2019 Annual Report Dear Friends

VIC TOR Y2019 ANNUAL REPORT DEAR FRIENDS Victory. At Women Employed, when a huge win for low-income students Thank you. The victories outlined them to plan for child care and elder we celebrate a victory, it means more when we secured a $50 million increase in this report could not happen without care and manage their households. Our women are safe and respected at work. to need-based financial aid in Illinois. you—your commitment, your financial equal pay victory will help ensure that It means more mothers can take care of And our bridge and Career Foundations support, and your advocacy. Women millions of women are paid based upon their kids when illness strikes, without programs delivered by more than 12 Employed is turning your contributions their skills and experience, and not upon fear of losing a job. More people working partnering organizations and City into tangible changes that are removing what they earned at some prior job. in low-paid jobs have better control and Colleges of Chicago are helping low- barriers to economic equity and allowing These wins take time, long-term vision, predictability over their schedules and skilled adults get on a pathway to more women to advance and achieve and determined, dogged pursuit. But access to the training and education economic sustainability. their aspirations. when they finally come, our successes alter the possibilities available to women they need to take the next step to Thank you for fueling our relentless Together, we are changing systems. and their families. something better. It means food on the support of equity. With you, we are And in doing so, we are improving the table, bills paid, money in the bank to making systemic change for women, circumstances of women in Illinois That’s the power of advocacy. That’s cover an emergency. It’s peace of mind. families, and communities. and across the country. Our $50 the power of people speaking out for Dignity. Be assured, we’re not resting on our million financial aid victory means an change. This year, we have some huge victories laurels. We will not stop advocating for additional 7,000 students will have Thank you for using your power to speak to celebrate, and that’s good news for change because there’s so much more access to college this year, and 130,000 out with Women Employed. The positive us all. Our work led to advances for to be done to achieve equity for all. So, more will get funding increases. Our impact of these victories—YOUR working women, and in this report, we join with us as we continue the charge. work on bridge programs and Career victories—will be felt for generations. dive into a few significant wins led by Let’s keep claiming those VICTORIES! Foundations helped almost 1,500 Women Employed and championed by students gain the skills they need to supporters like you. We made a major succeed. The Fair Workweek legislation advance in the fight for equal pay when we championed in City Council means we won a No Salary History amendment that women across the city of Chicago Lisa Pattis, Board Chair Cherita Ellens, CEO to the Illinois Equal Pay Act. We scored will now know their work schedules at least two weeks in advance—allowing EQUITY This hard-won victory was built on in the Illinois General Assembly—not Equal work demands equal pay. years of determined advocacy, fueled once, but three times, persisting even These five words have been a by support from people like you. We when our former governor vetoed the worked closely with partners and bill twice. cornerstone for Women Employed lawmakers to draft the bill and to Our work has never been easy, but it’s stand strong against competing, less since our inception in 1973. This always been worth it. Together, we’re progressive versions. We mobilized creating lasting change that working year, we stood proud alongside thousands to educate their networks women can count on. and influence their elected officials. Governor Pritzker as he signed And we rallied bipartisan support the No Salary History amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act. Under this law, millions of people will no longer be required to disclose their current or past salary when they apply for a new position. On average, women in Illinois earn just the wage gap. It prevents pay inequity 79% of what men earn. The disparity from following women from job to is even wider for women who face the job, lifting individual earnings in the compounded effects of sexism and process. Research shows that the best discrimination based on factors like way to fight poverty is to improve the race and ethnicity, gender identity well-being of women, especially women and expression, age, disability, sexual of color. Eliminating the wage gap will orientation, and even motherhood. No cut poverty rates in half for working Salary History is essential in narrowing women in Illinois. When I decided to champion a No Salary History bill in Illinois, I knew I’d need a strong advocacy partner to get it done and that’s exactly what I found in Women Employed. It is thanks to their leadership, determination, and strategic knowhow that we were able to make No Salary History the law of the land in Illinois.” State Representative Anna Moeller, co-sponsor of the No Salary History bill ACCESSweren’t enough. Linda’s college dreams their voices and share their stories. And would have fallen from reach if it weren’t we spur policymakers to address the for the aid she receives from MAP. crisis of college affordability and to To date, Women Employed has helped make financial aid a top priority. win tens of millions of dollars of vital We work tirelessly as the leading student assistance, making college advocate in Illinois for students like more accessible to more than 200,000 Linda to achieve their dreams. We want low-income students. We work in all working women to have access to coalition to educate legislators about the education and training they need the importance of MAP in Illinois. We to reach their goals and improve their mobilize students and others to raise economic security. It IS about the money. For many women, education is a pathway out of poverty. In 2019, Women Employed led the charge to secure $50 million dollars in increased funding for need-based financial aid through the Illinois My future depends on Monetary Award Program (MAP). This much-needed my education, and it means so much that funding will provide 130,000 students with larger grants Women Employed is fighting for my success and will allow almost 7,000 additional students to go to just as hard as my college this year alone. family is.” Linda Arroyo, MAP recipient Each year, thousands of people rely on This victory opens the door for students MAP to afford their education. MAP is like Linda, who has big dreams. Determined awarded on a first-come, first-served to build a better future for herself and her basis and each year thousands of family, Linda excelled in academics and students who are eligible do not receive athletics throughout high school. But her the grant. scholarships and her family’s contributions Women Employed is bringing a critical voice to policy conversations: out of the student’s. I can’t think of another group that has been as 3 adult students steadfastly committed, articulate, and effective in advocacy for MAP and for drop out because they low-income, working students over the years.” lack financial support Erik Zarnikow, Executive Director, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) SUCCESS Research continues to show that a post-secondary degree increases earning potential. But for low- paid women seeking to improve their opportunities through education, the traditional college system can be challenging. Women Employed champions career pathways programs that help these students succeed in reaching their goals, and this year, we helped nearly 1,400 students take the next step to something better. Many college programs were not Bridge programs prepare adults with designed for adult students who limited academic or English skills to are more likely to be working parents enter and succeed in college or training For students who don’t know what and this year we partnered with 12 and who may need to build or brush up leading to employment in high-demand career field they want to enter,Career community-based organizations and on academic skills. Career pathways industries. Women Employed has Foundations provides a missing link. CCC campuses to deliver Career meet these students where they are partnered with City Colleges of Chicago Students learn about career options Foundations. on their educational journey and put (CCC) to design bridge programs and and local education opportunities, and Thanks to our leadership on career them on a solid track to build their develop lesson plans in six industries; we create personalized plans to get to pathways, thousands in Chicagoland skills, develop an academic plan, and also work with community organizations college or training. Women Employed have the tools to successfully build access better jobs. Women Employed to deliver these programs. and CCC developed the programs a brighter future. is a trusted expert on career pathways, and we focus on two types: Career In my mind I just wanted Foundations and bridge programs. to get my GED and get a Thank you to our community job. I wasn’t even thinking partners in this work: of continuing on to college. • Albany Park Community • Heartland Human Center Care Services Then one thing led to • Asian Human Services • Howard Area another.

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