Dear Cher,
Imagine being overqualified—at least as qualified as your male peers―but put in competition where your qualifications are unfairly questioned or dismissed while theirs are unchallenged. Imagine earning your position through hard work and expertise and being minimized to a DEI (“Didn’t Earn It”) hire. This is what it is like too often as a woman in leadership. We are witnessing it play out on the world’s stage. But, for many of us, this is nothing new. As a Black woman in leadership, it oftentimes means being overly challenged for your tone, for how you choose to present yourself, your decisions―your excellence is continually questioned. And, as evidenced by what we are seeing play out before our eyes, it does not matter what you have been able to achieve, or to what position you have been able to ascend. Several of my peers have either made the decision to step down or have been outright ousted from top positions because the “empowerment” they were given was false or fleeting, they were made to be sacrificial scapegoats, given unfair expectations with limited resources, and they experienced an unhealthy strain on their health and well-being. I heard a quote that said, if we are constantly relying on women to clean up our messes, then it is time they are given rights to the positions and titles to match the work. I will add that it needs to also come with rightful respect, support, authority, and resources.
Giving to women’s and girls’ organizations represent less than 2 percent of charitable giving in the U.S. How are we fueling change for the future when we are not funding the organizations working to bring about the change? Furthermore, how are we addressing the even larger gaps faced by those organizations that are led by Black, Latina/x, or Indigenous women, who receive even less? Only 2 percent of venture capital (VC) funding goes to female founders, with only 0.1 percent going to Black and Latina/x women founders. And we see what has happened to the Fearless Fund, whose mission was to close that funding gap.
Shattering the glass ceiling isn’t enough to achieve equity at the intersection of gender and race. We must address the elephant in the room―the pervasive and fundamental absence of trust in our women in leadership, even though we are often called to do the impossible. Now that there are cracks in the glass ceiling, we need to consider what is necessary once the ceiling is shattered. As a collective we must all continue to do work on our biases, we must use our voices to call out practices, behaviors, and beliefs that undermine our ability to lead as our authentic selves, and we need to marshal our talent and treasure to ensure a more equitable distribution of the resources. Each and every one of us has the responsibility to help create a more just and equitable future.
As heard so many times over the last week, do something.
In solidarity, |
Cherita Ellens
President & CEO |
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"She Says" with MariaJose Sierra |
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 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.
Since being in Chicago, Maria has not only joined Women Employed’s (WE) Advocacy Council but is also a 2024 alum of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program. Both have added to her growing list of skills, positioning her for a future in advocacy and activism as she prepares for a career in international relations. She has also expanded her network, gained friends and mentorship, and a newfound belief that she is more than qualified for the work ahead.
In this month’s “She Says,” we talk with MariaJose Sierra about her passion for women’s rights, what she is proud of, and how WE has helped to prepare her for the next step in her journey. |
Announcing WE Hub’s New Money Finder Tool |
In honor of August being Black Business Month, WE have some exciting news to share. After hearing from many of our Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub (WE Hub) users express how challenging it can be to find and obtain funding for their businesses—a finding outlined in our recent WE Hub report―we are pleased to announce 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 or loans, the Money Finder Tool aims to connect women entrepreneurs, and especially the Black, Latina/x, and low-income women who face the greatest funding barriers, with relevant options more efficiently.
How the Money Finder Tool works:
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Log into wehub.org and click on “Money Finder” in the dashboard menu (don’t have a log-in yet? Create one here!);
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Fill out a short survey asking a few questions about you, your business, and your needs; and
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The tool returns available funding opportunities (grants and/or loans) that you may qualify for based upon your responses.
Since launching the WE Hub September of 2022, we have helped over 500 women seeking to launch and/or build on existing businesses. WE are proud to have provided Black, Latina/x, and low-income women small business owners with guidance, access, and resources. And know that this Money Finder Tool will further help in taking their businesses from ideas and side hustles to concrete pathways to economic freedom. |
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. |
The 2024 election will be historic, and it will have important ramifications for women and families. One thing is clear. None of us can sit on the sidelines. Now is the time to engage in our democracy. The issues that matter to working women are at stake this year.
