From Our President & CEO: Reflecting on This Year & Growing the Movement

This year has been full of productivity and rewarding impact as we accelerated our movement to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. We commissioned critical research, advocated for solutions to remove barriers, helped educate and appoint women to leadership positions, solicited feedback from women on their obstacles, and engaged more people like you than ever before in supporting our mission.

 

Here are few highlights:

  • 660 Women trained/empowered through our programming and Appointments Project

  • 501 policy maker education touchpoints addressing barriers such as occupational licensing, paid family leave, childcare and more

  • 262 Women’s voices heard in town halls across Missouri

  • 36 Women appointed to boards and commissions

  • 7 new Appointments Project cities/counties onboarded

 

Thank you for your gifts of leadership, engagement, support, and feedback this year. Our successes are not possible without you - you fuel and champion our mission in your workplaces and communities. Because of you, this movement has tremendous momentum and united with you, we are eager to remove even more barriers for women in 2022!

 

There are countless women who inspired us this year. I invite to you revisit their stories:

  • Watch our Take Three video series, where I spoke with inspiring women about their efforts to empower women in their communities.

  • Revisit stories of generosity and kindness from some of our amazing donors here.

  • Read quotes from Missouri women town hall participants about the barriers they face in our full report here.

 

As we wrap this year, I want to give you a teaser of what’s to come in 2022:

  • Research: We will release the Status of Women in Kansas and Status of Women in Oklahoma, as well as an occupational licensing briefing.

  • Economic Development: We will launch the first-ever Kansas Women’s Economic Development Task Force and conduct town halls across Kansas.

  • Civic Leadership: We will continue to scale our award-winning Appointments Project to new states and cities from the east to west coast.

 

There is much to celebrate this year, and I am grateful for the community that makes our work possible. I hope you take time to rest and reflect this holiday season and know that you have made a difference in the lives of thousands of women. I look forward to strengthening this movement with you in 2022.

 

Kindly,

Wendy

New study: Childcare Challenges Lead to Significant Impact on Missouri’s Economy

“No one should have to choose between caring for a child and paying the bills. This important data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Chamber of Commerce echoes our Missouri Town Hall Report findings and highlights the childcare challenges that exist for families in Missouri and across our country. For many women, the cost of care equals or surpasses their monthly income, making it hard to justify staying in the workforce. By generating innovative solutions we can boost women’s participation in the labor force and grow our American economy”
— Wendy Doyle

A new report has revealed that childcare challenges are costing Missouri an estimated $1.35 billion annually for the state’s economy, including a $280 million annual loss in tax revenue.

The Untapped Potential in Missouri report, jointly released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry — and in partnership with United WE — sheds new light on an issue that is contributing to workforce challenges employers are facing today.  In fact, the report found that 28 percent of respondents reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

“As we work to achieve a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that the availability of workforce is a crucial challenge — with childcare remaining a significant barrier for many Missourians who want to work. This new report brings to light that childcare issues are costing our state more than a billion dollars annually,” said Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “While this is a complex subject, the business community is ready to lead as we explore ways to address childcare challenges and their subsequent impact on our state’s workforce.”

As a partner in the study release, United WE shares the concern about how childcare issues affect Missouri’s economy as well as the impact on individual families.

“No one should have to choose between caring for a child and paying the bills. This important data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Chamber of Commerce echoes our Missouri Town Hall Report findings and highlights the childcare challenges that exist for families in Missouri and across our country. For many women, the cost of care equals or surpasses their monthly income, making it hard to justify staying in the workforce. By generating innovative solutions we can boost women’s participation in the labor force and grow our American economy,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of United WE.

Key findings from the 2021 report include:

  • Childcare gaps result in massive economic losses for Missouri. Childcare issues result in a total estimated loss of $1.35 billion in Missouri, including an estimated $280 million lost annually in tax revenue.

  • Some Missouri parents are leaving their jobs due to childcare issues. Approximately 9 percent of parents surveyed voluntarily left a job due to childcare issues.

  • Childcare issues are significantly affecting parents’ job decisions. Of respondents surveyed, 28 percent reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

  • The greatest need is for infant and toddler care. Of parents who voluntarily leave their jobs, 57 percent do so when their child(ren) is two years old or younger.

The “Untapped Potential” series examines childcare challenges and issues in five U.S. states—Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, and Texas—building on reports released in 2020 on Iowa, Idaho, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.

“While the impact is different in each of these states, these studies show the urgency needed in addressing childcare issues across the country,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Center for Education and Workforce. “The challenges in the childcare system are complex, but solvable — and addressing them comprehensively, in ways that consider the needs of parents, businesses, and providers, will be central for the nation’s long-term economic success.”

Investing in Equity and Opportunity for Women

United WE Donor Feature: Jennifer Ingraham

As a former United WE board chair, Jennifer Ingraham has supported the mission of United WE with her time, talent and treasure for nearly 20 years. She is engaged on every level – which means she holds many titles at United WE, including Appointee, Advisor, Trailblazer, Changemaker and member of the Legacy Society. 

