Our hearts hurt in solidarity with Asian Americans. But we will not stay silent. We’re turning our sadness and anger into action to say #NoAsianHate. Women Employed commits to stand with the Asian American community in dismantling white supremacy and xenophobia. Find out how you can be a part of the actionable solutions taking place in Chicago (including a rally on Saturday, March 27th outside the Chinatown public library).
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A Look Back at WE’s Archives: Eleanor Holmes Norton and Harold Washington at Our First Luncheon
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1987 was an eventful year. Not only was it the year March was declared Women’s History Month, it was also the first year Women Employed hosted what is now an annual tradition: The Working Lunch.
Pictured above are Harold Washington and Eleanor Holmes Norton—two fundamental figures in the fight for equity for all—at that very first luncheon. Washington is best known as Chicago’s first African American mayor, but throughout his life he was a strong and influential advocate for racial equity and representation in many arenas.
By his side is Eleanor Holmes Norton, a true barrier breaker. Prior to becoming a Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, a role she has held for the past 15 years, Holmes Norton was an influential civil rights lawyer, an activist who helped organize the March on Washington, and the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Women Employed is proud to have worked closely with her to create the guidelines defining sexual harassment as illegal sex discrimination, and to advance other crucial anti-discrimination protections in the workplace.
Holmes Norton keynoted our very first luncheon and was introduced by Mayor Washington, her close friend. Little did we know that this would be one of Washington's last public appearances before his passing, making this picture even more special.
34 years later, The Working Lunch continues to bring together activists and community leaders to create positive change for working women and families. At this year’s luncheon— on May 25th, we will showcase how WE plans to make the next four years count. And we will be joined by another powerful keynote speaker: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. Like Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congresswoman Underwood is a critical leader in the fight for economic freedom and equity.
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Join the Celebration on Social!
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As part of Women’s History Month we are highlighting the lives and legacies of women whose names and stories you may not have learned about in school—but who nonetheless left incredible marks on society. Check out our most recent post uplifting LGBTQ+ rights advocates.
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WE LOVE connecting with you on social. Please join our community of friends and followers!
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March 25
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
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Join us for a conversation featuring Chicago chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless, Cherita Ellens of Women Employed, and Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage, Moderated by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington
on why we cannot advance racial justice, gender equity, and workplace safety without eliminating the subminimum tipped wage and enacting one full and fair wage.
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March 31
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CST
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Join the Women Employed Advocacy Council and Cinema/Chicago associate board as we close out Women’s History Month 2021 with an evening celebrating women in film to advance the missions of both organizations. Attendees will enjoy 4 short films, followed by a discussion with the all-female directors’ panel. Proceeds will benefit access to cinema for Chicagoans and CPS students, as well as advancing opportunity and economic security for working women.
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May 25
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Get your tickets for one of Chicago’s premier spring events, where we’ll showcase how Women Employed plans to make the next four years count! We’ll also honor and celebrate leaders who have dedicated their lives to championing economic equity and are unwavering in their commitment to ensuring fundamental and systemic change at all levels.
Did you hear the exciting news? We are thrilled to announce that Congresswoman Lauren Underwood will be our keynote speaker for the event!
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AAPI Women Deserve Equal Pay, Respect, Appreciation, and Most Importantly, Safety
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March 9th was Equal Pay Day for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, marking the day when their earnings catch up to what white, non-Hispanic men made by the end of 2020. On average, AAPI women are paid 85 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. But some AAPI ethnic subgroups, particularly Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander women, have much wider wage gaps. Between 2015 and 2019, Burmese women earned, on average, 52 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Those lost earnings are exacerbating the effects of COVID-19 for AAPI women—and for the families who depend on their income—leaving AAPI women with a smaller financial cushion to weather the crisis.
While AAPI Equal Pay Day is a day of raising awareness, we believe the challenges faced by AAPI women and girls should be at the forefront of our advocacy and fight for equity year-round. The surge of anti-Asian attacks, including the devastating shootings in Atlanta, are a manifestation of the racism that has directly and devastatingly affected the Asian American community. According to Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 4,000 hate incidents against the AAPI community in the last year, and Asian American women report hate incidents 2.3 times more than men. Asian Americans deserve respect, appreciation, and most importantly, safety. We commit to stand with you in dismantling white supremacy and xenophobia.
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Join the Fight for Equal Pay this Wednesday, March 24th
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On March 24th, #EqualPayDay, help us raise awareness about the wage gap for women—especially women of color—and its impact on their families.
Join the conversation on social media from 1 - 2 p.m. CT/2 - 3 p.m. ET as we uplift women at work, at home, and in society.
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Get to Know Boozy Bites Founder Dee Dee Bryant
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What do Women’s History Month and women-owned premium edible company, Boozy Bites, have in common? CELEBRATION!
We spoke with Boozy Bites Founder, Dee Dee Bryant, about her experiences in a male-dominated industry, the women in her life who inspire her, and why she chose to support our work to champion women’s economic status with a special edition, Lady Strong selection of Boozy Bites assortments.
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As a leader in gender equity at work and women’s economic empowerment, we have been an expert voice in recent coverage on the ‘shecession.’
Check out some of the stories we’ve been featured in:
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Corinne Kodama, Women Employed
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