We Work for Change 2022 speaker Lieutenant General (Ret) Nadja West. Image via Matthew McNeal Photo
KANSAS CITY, MO – September 21, 2022 – Today more than 1,400 women and allies from 14 states gathered both in-person and through a virtual livestream for United WE’s annual We Work For Change event. The event program featured speaker Lieutenant General (Ret) Nadja West, the first African American Army Surgeon General, the first African American woman 3-star General, and the highest-ranking woman graduate from West Point.
Lieutenant General West discussed the importance of leadership learned during her tenure in the US Army, detailing what good leaders are supposed to do, what they should know, and what they must be – especially in times of uncertainty. “Now more than ever, we need good leaders who can work together to uncover the silver lining amid chaos to inspire their teams.”
“Now more than ever, we need good leaders who can work together to uncover the silver lining amid chaos to inspire their teams.”
West also answered questions from veteran families and youth attendees. Answering a question about what young people can do to work toward change and become leaders, West said, “Have the desire to do it. Have that desire, passion, and always ask the question, ‘why not me?’”
We Work for Change, presented by Bank of America, is United WE's signature annual fundraising event uniting women and allies to raise funds and awareness to advance all women's economic and civic leadership. The event has inspired generations of women and men to work towards a more gender equitable world.
“Bank of America is committed to gender equity within our own organization and throughout society, and we support United WE’s mission to advance economic and civic opportunities for women,” said Linda Lenza, Senior Vice President and Market Executive, Bank of America Kansas City. “We are proud to be presenting sponsor of We Work for Change which celebrates and inspires progress for generations of women.”
Hosted at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and through a virtual livestream, attendees included political leaders from across state and party lines like Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. Kehoe spoke about his support for United WE’s work in improving access to childcare for women across both state lines.
The 2022 We Work for Change Event raised nearly $680,000 and counting to support the United WE mission and programs, including the commission of transformative research, support for barrier-removing policy reforms, advocating for the legacies of women, and more. United WE’s strategic investments and passionate work have resulted in work across seven states, including 22 impactful research studies, 51 meaningful policy actions, and 180+ women appointed to civic leadership positions through the Appointments Project®.
“We know our work for change requires persistence and perseverance, and that our framework of research, solutions and results is something that works,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President and CEO. “And [it] can be repeated, again and again, as we tackle economic barriers holding women back.”
Join United WE in creating meaningful change for all women and learn more at www.united-we.org.
About United WE
United WE (United Women’s Empowerment) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. Since 1991, United WE has overcome systemic barriers to women’s economic development and civic leadership by investing in research, advocacy and policy solutions. We have conducted 22 meaningful research studies, advocated for issues resulting in 51 policy actions and supported more than 180+ civic appointments. Our work positively impacts hundreds of thousands of women and families by commissioning transformative research, scaling our fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor the legacies of women, and contributing to policy solutions that advance equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and occupational licensing, and aid in fighting against sexual harassment. Unite with us. Visit www.united-we.org and connect with @UnitedWeEmpower on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
###
