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 […]

April showers may bring May flowers, but April also brings more opportunities to create better futures for the leaders of tomorrow. This month WE focused heavily on the educational needs of students. Whether ensuring their basic needs are met, pushing for change in Illinois’ higher education system, or celebrating local residents’ completion of a job training program in the construction and utility fields, one thing is for sure―in order to remove barriers to economic equity for all women, […]

You can tell a lot about a person who effortlessly gives of their time, their talents, and their resources without ever asking for anything in return. People who willingly pay it forward, helping to improve the quality of life for others out of sheer kindness, compassion, empathy, and respect for humanity. And one person who embodies this is Women Employed (WE) Advocacy Council member AND The Working Lunch volunteer, Stephanie Kopa. Two years ago, Stephanie, walked away from her full-time […]