Women Employed

✔️ Mark your calendars📅and join us for our next Advocacy Council(AC)! The AC is a group of volunteers who organize monthly to network with our personal and professional communities about how to improve the economic status of women, remove barriers to economic equity and how we can do it TOGETHER. We're excited to invite you to Women Employed’s FY25 Advocacy Council Kickoff Meeting, taking place in person on Wednesday, September 18th, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. CT at Women Employed's offices📍downtown Chicago, at 1 E Wacker Drive, 20th Floor Conference Room, Chicago, IL 60601. This meeting marks the beginning of an exciting year for Women Employed. We'll take a moment to reflect on the incredible wins and successes of FY24 and look ahead to what's in store for FY25. This year is especially powerful as we harness this moment in history to propel our mission forward—ensuring women have equitable opportunities and a strong voice in shaping the future. *Light bites and drinks will be provided as we make time and space to connect with fellow advocates and change-makers. *Note: If you're passionate about attending but absolutely cannot join us in person, please reach out to Michelle Schwartz at [email protected] and we will find a way to include you. Advanced registration is required, here: https://ow.ly/HC5750T64sQ We can't wait to see you there and work together to make FY25 a transformative year! 👋🏽

Today is Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander #NHPIWomensEqualPay. The biggest wage gaps experienced by women are hidden in data that aggregates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) people together. When looking at all workers (full- and part-time), NHPI women earn on average 60¢ for every $1 dollar earned by the average white, non-Hispanic man. The pay gap can only be addressed if we have full information on how it impacts all Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. P.S. Join us for a social media storm today at 1 p.m. to raise awareness for #NHPIWomensEqualPay!

"When famously Beyonce sang, in her 2016 hit song Formation, “I dream it. I work hard. I grind till I own it,” she had to have been talking about MariaJose Sierra. The 2023 graduate of the The University of Texas at San Antonio has big dreams, a hard work ethic, and an undying willingness to go the distance to see her dreams come to fruition. Armed with determination and fearlessness, Maria has been taking leaps of faith since leaving her home state of Texas for Chicago in pursuit of finding opportunities that align with her morals. A move that would pay off in a major way." Read this month's She Says here: https://ow.ly/4GC050T5l4V

Today was a major day in history for equality. August 26th, otherwise known as #WomensEqualityDay, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment, which granted women in the United States the right to vote. It reminds us of the hurdles overcome by the heroic women who faced violence and discrimination to propel the women’s movement forward. However, what you may not know is that only white women won the right to vote that day. Almost all Black and Brown women were excluded, and many didn’t gain the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act in 1956. The right to vote is fundamental in the fight for equity. When some women have fewer rights and access, we cannot call ourselves equal, and we cannot celebrate equality. And we aren’t done fighting for #EquityForAll. We’re still fighting for #FairWages, workplaces that are safe and free from discrimination, #PaidLeave, access to quality and affordable education, and so much more. But together, we have the power with our vote to create the change we need by showing up at the polls. Stay ready! Make sure you are registered to vote: www.vote.org. Even if you’ve registered in the past, check your status to ensure you’re still registered. Want to go one step further? Sign up to become a poll worker for the next election and help ensure we have safe, fair, efficient elections for all: https://lnkd.in/giQUEiPX

Join the Chicago White Sox for #WomensEqualityNight TOMORROW August 26th as they take on the Detroit Tigers at 7:10pm! Access to discounted tickets where a portion of proceeds of ticket sales will benefit Women Employed can be purchased here: https://ow.ly/gsEp50SGBK7. *Purchase deadline: 8/26! Play ball! ⚾

📢HEY ENTREPRENEURS: NEW TOOL DROPPED! August is #BlackBusinessMonth, and WE have EXCITING news to share. We know how challenging it can be for small business owners to find and obtain funding for their businesses. After hearing from many of our WE Hub users, we developed our new Money Finder Tool! 🎉 This tool, designed with WE Hub users in mind, will simplify the process of finding funding sources that align with our users’ various business needs. So, whether it’s looking for grants, loans, or investment opportunities, the Money Finder Tool aims to connect women entrepreneurs, especially the Black, Latina/x, and low-income women who face the greatest funding barriers, with relevant options more efficiently. Learn more at wehub.org/money-finder! 💰 #BlackBusinessMonth #WomensEntrepreneurship

Care affects us all, whether we give it, receive it, or will eventually need it. That’s why the Caring Across Generations #CareCantWait Bus Tour is making its way across the country and kicking off the tour in Chicago, Monday, August 26th, at Access Living at 10 a.m. We're highlighting the urgent need for affordable, accessible care and showing how it impacts everyone. 🚌❤️ Join us for rallies, community dialogues, and more as we amplify the voices of caregivers and care recipients. Together, we can push for the legislative changes needed to create a more equitable care system. Your voice and stories matter! Grab your seat today! https://ow.ly/eTRO50SXjCW #CareOnTour #CareCantWait

Congratulations, Madam Vice President, on your confirmation tonight as a presidential nominee, and for continuing to break barriers and crash ceilings for women and Women of Color. For 5 decades, WE has worked to open doors for women in the workplace at all levels, and yet it's still rare to see women—especially Black and Brown women—at the top levels. It's important for people to see what they can be. Thank you for your courage and perseverance.

"As the city hosts more than 50,000 people, including political delegates, for the Democratic National Convention this week, we urge them to keep inclusivity, pay equity, economic mobility, freedom from violence and access to a full range of health care and reproductive rights — issues that disproportionately impact women — at the top of their agenda. Let’s be honest: Too many basic women’s rights — human rights — are still out of reach. And yet, when these rights are protected, our families, our entire society benefits." — Chicago Sun-Times Read the entire Letter to the Editor, from Keenya Lambert, CEO and president, Chicago Foundation for Women; Jacky Grimshaw, board chair, Chicago Women Take Action; Cherita Ellens, MBA, president and CEO, Women Employed; Nicole Robinson, CEO, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago here: https://ow.ly/Jugs50T48lp

Yesterday, we joined Family Values at Work Action to co-host the #CareAndDemocracy 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, MBA, welcomed advocates to Chicago, lifted up recent state and local victories, and highlighted the importance of building a #CareEconomy that prioritizes #paidleave, affordable #childcare, and other basic supports families need. Starr De Los Santos M.A., 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 #CareEconomy. We would like to thank everyone who attended to network and share their #care stories. Stay tuned for more coverage from the event! #TimeToCare #CareEconomy #CareAgenda #CareCantWait A huge thanks to Family Values at Work Action and Network partners Black Women's Roundtable, Care Can't Wait Action, Citizen Action of New York, Family Forward Action, Main Street Alliance Action Fund, Maine Women's Lobby, MomsRising, New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), Oakland Forward Action Fund, Paid Leave for All Action, Poder Latinx, TakeAction Minnesota, and We Vote. We Win.