Need to get registered or find your polling location? Want to find out how to request a mail-in ballot, or vote early? Want to know your rights at the polls, and what to do if they are violated? Need to learn where your candidates stand on the issues that matter to you? Women Employed has you covered!
Check out Women Employed’s Voter Mobilization Toolkit for all the information you need to vote, and to encourage your friends and family to vote, too! We’ve even got a digital outreach toolkit to help you share the information on social. Your vote is your voice. Make sure to use it! |
August Equal Pay Days: Moms and NHPI Women |
August 7th was Moms' Equal Pay Day, a day we shed light on the persistent wage gap experienced by mothers in the workplace. The numbers say it all: on average, full- and part-time, year-round working moms earn 63¢ compared to every $1 fathers earn.
Cultural stereotypes and workplaces designed around workers without caretaker responsibilities deeply impact women who are both employees and caretakers. Moms are the backbone of our society, dedicating their time and effort to their families and careers. Yet, pay discrimination, caregiver discrimination, and lack of paid leave in many of the jobs held by women continue to be barriers, impacting their ability to achieve economic security and stability.
And today is Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Equal Pay Day. The biggest wage gaps experienced by NHPI 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 cents 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.
These two days shine a spotlight on the work that still needs to be done to achieve pay equity for ALL women. And, each of us can be an advocate for change:
Take action today to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, a federal bill that would help close the wage gap: https://bit.ly/4cHwSpx
Make sure you know YOUR equal pay rights in Illinois: https://bit.ly/4dK5Q2o |
Did you know August is Breastfeeding Month? |
Established August 6, 2011, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), declared August National Breastfeeding Awareness Month to celebrate the benefits of breastfeeding and raise awareness on the support needed for all breastfeeding families. Throughout the month, global, national, cultural, and social observances take place to acknowledge different communities, identities, and perspectives, and address the unique challenges individuals face. Some of those challenges include lack of paid leave.
Did you know that as of January 1, 2024, in Illinois, you can use paid leave for any reason? Maybe you’re experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and want to consult a professional for help. Maybe you’ve developed an infection while breastfeeding and need to take care of yourself. Maybe you need more time to adjust to your new breastfeeding schedule when returning to work following parental leave. No matter the reason, you can use your earned paid leave and your employer cannot retaliate against you for taking your time off. They also cannot make you find a replacement.
But that’s not all. As of July 1st, most workers in the City of Chicago gained the right to earn five days of paid leave, in addition to the five days of paid sick time they were already entitled to earn. We’re also fighting for paid family and medical leave for Illinois to cover longer-term care needs.
To learn more about your paid leave rights in Illinois, visit sicktimeil.org.
And if you work in Chicago, visit sicktimechicago.org. |
August is Make-A-Will Month |
Make-A-Will month serves as a yearly reminder to encourage individuals to create or update their wills. Did you know that when conveying your final wishes to loved ones, charities and/or causes that are near and dear to your heart can be included in your estate planning? That’s right. Even after your passing, your legacy can live on through your charitable gifts and donations.
At Women Employed, you can continue advocating for women’s economic security through Planned Giving. When you make a planned gift, you’ll be welcomed as a member of our legacy society, Generations Circle.
Your legacy gift will help ensure that all women will have meaningful opportunities to achieve their aspirations for themselves and their families, and can be made via wills, bequests, retirement accounts, or life insurance policies. Many of these gifts provide tax benefits to the donor. It’s just a matter of planning what to give, how to give, and when to give.
For questions and to learn more about Planned Giving, visit: https://www.rrnew.com/womenemployed/
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Join Our Next Advocacy Council Meeting |
Mark your calendars and join us for our next Advocacy Council meeting! The Advocacy Council 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 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.
Advanced registration is required: https://bit.ly/3Z2cI6I
We can't wait to see you there and work together to make FY25 a transformative year!
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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.
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Economic Policy Institute |
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