EMPOWERED for the Next 25 Years

By Wendy Doyle - Huffington Post Blog

On December 2nd more than 1,500 guests joined us at the Will Work For Change Annual Luncheon celebration to kick off the Women’s Foundation’s 25th year of working to improve the lives of women of all ages across Kansas and Missouri. Featured speakers included Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, America’s first woman Secretary of State, legendary journalist Ann Compton, and Missouri Speaker of the House Todd Richardson. It was a truly an inspiring day and I wanted to take this opportunity to share some highlights and why I’m feeling more empowered than ever to continue to work for change...

Read the full post on Wendy Doyle's Huffington Post Blog.

Statement from Women's Foundation on IKEA Policy

Kansas City, MO -- Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of Women's Foundation released the following statement on IKEA USA's announcement of expanded paid parental leave:

We commend IKEA for their leadership in expanding paid parental leave for their employees and hope to see more employers follow suit.  Our research shows that, among other things, paid family leave can reduce the percentage of those who receive public assistance or food stamps in the year following a child’s birth, encourage women to stay in the workforce, and allow fathers to take a more active role in caretaking. Expanding paid leave policies is good for families, businesses and the economy; it's simply the right thing to do.

Women’s Foundation Kicks off its 25th Year with a Public Policy Strategy Focused on Economically Empowering Women

Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, Ann Compton, and Speaker of the Missouri House Todd Richardson Join Women's Foundation to Remove Barriers and Increase Opportunities for Women in Missouri and Kansas

KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, Women's Foundation kicked off its 25th anniversary by convening more than 1,500 people from across the political spectrum with the common goal of economically empowering women in Kansas and Missouri.

Keynote speakers for the celebration included Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, America’s first woman Secretary of State, legendary ABC News’ White House Correspondent Ann Compton, and Missouri Speaker of the House Todd Richardson. Other speakers included high school-aged members of Women’s Foundation’s Girl Leadership program from the bi-state region, and civic leaders from the Women’s Foundation Appointments Project.

At the luncheon, Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President and CEO, recapped the organization’s work in 2016, which focused heavily on research targeting the barriers and economic opportunities for women in Kansas and Missouri. Women’s Foundation commissioned research in the past year on Pay Equity Best Practices, The Status of Women in Kansas, and Paid Family Leave to name a few. The most recent research project, Occupational Licensing and Women Entrepreneurs in Missouri, was made possible with generous support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  

“Our region’s economic development hinges on our ability to remove artificial barriers to economic, civic, and professional growth for women,” said Doyle. Over the last year, Women’s Foundation has been actively pursuing policy solutions in these areas.   

Speaker Richardson announced two legislative priorities that he will be working on to strengthen Missouri’s economy for women of all ages in the 2017 Legislative Session – paid family leave and a “sunrise” provision that would require a cost-benefit analysis to create a new occupational licensing board or commission. Both of these proposed pieces of legislation would remove barriers for women entering and staying in the workforce. 

“It is imperative that our State removes unnecessary regulatory barriers to allow women to succeed. I know that when women succeed, our families and State succeed, too,” said Speaker Richardson. “Women already account for over $24 Billion is sales in our State. Just imagine what we can do together if those barriers that hold women back are removed – I’ll work for that change.”

At the 2015 Annual Luncheon, Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order supporting equal pay, after Women’s Foundation’s 2015 Status of Women in Missouri research identified women make 71 cents to the dollar men make. Women’s Foundation looks forward to continuing the advancement of solutions related to pay equity with the next administration, including implementation of the Pay Equity Best Practices Guidelines.

The Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using philanthropy, research, and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

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Women's Foundation Releases Findings on Occupational Licensing Research

Report Identifies Impact and Barriers of Certain Regulations for Women Entrepreneurs

Kansas City, MO -- During Global Entrepreneur Week, Women’s Foundation released findings in a new research report: Occupational Licensing and Women Entrepreneurs in Missouri. The research study was conducted in partnership with the University of Missouri Truman School Institute of Public Policy and with the generous support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. It found that occupational licensing, while intended to protect the safety and well-being of the public, can often create unnecessary barriers for women entrepreneurs by restricting entry and re-entry into professions, reducing employment, and creating economic inequity. This research shows removing these barriers will meet one of Women’s Foundation’s key goals of empowering more women to become entrepreneurs.

