by Jessica Swim, Women Employed Advancement CoordinatorHave you ever wondered what it’s really like to be a tipped worker? If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans who have worked or currently work in the service industry, you don’t have to wonder. But for those who don’t, it can be hard to see the full picture in your average restaurant outing or hotel stay. As a former restaurant server and bartender, I’ve seen a lot of what happens behind the scenes and how it […]

The question shouldn’t be, “Where in the world is Women Employed?” It’s more like, “Where in the World ISN’T Women Employed?” Because we are proof that if there’s a panel, stage, or workshop, Women Employed will be there speaking, attending, or hosting, in our effort to continue advocating for equitable spaces where women can live, grow, and thrive.Closing out September, we spoke at a Labor Council for Latin American Advancement event, in October attended a breakfast by our […]

A mentor is often defined as an advisor, confidant, role model, tutor, and coach. And Alexandra Heiden is all of that and more. Equipped with a lifetime of experience and a natural-born gift, Alexandra’s passion stems from her late mother who recognized this strength early on and nurtured it, reminding her that serving others was just “in her.” Alexandra’s mentoring style can be described as assertive, confident, and extroverted and has led to her assisting colleagues with excelling in […]

ASPIRE Speaker Series — Dr. Paul GorskiThe ASPIRE Racial Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series continued in September and October with a two-part workshop led by Dr. Paul Gorski, the Founder, Lead Equity Specialist, & Research Director of The Equity Literacy Institute. Dr. Gorski’s two-part presentation on Embracing and Enacting a Transformative Vision for Equity started in September by laying the groundwork for recognizing systems of advantage and disadvantage, equity and inequity. […]

by Corinne Kodama, Senior Research Analyst, Women EmployedAs Women Employed celebrates our 50th anniversary this year, we want to bring attention to other working women over 50 and how they are important in Women Employed’s work. October 7 is Ageism Awareness Day―an opportune time to highlight not only the contributions of older working women but also the ways in which their economic needs are often overlooked. [Note that “older” workers can refer to those over 50, 55, or even 65 years […]