The Barb Yong Equal Pay Scholarship, awarded by the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition (EPCC), is to support social justice-minded college students (full- or part-time, 2-year or 4-year) from Chicago in their educational pursuits. This scholarship is designed for students dedicated to advancing social justice and addressing critical issues such as gender equity, racial justice, education access, and workers’ rights. As the backbone organization for EPCC, Women Employed (WE) is proud to share that […]

So, here’s the thing. School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that our work stops, takes a break, or goes on pause. It’s just heating up (all pun intended).June saw us facilitating a webinar on original research that explored the healthcare career journeys of Chicago women. WE participated in discussions surrounding collaboration, systems change, and the growing intersectionality of the challenges facing workers and job seekers across Illinois. WE celebrated with one our […]

WE Won!Last night, we won a major victory for civil rights protections in Illinois. In a late-night vote, SB 3777, also known as the Civil Rights Safeguard Act, passed the Illinois General Assembly and will be on its way to Governor Pritzker’s desk for his signature.This amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act will safeguard civil rights protections for Illinoisans where discrimination laws apply. This bill solidifies the clear standard in Illinois law that employers and businesses have […]

Stop. Listen. Do you hear that? No, not the celebratory sounds of excited graduates as they prepare for the next step in their journeys. Not the sweet, sweet melodies from the birds announcing the start of each day. And not the innocent and joyful sounds of children playing outside. We’re talking about the sounds of advocacy in action.The sounds of press conferences about the need for living wages for all. The sound of victory as a bill that safeguards Civil Rights was voted out of committee […]

Our annual luncheon, The Working Lunch, is much more than a fundraiser. It’s the opportunity to sit in a room full of people who believe that women’s lives should be better. To celebrate leaders and organizations who have dedicated their careers to building women’s economic power. And to hear from the women whose lives and careers have been transformed by The Power of WE.This year, two testimonial speakers took the stage and shared what it looks like when someone invests in women, and […]