Missouri has 40 occupational licensing boards and commissions that regulate 55 professions. Approximately 133 occupational licensing board or commission members are serving expired terms and more than 38 board seats are currently vacant. There are many professions that have outdated, excessive, or overly bureaucratic requirements for licensure. Issues include the lack of reciprocity among state licensures. 

The report includes potential policy solutions for reforming occupational licensing including instituting sunrise provisions with cost-benefit analyses and sunset provisions requiring periodic reviews to determine if necessary. Policy changes could be made by proposed legislation and changes in state law, as well as administrative rule changes and board policies. 

The report also suggests providing mentoring to women entrepreneurs and placing more women on Missouri’s 200 boards and commissions with support from programs like Women's Foundation's Appointments Project. Missouri currently has an estimated 1,300 board and commission vacancies or individuals serving expired terms.

The full report is available here. A fact sheet summarizing the report is here.

"This research shows that there are some unnecessary and outdated regulations that make it harder for women to become entrepreneurs," said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of Women's Foundation. "We'll be working towards common sense solutions so that more women are empowered to open businesses, improving the economic status of their families and communities." 

"Women-owned businesses provide valuable services to consumers, create opportunities for women, expand markets, and add economic and social value to the community," said Emily Johnson of the MU Institute of Public Policy. "Our findings point to practical ways we can reduce barriers to increase opportunities for entrepreneurship."

“Starting a business can be one of the best ways to become economically independent,” said Jason Wiens, Policy Director at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “We need to remove barriers to new business creation so that more Missourians, especially women, can become entrepreneurs.”

"Best practices in licensing can allow Missouri’s economy to continue to innovate and grow," said Katie Steele Danner, Director of Missouri Division of Professional Registration. "By working with groups such as Women’s Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy, policy makers can promote economic growth, innovation, competition, and job creation."

Previous research has shown that occupational licensing can discourage innovations in licensed industries and hinder economic mobility, especially for low-income potential entrepreneurs. Many occupations require that an individual spend months or even years satisfying educational or apprenticing benchmarks. This new research delves further into the impact in Missouri, identifying opportunities to remove barriers so that more women can open businesses. 

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy, and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org. 

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More Empowered Than Ever

The 2016 election cycle will be remembered for many things, some of it very divisive, and some of it very ugly, particularly as related to women.  But there were some bright spots in Tuesday's election with women making history: 

• In Missouri, Robin Smith became the first African American woman nominee by a major party for statewide office.
• Nationally, there will now be more women in the United States Senate than ever before (21) and the number of women of color in the Senate went from one to four.
• The House of Representatives will now include its first Indian-American woman and Vietnamese-American woman to serve in the chamber.
• A Somali-American Muslim woman was elected to a state legislature for the first time in American history.
• Kellyanne Conway became the first woman to successfully run a presidential campaign.
• And, of course Hillary Clinton continued to put a thousand cracks in the highest glass ceiling as the first female nominee of a major political party and the winner of the popular vote in Tuesday's general election.  

If anything, despite some progress, this election underscored there is much more work to do to reach gender equity in public leadership.To that end, I believe firmly that now is the time for all Americans to unite and tackle the unfinished work of advancing gender equity and opportunity. I hope you will join me. 

In just a few weeks, we will host two of America’s most distinguished female leaders to discuss the landscape for women following the 2016 election.Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, America’s first woman Secretary of State, and Ann Compton, Legendary ABC News White House Correspondent, will engage, inspire, and empower us to work for change. 
 

To those who have already supported the luncheon by reserving your seat, thank you! We look forward to seeing you there. Remaining seating for this year’s Will Work for Change Annual Luncheon is extremely limited. Don’t miss your opportunity to join us for this inspiring event as we go into 2017 resolved to continue to work for change.

