When it comes to corporate responsibility, few people walk the talk quite like Evelyn Rodriguez Estrada. As the Director of Corporate Community Impact at ComEd, she manages programs and builds partnerships with purpose, connecting the company’s resources to the communities and causes that need them most. Her work spans everything from charitable giving and competitive grants to employee volunteerism and executive civic engagement, all rooted in the belief that institutions have a role to play […]

Each year, during the month of March, we recognize women making strides, breaking glass ceilings, taking big leaps, and showing others what happens when action meets community. And this month was no different. In the spirit of celebrating and advocating for women, WE found ourselves visiting partner sites where participants explored career interests; leading panel discussions about the realities entrepreneurs face when navigating complex systems; and closing the month out rallying for pay […]

By Raven Hargest, WE Hub Manager, Women EmployedSmall businesses are often called “resilient,” but resilience isn’t immunity — especially when external forces undermine the basic conditions they need to survive: a stable workforce, predictable customers, and access to capital. In 2026, intensified immigration enforcement has become one of the most destabilizing forces for local economies. Across the country, we’re seeing news stories about worksite raids and stepped-up […]

Women Employed is frustrated and deeply disappointed by yesterday’s 30–18 City Council vote to end the phase-out of the antiquated and unjust subminimum wage for tipped workers. This freeze is essentially a cut to the wages that these workers — disproportionately Black and Brown women — have counted on. For the vote to have occurred at the same meeting extolling the legacy of civil rights icon and workers’ rights champion Rev. Jesse Jackson, and honoring Women’s History […]

Gionna Branch has always understood that a stable home is just the beginning. As Senior Director of Youth, Education, and Wealth Building Programs at the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), she’s on a mission to make sure the women and families she serves don’t just have a place to live, they have a path to thrive. From launching escrow savings accounts to celebrating residents earning dental assistant certifications, Gionna is redefining what it means to truly invest in a community.Now, as a […]