Embracing the Power of Transformation
A Letter from Our CEO
Greetings,
It’s finally Spring, and do we need it more than ever. Spring is a reminder of how beautiful change can be if you just preserve long enough to see the transformations—lawns change from brown to green, trees that were once bare now bear fruit, and the days even emerge from darkness to light. Amid the ugliness and darkness of this pandemic and the ongoing racial and civil unrest, we should allow nature’s power of transformation to guide and ground us in the potential beauty that change will bring forth for our communities and country once we emerge anew. Let’s use this time first to renew ourselves, then take charge of how we wish to progress forward for the second half of the year.
May is also a time when we commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—a celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States and their contributions to positive change and justice for all. From the laying of the transcontinental railroad to standing shoulder to shoulder during both the civil rights and women’s movements, to being on the frontlines as health care providers and first responders caring for our loved ones, the contributions of AAPI individuals have enriched and changed our lives in unmeasurable ways. Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month is especially significant this year with the rise in anti-Asian hate throughout the country. We will continue to honor and reflect on the leadership, resilience, and courage shown by the AAPI community as we move forward in solidarity in our shared fight for equity and justice for all.
AND, you didn’t think I’d let you go without putting in a plug for The Working Lunch, did you? If you have not bought your tables or raffle tickets yet, TODAY IS THE DAY. This is a significant fundraiser for us, and we need ALL of your support. I look forward to seeing you there!
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Cherita Ellens
President and CEO
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The Working Lunch - Virtual Edition
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Program: 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. CT
Breakout Rooms: 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT
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Don’t miss out on one of Chicagoland’s premier spring events—now available to supporters nationwide—featuring a fantastic line-up of speakers and honorees, all committed to advancing equity and systemic change! |
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Support a great cause and win big! From plane tickets to wine tasting to a 12-month book subscription, this year’s luncheon raffle will have something for you! |
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Mother’s Day Has Passed, But the Wage Gap for Mom’s Hasn’t
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May 5th marked how far into 2021 moms must work to earn what dads made in 2020. The “average” mother earns 70 cents for every dollar paid to fathers, but we know that due to compounding factors of sexism and racism, the wage gap has a disproportionate impact on moms of color.
For every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic fathers, Latina mothers are paid $0.46, Native American mothers are paid $0.50, Black mothers are paid $0.52, White, non-Hispanic mothers are paid $0.71, and AAPI mothers are paid $0.90 (Source: NWLC).
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Come Learn about our Digitized Career Foundations! |
Women Employed recently digitized our Career Foundations curriculum to meet the needs of organizations that are engaging students remotely. The curriculum now features built-in flexibility to support different types of classrooms: in-person, hybrid, or remote education. If you work for an organization that provides workforce or adult education services, the range of career pathways exploration and goal-setting activities that Career Foundations provides is critical for supporting your participants and can help you meet your programmatic benchmarks!
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VICTORY: Student Parent Data Bill Passed the Senate & House!
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WE are thrilled to announce that the Student Parent Data Collection bill (SB 267) that we’ve advocated for passed the Senate unanimously and the House version of the bill (HB 2878) also passed the House!
The bills would require public community colleges and universities in Illinois to collect data about students who are also parents. Student parents are a growing population nationally—more than one in five college students identifies as a parent.
It is essential that we collect data on student parents in Illinois and that we do so in a way that protects their privacy while providing sufficient understanding of this group, to help colleges and universities recruit, retain, and graduate these students. SB 267 will help us do just that!
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Urge Illinois to Pass Paid Sick Time |
The current COVID-19 public health crisis has only deepened the need for paid sick days, to allow all of us take time off work if we get sick or we need to care for a family member who has taken ill. For workers without paid sick time, it’s a lose-lose situation: stay home and lose the pay you’re counting on—and possibly your job—or go to work and risk the health of yourself, your loved ones, and your co-workers by spreading your illness to others. In fact, the lack of paid sick days has been one of the reasons for COVID-19 outbreaks in many meatpacking plants and other workplaces over the past year. That’s why we need to pass the Healthy Workplace Act, to ensure Illinois workers can access paid sick days. |
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Chicago Women in Philanthropy 40th Anniversary
Thursday, June 3rd
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CT
Join your colleagues in the social sector as CWIP celebrates their 40th Anniversary, featuring WE’s President & CEO, Cherita Ellens, as a panelist!
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Chicago Jobs Council 40th Anniversary Event
Friday, June 11th
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CT
For 40 years, the Chicago Jobs Council has worked to help people move out of poverty using on-the-ground expertise, advocacy, and capacity-building. Tune in to their 40th anniversary celebration and a panel discussion featuring WE’s President & CEO, Cherita Ellens!
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API Women's Leadership Conference
Friday, June 11th
10:00 am – 5:00 pm CT
API women face a double-paned glass ceiling when it comes to career advancement. To help address these issues, the Society for Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) Pro is hosting a one-day virtual leadership conference for API women scientists and engineers, featuring WE’s Policy Analyst, Corinne Kodama, as a featured speaker!
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The Chronicle of Higher Education
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