Will Work for Change Annual Luncheon
Featuring Dr. Madeleine K. Albright and Ann Compton
Friday, December 2, 2016
11:30 AM
Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center Exhibit Hall

Reserve your ticket here

If you can’t join us in person, please consider a donation to support Women’s Foundation work at this critical moment.

Women's Foundation Releases Initial Findings on Paid Family Leave Research

Fact Sheet Identifies the Economic Benefits of Helping Working Women & Their Families

Kansas City, MO -- Women's Foundation today released initial findings from research on paid family leave.  The research is being conducted in partnership with the University of Missouri Truman School Institute of Public Policy and is focused on paid family leave and its impact on families in Missouri and the U.S.

Key initial findings include that:

• Paid family leave can reduce the percentage of those who receive public assistance or food stamps in the year following a child’s birth
• Paid family leave does not negatively affect business outputs, but encourages women to stay in the workforce.
• Despite there being economic and health benefits to family leave policies, only four states have adopted statewide paid family leave programs that go beyond the Federal Medical & Leave Act (FMLA).  
• Paid family leave allows fathers to take time to care for their children.  

The full fact sheet of initial findings is available here.

"Our research shows that real opportunities exist to advance workplace policies such as paid family leave in order to economically empower women and their families," said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of Women's Foundation. "We'll continue to study the issues women face and support policy solutions that improve workplace policies and strengthen our economy."

Women's Foundation has been supportive of administrative and legislative solutions that would expand paid family leave options for women and their families.  For example, Women's Foundation supported Missouri House Bill 2228, sponsored by Rep. Jay Barnes (R - Jefferson City) that would allow state employees ten consecutive work days of paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.  The bill was voted out of committee but did not make it through the General Assembly before the end of the 2016 legislative session.

A poll released in July 2016 by Public Policy Polling shows a majority of Missourians support paid parental leave as well.  When asked if they support or oppose allowing state employees ten consecutive work days of paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Missourians supported this policy solution.

Women's Foundation and the Institute of Public Policy plan to continue studying the issue of paid family leave as one of many economic indicators affecting the status of women in Missouri.  The research findings help identify real issues facing Missouri women and their families, and the Women's Foundation then works to find solutions.

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change.  More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

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Women's Foundation Grantee Spotlight: Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

October is nationally known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One of this year's Women's Foundation grantees, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV) has gone above and beyond to raise awareness surrounding the topics of domestic and sexual violence. We chose MCADSV because we knew they would use our  Status of Women in Missouri and Status of Women in Kansas research studies to find solutions to improve the lives of women. 

The Intern Resource Project is MCADSV’s new initiative created to alleviate campus sexual assault, intern sexual harassment, as well as dating violence. This program will ensure young women just entering the workforce have the resources they need if they feel unsafe.  The coalition will convene leadership from university campuses in order to implement policies and practices to prevent violence against women in Missouri. 

The coalition believes domestic and sexual violence will only end through education, assistance, alliance, and research. MCADSV has published research regarding domestic and sexual violence and has used that research to create prevention guidelines and legislative advocacy to end abuse. Since the coalition began its work, more than 100 domestic and sexual violence programs have formed across Missouri. 

Learn more about the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence here >> https://www.mocadsv.org/

Grantee Spotlight: Launching Rosie

Earlier this year, we announced the Missouri State University Foundation as one of our grantees. We chose the MSU Foundation because their work aligned with the results of our Women in Leadership research by creating solutions to empower women in the Greater Springfield area. Our research has found that women do not feel like they have the knowledge or confidence to serve on boards and commissions. In the years since, we have worked to help women gain confidence through our Appointments Project and other leadership trainings. MSU is using this opportunity to create another solution to these obstacles. 
 
The eFactory is an MSU program that is the hub of entrepreneurship in southwest Missouri. The Network is the premier organization for Springfield’s young professionals interested in leadership positions. The two teamed to connect mentorship and business development resources. 

We are already seeing their tremendous success of investing in women’s economic development and empowerment in their new initiative, Rosie -- a network for women interested in entrepreneurship, business development, and leadership in Springfield.

