I am pleased to share that We Work for Change 2023 was nothing short of incredible! Thanks to our event leadership, sponsors, team, volunteer board members, and more than 1,100 attendees, we raised $$708,282 to fuel our mission. Every year, I am humbled and grateful for the community that shows up to help further our work of gender equity.
I’d like to give a special thank you to Bank of America for their ongoing support. This year marks their sixth year as presenting sponsor of We Work for Change.
If you attended the event, either virtual or in-person, you know that our theme was “United WE Listen.” As I think back over our work, I've had the honor to listen to countless women, and I’m convinced listening is the most important thing we can do to create change.
So…what does change sound like?
Equal pay sounds like the jingling of extra coins in a pocket.
Entrepreneurship is the sound of the clinking of glasses during the toast at a grand opening.
Childcare is the laughter of children in a preschool, full of joy and potential.
Occupational licensing is the sound of a key, unlocking the door to a new home or office.
Paid family leave is a sigh of relief, knowing that you can take time off to care for your loved one, and still have a job when you return.
Civic engagement is the confident voice of a woman swearing to protect our United States Constitution.
And then there's the cheering of thousands of voices for the Kansas City Current, united in the first soccer stadium built for women in the world. Can you hear it? This is the sound of our work, your work, and the work of research, solutions, and results.
Many of you heard me announce our newest endeavor at the event - the United WE Institute.
Building off years of robust research, the United WE Institute will be a first-of-its-kind centralized hub for our research and policy work across the Midwest and beyond. Convening important regional and national conversations, The Institute will elevate the voices of women, and advance non-partisan policies. Like so many of our initiatives, the United WE Institute will serve as a model for the rest of the country.
I want to mention one more thing about the sound of change – change is sometimes confrontational, and uncomfortable. In my mind, it sounds like a healthy, respectful debate and civil discourse. These are opportunities to listen, so we can better understand each other, and our issues, and find common ground. We don't have to like everything we hear, and we don't always have to agree. But we cannot tune out, because if we do - we lose the chance to solve any issues for women and their families… including the ones on which we already agree.
At We Work for Change, we heard from a number of leaders who are working for change… including our special guest Mara Liasson, someone who has dedicated her career to listening, storytelling, and amplifying the voices of others. It’s through these stories that we can truly understand issues, and craft solutions together.
I challenge each and every one of you to listen with your ears, your brains, and your hearts. Be open to connecting with the words and feelings that others here convey. When something resonates or strikes a chord, let it inspire you to learn more, engage more, and consistently work for change. And, of course, make a donation.
United WE Listen is not just a theme; it's a call to action. It's a reminder that change is not a distant echo but a tangible reality that gets closer with every footstep of reconsideration and new perspectives.
As we move forward, let's do so with a shared commitment to listen, empathize, and act. Let the sound of change be our guide, our motivation, and our constant reminder that united, we are stronger.
Gratefully,
