Emma Vijil, their Bilingual Resource Development Coach, and the newest cohort of Career Foundations participants.