2024

Agenda del Poder Económico de las Mujeres para Illinois

Este informe es un conjunto de recomendaciones intersectoriales y de múltiples temas para desarrollar el poder económico de las mujeres en Illinois. Es el resultado de una conferencia de alto nivel de dos días a finales de 2023, que centró las voces de las trabajadoras que a menudo no están incluidas en las mesas de políticas y defensa, reuniéndolas con defensores, organizaciones políticas, centros de trabajadores, grupos laborales, propietarios de pequeñas empresas, y más.

2024

Women’s Economic Power Agenda for Illinois

This report is a cross-sector, multi-issue set of recommendations for building the economic power of women in Illinois. It is the outcome of a two-day summit in late 2023, which centered the voices of workers who are often not included at policy and advocacy tables, bringing them together with advocates, policy organizations, worker centers, labor groups, small business owners, and more.

2022

Intersecting Barriers: Challenges to Economic Empowerment for Domestic Violence Survivors

This research report, produced with support from the Michael Reese Health Trust, introduces the results of new research investigating the needs and gaps faced by survivors of domestic violence in the Chicago metropolitan area, and leverage the insights of workforce development professionals, domestic violence advocates, and survivors themselves in recommending policy and practice solutions.

2022

Student Debt Resources

Student loan debt is a national problem. With student loan and debt policies and programs shifting often, it can be challenging to know where to find what you need. In this resource, you’ll find resources with up-to-date information for student borrowers—nationally and in Illinois.

2021

Highlights from Women Employed’s Wins in Illinois’ 2021 Spring Legislative Session

Join us in celebrating some major victories from the Illinois 2021 legislative session that were the direct result of tireless (virtual) advocacy our partners, our legislative champions, and the Women Employed team.

2020

2020 Annual Report

The working people now considered essential have been at the heart of Women Employed’s mission since 1973. And our work this year to advance equity for all has also been essential. By improving job quality for all workers and leading the charge for paid leave in Illinois, working to advance access and racial equity in higher education, and strengthening our career pathways programs so people can secure jobs that provide family-sustaining wages, we made major advances in our work to pursue equity for all. Read more in or 2020 annual report, and scroll down to watch people tell their own stories about the impact of our essential work!

2020

Advancing Racial Equity in Higher Education: Lessons from the States

While developing recommendations for how Illinois can take a comprehensive approach to racial equity in higher education, Women Employed conducted a landscape scan of states’ plans, policies, and initiatives to inform our recommendations. This document highlights efforts that Illinois can learn from and adapt, while specific recommendations for Illinois are available in the companion brief, “Advancing Racial Equity in Illinois Higher Education.”

2020

Advancing Racial Equity in Illinois Higher Education

Read our recommendations to close racial equity gaps in enrollment, completion, and affordability in Illinois higher education.

2020

Monetary Award Program (MAP) Factsheet

Why is funding for MAP so important? This fact sheet outlines how the needs-based grant impacts students, and why it is important to Illinois’ workforce that the program is fully-funded.

2020

Women Employed’s 2020 Priorities

Making college affordable, accessible, and equitable. Strengthening career pathways to family-sustaining wages. Improving job quality for all working people. Advancing gender equity at work. Read about Women Employed’s 2020 priorities.

2019

2019 Annual Report

Victory. At Women Employed, when we celebrate a victory, it means more women are safe and respected at work. More people have access to the training and education they need to take the next step to something better. It’s peace of mind. Dignity. This year, we have some huge victories to celebrate, and that’s good news for us all. Read about those victories in our 2019 Annual Report.

2018

2018 Annual Report

Doubling Down on Rising Up, Together. Since 1973, Women Employed has been making change in the workplace to elevate us all. We have stood up for equal opportunity and economic advancement. We have paved the way for millions to get their degrees. And we have leveraged partnerships to make it happen. We are bringing people to the table to build a movement to improve the lives of working women and their families.

