Thankful for YOU!
Dear Judy,
First and foremost, thank you for being a part of the Women Employed family. We would not have been able to celebrate 50 years of smashing the status quo without steadfast supporters like you by our side.
A lot has changed over the years, but one thing will always remain true—we won’t stop pushing forward until we actualize a society in which all women have the access, tools, resources, and opportunities to economically thrive. From our early days disrupting meetings and staging coffee rebellions to now being invited to tables we could have never imagined then we’d have a seat at—Women Employed will continue to go ALL in on EQUITY for ALL.
I know there are so many worthwhile causes to support on a global, national, and local level, so I am especially grateful you trust in us to move this work forward. In just this past year alone, we’ve been able to pass the IL Paid Leave for All Workers Act, the salary transparency amendment to the IL Equal Pay Act, an ordinance that will end the subminimum wage for tipped workers in Chicago, and we won a $100 million increase in funding for Illinois’ need based financial aid program (MAP) for college students—and more.
Let us celebrate all that we’ve accomplished so far and use that as the fuel that keeps us going. Thank you again for being a part of the WE family, I am so grateful to have you with us.
In solidarity, |
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ALL IN for Equity for All |
Thank you for being ALL IN for Equity for All! Thanks to everyone's outreach and generosity, we passed our goal of raising $4,000 on Giving Tuesday—raising $4,480 that day! And since then, we’ve raised even more. We’re currently at just over $6,000 towards our goal!
This year, we have a $43,000 need that we are working to meet by December 31st. We invite you to be a part of the solution by learning more and donating to fuel our work before the end of the year! And we’re going to need your help to get there.
Consider making a donation today to continue fueling our work towards women’s economic equity!
Need an extra incentive to give? An anonymous donor will match all new and increased donations, and supporters who donate $200+ between now and 12/31will be entered into a raffle to win one round-trip, international Southwest Airlines ticket. |
We’re excited to share another monumental victory with you, coming right on the heels of our full and fair wage win for tipped workers in early October. Earlier this month, Chicago’s City Council debated a paid time off ordinance to expand our city’s current paid time off requirements. And thanks to you, WE WON!
This ordinance will provide those who work in Chicago with an additional five days of paid time off above and beyond Chicago’s current five paid sick days, ensuring that all working Chicagoans can take needed time off to care for themselves and their loved ones without jeopardizing their families’ wellbeing or their income because they lack access to adequate paid time off. Thank you to each and every one of you who took action, called your alderperson, financially contributed to Women Employed, or supported our mission by advocating alongside us. Because of you, Chicago will not lag behind the state when Illinois’ new Paid Leave for All Workers Act—which WE also championed—goes into effect on January 1st.
A special thank you to Mayor Johnson; to Alderperson Rodriguez, the chair of the Workforce Development Committee and chief sponsor of this ordinance; and to Alderperson Gutierrez, the vice chair of Workforce Development and a co-sponsor of this bill for championing this life-changing legislation. And sincere gratitude to the Chicago Federation of Labor, the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Arise Chicago, Raise the Floor Alliance, and so many other partners who advocated, negotiated, and ensured the City passed an ordinance that will benefit working people. This hard-fought victory would also not have been possible without their continued partnership, and equally important the compelling and persistent voices of workers themselves.
We thank you for your solidarity and support and look forward to 50 more years of shattering glass ceilings, breaking down barriers, and smashing the status quo to ensure equity for all. |
Women's Economic Power Agenda |
WE were fired up to join statewide planning partners, advocates, and working women for the Women’s Economic Power Agenda (WEPA) Summit, a two-day convening focused on how we can work together to build economic power for women.
The ideas, experiences, and expertise shared by participants provided vital insights into the challenges facing all people in Illinois who identify as women and non-binary people, and solutions that can put more dollars in women’s wallets today—not decades down the road. We look forward to continuing the collaboration!
Thank you to our generous sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co. for providing the funding that made this collaboration possible.
We are also grateful to the WEPA Summit Planning Committee for their work to shape the convening! Your commitment will make a lasting impact for women in Illinois, their families, and their communities:
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Alternatives, Inc.
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Caring Across Generations
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Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
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Equality Illinois
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Illinois Partners for Human Services
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Mujeres Latinas En Acción
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Raise The Floor Alliance
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The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
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SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri & Kansas
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Shriver Center on Poverty Law
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Women Employed
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YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago
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“She Says”: What the Advocacy Council is Thankful For |
At Women Employed, WE have so much to be thankful for. This year, as we celebrated 50 years of Smashing the Status Quo, we also celebrated some major wins! Those include making history for Illinois families with the passage of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, winning an ordinance in Chicago that will end the subminimum wage for tipped workers as well as an ordinance that will expand paid time off for working Chicagoans, securing $100 million in additional funding for need-based financial aid through the Monetary Award Program (MAP), just to name a few! None of these achievements would have been possible without you, our valued supporters.
We are also thankful for our Advocacy Council, a group of dedicated volunteers who, every month, give their time to advocate, fundraise, and “friendraise” on behalf of our organization. Advocacy Council members may come from various backgrounds, but they all share one common goal, which is to advance WE’s mission to improve the economic status of women.
For this month's "She Says," we asked our Advocacy Council members what they are thankful for, and in true fashion, their dedication to the work filled our already-full cups. Read on for what they had to say! And if you or someone you know is interested in networking for a great cause, visit womenemployed.org/advocacy-council to learn more and sign up! |
Where in the World is Women Employed |
During this season of thanks, Women Employed is thankful to have been able to attend events near and far to advocate, inspire, and participate in conversations that benefit us all. From speaking on behalf of the organization on gender-based violence in the workplace to participating in film screenings about race, access to care, and housing inequity, WE are grateful that our opinions and expertise continues to be valued and that our appearances are requested.
This month, we judged pitch competitions, attended a conference in Los Angeles, and much, much more. Want to hear about it? Check out our monthly event recap below! |
Don’t miss out on the next event! Visit the events page on our website to be kept in the loop about where Women Employed is going next and how to be involved. |
Women Employed is hiring! We're currently seeking an Associate Director of Development. Did you want to work for an employer ranked #22 on Crain's 100 Best Places to Work in 2023? Are you passionate about developing and leading fundraising strategies? Are you experienced in portfolio management and frontline fundraising? This might be the perfect job for you!
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Center for Retirement Research at Boston College |
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