Rosie will host a launch event on November 17th from 4 - 6 p.m. at The eFactory in Springfield, MO. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

If you are interested in applying to be a part of Rosie, please click here.

If you are interested in serving on boards or commissions but are not in the Springfield area, learn more about opportunities in your community through our Appointments Project!

Catherine Gilbert Appointed to St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission

Gilbert is the first woman appointed to the commission

St. Louis, MO – Women’s Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Catherine Gilbert to the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission (MTC). Gilbert was appointed by Mayor Francis Slay, who has partnered with Women’s Foundation’s Appointments Project, in order to address the gender gap in city leadership positions.

Catherine Gilbert

“As the youngest applicant and the first woman appointee to the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission, Catherine Gilbert will bring a fresh perspective to the issues facing the commission,” said Mayor Francis Slay. “Her experience in urban planning and investment in the future of St. Louis will greatly benefit the commission and the people it serves.” 

“Catherine will be a valuable addition to the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. We at the Women’s Foundation are pleased that Mayor Slay and the City of St. Louis continue to increasingly promote qualified women to leadership roles on boards and commissions,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of Women’s Foundation.

Catherine Gilbert works as the Director of Engagement at Elements Partnership. She is co-founder of the Gravois Initiative, a grassroots, citizen-led initiative to create a comprehensive plan for the Gravois corridor in the City of St. Louis. Through this effort, she engaged more than 200 stakeholders and developed and presented a plan to the Missouri Department of Transportation and the St. Louis City Street Department. She received a Masters of Arts in Urban Planning and Development from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Political Science from Trinity University. 

“I am honored to be the first woman appointed to the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission,” Gilbert said. “Transportation is vital to a modern, urban community, and I am excited to bring a new perspective. While we work towards maintaining standards for safe transit options, we must help the MTC and Saint Louis usher in a new era of transportation.”

The Women’s Foundation Appointments Project serves as a talent bank, advisor, and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The Women’s Foundation guides women through the process of applying for these positions.

Thirty-two (32) women have been appointed to boards and commissions in Missouri and Kansas as a result of the Appointments Project since its launch in the spring of 2014. The Appointments Project is currently active in helping recruit and train more women to serve on boards and commission for the States of Missouri and Kansas, St. Louis County, and the Cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, and Olathe, KS.

The Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy, and policy solutions to make meaningful change.  More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

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Patti Sosa Appointed to Kansas City Health Commission

Sosa is Appointments Project 31st Success

Kansas City, MO -- Women’s Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Patti Sosa to the Kansas City Health Commission. Sosa was appointed by Mayor Sly James, who has partnered with Women’s Foundation’s Appointments Project through his Women’s Empowerment Initiative (WE), in order to address the gender gap in city leadership positions. 

“Sosa’s experience with health organizations across Kansas City and the country will greatly benefit the Kansas City Health Commission,” said Mayor Sly James. “Thanks to our partnership with Women’s Foundation, we continue to make progress on increasing the number of qualified women in leadership roles on boards and commissions here in Kansas City.” 

“Patti will be a valuable addition to the Kansas City Health Commission. We at Women’s Foundation are happy to have provided her with support and guidance,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of Women's Foundation. “We are glad to have the partnership of Mayor James in our endeavor to empower more women to serve on boards and commissions.” 

Patti Sosa works as a Wellness Consultant for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. She has previously held positions with the Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City and the American Physical Therapy Association. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri.

“Women’s Foundation is integral to changing the look of boards and commissions in Kansas City and the region, and I am honored to be a small part of that,” Sosa said. “I look forward to serving as a Health Department Commissioner and am thankful to be a part of this year’s Appointment Project class.” 

Women’s Foundation Appointments Project serves as a talent bank, advisor, and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. Women’s Foundation guides women through the process of applying for these positions. 

Thirty-one (31) women have been appointed to boards and commissions in Missouri and Kansas as a result of the Appointments Project since its launch in the spring of 2014.  The Appointments Project is currently active in helping recruit and train more women to serve on boards and commissions for the States of Missouri and Kansas, St. Louis County, and the Cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, and Olathe, KS. 

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change.  More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

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