From Our President & CEO: Honoring the Legacy of Women

It has been a busy time as we celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, and revisited important moments and milestones throughout Women’s History Month. Thank you to the business leaders who joined us as partners, to our advocates who supported our efforts by taking the #ChoosetoChallenge pledge, and to the community in the Midwest and beyond who united for women. 

As we near the end of March, our commitment to celebrating and honoring the women who came before us is not over. Throughout the year we must acknowledge the hardships, the progress and the triumphs of women who influenced equality. We must learn from the fierce leaders and empowered voices - then and now. 

Through United WE’s Legacy of Women initiative, we continue to honor women’s historical contributions in state parks, historic sites and other public spaces. History is told in part through public spaces, where individuals, particularly girls, can imagine what they can accomplish and who they can become. To date we have helped rename two state parks in Missouri for women, with a third planned in May. Before this, there were none. We have plans to do the same in Kansas, where there are also no state parks currently named for women. Last August, we also honored the first U.S. female county clerk in the United States, Annie White Baxter, by inducting her into the Hall of Famous Missourians. The women recognized in these public spaces demonstrate fearlessness, resilience, education and what it means to be a “first.” These women also raised their hands and used their voices to help their community. 

Which brings us to the present. We must continue to raise our hands and use our voices for a more just and equitable society. I am excited to share two new ways you can do this throughout the year - by becoming a United WE Ambassadors or United WE Groundbreaker. You do not need any prior experience to join - you are ready as you are! Join us now to grow your network and accelerate progress towards gender equality!

• Our Ambassadors Program launches on March 31. This group of passionate women and men will help us build awareness, excitement and advocate for our mission across the Midwest and beyond. Learn more and join us here. 

• The Groundbreakers group is made up of action-based individuals who want to explore and enhance United WE’s policy, advocacy, Appointments Project and support efforts. Learn more and join us here.  

And just in case you have not already, before March officially comes to a close, be sure to: 

• Join the more than 115 individuals who took the #ChoosetoChallenge pledge and call out gender bias, stereotypes and discrimination every time you see it. Encourage your friends to take it, too! 

• Support our International Women’s Day partners - women owned businesses - with multiple promotions still live through March 31. Cocktail, wreath-making kit or new outfit anyone? 

• Visit our Women’s History Month calendar for informative online exhibits, important dates honoring key women and policies, and more. 

• Watch the second episode of Take Three, our new video series where I speak with influential and empowering women. This month I talked with Linda Jordan, a past United WE Chair and current Board Member. Check it out below.

Women’s History Month is a month full of reflecting, learning and honoring. We stand on the shoulders of the historical figures we honored throughout Women’s History Month. My question to you is this: how will you honor the legacy of women who came before you, the women who stand beside you now, and the women who will influence the future?

Kindly,

From Our President & CEO: Celebrating Black Women this Black History Month with Tangible Action

As you know, February is Black History Month. You have likely seen stories of success, tribulations and inspiration throughout your newsfeeds. February gives us a dedicated time for acknowledging the courageous black women who have shaped our history and the progress being made in our communities. But if there is anything we learned from 2020, it is that talking about and celebrating history makers is not enough. We must be proactive in creating tangible change and systems that invest in the economic and civic leadership of women of color. United WE advocates for all women, especially women of color, in our work throughout the year. We are encouraged by some of our recent success in creating more equal opportunity for Black women in our key initiatives. A few highlights: 

Pay Equity

• We know that Black women are underpaid and impacted by the wage gap more than other women. Research shows that salary history bans increase pay for Black women. We continue to advocate for salary history bans for all women across Kansas and Missouri and successfully partnered with Kansas City, Missouri, to ban salary history on employment applications.

Child Care Providers

• Research shows that women of color make up the majority of the child care workforce. COVID-19 has exacerbated existing concerns for providers including margins, compensation, enrollment predictability, and job security. In January 2021 we conducted a roundtable with child care providers, early child care experts and advocates, and discussed tangible ways we can advocate for the improvement of working conditions for these women.

Occupational Licensing

• Our research shows that occupational licensing can often create unnecessary barriers for women entrepreneurs, especially if expensive fees are required. We continue efforts that stem from our success in 2018 with Missouri House Bill 1500, which allowed hair braiders to earn a living without obtaining a cosmetology license. We recently testified for a current bill under consideration to reduce shampoo licensing requirements for women cosmetology entrepreneurs.

Civic Leadership

• We recently launched new Appointments Project efforts in Kansas City, Missouri, Jackson County, Missouri and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania intentionally focused on increasing the number of women of color in civic leadership positions. To date, 28% of Appointments Project appointees are women of color. We are grateful for community partners like Black Excellence KC, Sisters’ Circle Greater Kansas City, and local chapters of The Links, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha, who encourage women of color to participate in the Appointments Project.

We will continue to work for change for women. We will continue to listen with intentionality and understand the unique barriers at the intersectionality of gender and race. And we will ensure women of color have a seat at the civic leadership table. Not just this month, but until we achieve equality. 

In our February 2021 newsletter we are introducing a new monthly video series, Take Three with Wendy. These 3-question interviews will allow us to learn from and be inspired by women in our communities. In honor of Black History Month and a prelude to Women’s History Month, our first feature is civic leader, civil rights activist and United WE advisory council member Joanne Collins, the first African American woman elected to serve on the Kansas City, Missouri City Council. I’m pleased to share my conversation with Joanne and hope you enjoy it; click below to view.

Take Three with Wendy: Episode 1

Warmly,

P.S. Women’s History Month begins next week on March 1, and International Women’s Day is March 8. Last month, I challenged you to think about how you can advocate for women in 2021. Now is your chance! Join us as we #Unite4Women and #ChoosetoChallenge throughout March.