2018

Progress, Pathways, and Possibilities: How a Shared Vision Put a System to Work

This piece takes the reader through the different parts of our work to establish and expand career pathways in Chicago and Illinois, beginning with Shifting Gears in the early 2000s and looking forward to a yet-unrealized future. It includes bridge programs, Career Foundations, and the career pathways definition, as well as stories from students and detail about how progress on career pathways has been made.

2018

The Time to Act is Now: Let’s Tackle the Race Gap in Higher Education

2018

Women Employed’s 2019 Illinois Women’s Agenda

2017

2017 Annual Report

Moving Forward, Together. In a tumultuous year for our country, we have forged ahead to ensure all women can access fair workplaces, quality jobs, and education and training leading to better opportunities. In this report, you’ll read about crucial advances we’ve made this year on equal pay, paid sick time, and pathways to college and careers. The key to our success is you.

2017

The Story of a Dreamer

2017

Women in School: Child Care Access Means Parents in School, So Why is it Being Cut?

2017

Women in School: Plans and Pathways — Why They Work

2017

Women in School: The Wage Gap Is a Matter of Life or Debt for Women

2016

2016 Annual Report

2015

2015 Annual Report

2015

Bridging the Gap

What is a bridge program? This fact sheet explains what bridge programs are, and how Women Employed is leading the effort to implement bridge programs in Illinois and nationwide, giving thousands of workers the skills and credentials they need to move from low-paid, low-opportunity jobs into high-demand careers that offer financial stability.

2015

Good for Students, Good for Colleges: Bridge Programs Investments and Returns Worksheet

This worksheet is a companion to the policy brief, Good for Students, Good for Colleges: Investing in Bridge Programs as a Strategy for Success to allow colleges to calculate their projected return on investment for implementing bridge programs.

2015

Good for Students, Good for Colleges: Investing in Bridge Programs as a Strategy for Success

Community colleges are at a crossroads. Pressure is mounting to increase enrollment and improve retention. At the same time, there are millions of adults who would benefit from a college education, but who lack a high school degree. Bridge programs provide a solution that will serve these adults, improve college enrollment and retention numbers, and even generate revenue for colleges.

2013

Fourth Year Sophomores? Improving Remedial Student Outcomes in Illinois

Fifty-one percent of first-time community college students in Illinois take remedial or developmental courses before they can start college-level coursework, and too many never graduate. This policy brief outlines clear steps that colleges and policymakers can take to ensure that only the right students are enrolled in remedial classes and that coursework is focused on the right content, and includes strategies to prevent students from getting stuck in long-term developmental sequences and dropping out.

2012

Breaking With Tradition: Adult Learners Essential to Illinois’ College Completion Goal

The State of Illinois has instituted a goal to ensure that 60 percent of Illinois adults have a college credential by 2025. This fact sheet shows how important adult learners are to helping Illinois reach that goal.

2012

Breaking with Tradition: Investing in Bridge Programs as a Strategy for Success

Community colleges are facing pressure to increase retention and completion rates. Enrollments and funding are declining. This fact sheet shows how bridge programs can be a strategy for success for both colleges and students.

2012

Low-Income Single Mothers at Community College

This policy brief provides recommendations on immediate steps colleges can implement to improve their schools and increase retention and completion rates for single mothers who are students.

2012

Non-Traditional Student and Single Parent Accessibility Self-Assessment

A toolkit to help colleges and universities assess their provision of services and supports to non-traditional and parenting students, and to make plans for improvements.

2011

Single Mothers and College Success

This policy brief focuses on six key areas in which federal and state policy changes could result in increased retention and graduation rates for single-parent students.

2011

Transition Services Self-Assessment Toolkit

A toolkit to help bridge programs assess current provision of key transition services and plan for improvements.

2007

Building Bridges to College and Careers for Illinois Adults

This policy brief gives a brief overview and description of bridge programs, which provide a path into education and training for adults with low literacy and math skills.