“Even though I no longer have an active role as a board member, United WE’s work of eliminating the barriers to women’s economic growth continues. When we lift up women, they in turn lift up economies. Supporting that work through philanthropy is my way of investing in those at United WE who are continuing to make a difference for women.”

Jennifer Ingraham is a working mother with 25+ years of experience in fundraising for the arts and higher education sectors. Jennifer currently serves Kansas City University as Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni Relations. “This role affords me the honor of inviting alumni to reflect on their success and give back to their alma mater. I feel when I make a personal gift in support of United WE, it gives me that same opportunity to reflect on the work that has been accomplished to advance women during my lifetime and make an investment in the next wave of change I want to see in the world.”

As an appointee through the Appointments Project, Jennifer serves as Vice Chair of the Missouri Community Service Commission and is the co-chair of the Kansas City PIEA Crossroads Arts Advisory Committee. Jennifer is passionate about making a difference in our communities and philanthropy is an easy and active way of supporting United WE’s crucial mission. “I encourage others who believe in equity and opportunity for women to make their own gift in support of United WE. There is a time and place for all of us to be actively involved in the nonprofits and missions we care about. But when we can’t be personally engaged, we can still support those who are doing the work through our personal philanthropy.” 

A monthly recurring donation (Changemakers) or planned gift (Legacy Society) is also an affordable way to make an impact. ”I made my planned giving commitment to United WE at a time when the organization wanted to grow its endowment. I was board president and I felt that before I asked others to make a significant gift to the campaign, I needed to lead by example. I knew I couldn’t make a leadership gift from my discretionary income, but I could if I made a planned gift. That experience is what led me to make my first charitable planned gift.”

Thank you, Jennifer, for your on-going support and passion for empowering women!

We invite you to join Jennifer today by becoming a Changemaker, Trailblazer, Legacy Society member – or like her, all three!  Contact Robyn Kollar at agd@united-we.org or 816-988-2006 to learn more.

From Our President & CEO: A Season of Gratitude

What are you thankful for this year? 

For most of us, this year has sometimes felt like a repeat of 2020; there have been setbacks and concerns as we continue to navigate a pandemic, find our country divided on key issues, and address the challenges that disproportionately affect women. 

However, as we enter the holiday season, it is important to pause and acknowledge our gratitudes and our triumphs. There have been hardships, but this year has provided us with opportunities to plan for future generations while acknowledging the current needs of women and their families. We have taken time to listen, learn, and act as we move forward, paving the path for how we want future generations of women and girls to thrive. I am thankful for all that you have done to further our mission and advance gender equity through your support and involvement, particularly:  

Women’s Economic Development Task Force: A First-of-its-Kind Initiative to Provoke Change

Between July and October, we spoke with hundreds of  women from all backgrounds across the state of Missouri about the issues surrounding their participation and advancement in the workforce. We had candid conversations, uncovered new insights, and are currently developing actionable and necessary policy recommendations to improve the conditions that hold women back. And Missouri is just a starting point; we have plans to expand our task forces to additional states in 2022 to continue hearing and understanding the challenges affecting women across our nation. We are grateful for the honesty of our participants and the generous support of our partners. 

Key Policy Expansions

We supported multiple policy updates that impact women’s wellbeing this year. We are grateful to the political leaders on both sides of the party lines who support the advancement of women through multiple changes, including:

  • Medicaid Expansion in Missouri: 275K more Missourians now have access to health insurance, including pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities and children. 

  • Occupational Licensing Support for Women-Led Jobs: House Bills 273 and 476 were signed into law in Missouri, providing broader licensure reforms for shampooing and occupational therapy. 

  • Occupational Licensing Support for Military Reciprocity in Kansas. HB 2066, signed into law, expands the existing law to make it easier for military spouses from other states to use their professional licenses in Kansas by expediting key elements of the licensing process.

  • Expanded Paid Family Leave for Kansas state employees: The Judicial Branch now provides eight weeks of leave for both parents, an increase of just four weeks for the secondary parent, and the Board of Regents requires a shorter employment time to qualify for leave.

As I reflect on 2021, I see that we have been busy at work, and I am grateful for that. I’m also thankful to the many stakeholders that support, elevate and advocate for our work.

Thank you to the civic leaders who listen to our feedback to improve policies for women and families. 

Thank you to the community partners who support the Appointments Project, and to the women who trust us with their journey to seek positions on boards and commissions. 

Thank you to the generous donors who make our work possible.

Thank you to the generous volunteers who give of their time to advance women, from our board of directors to advisors to numerous committees, task force and coalition members, and of course, United WE Ambassadors and Groundbreakers.

Thank you for being a supporter of United WE; we are grateful for the time, talent and treasure that countless women and men have donated to our organization since 1991. 

I have been so inspired this year by the groundbreaking women and men who support United WE and our efforts. During this season of gratitude, I encourage you to thank the people in your life who support and acknowledge you. Our work is far from done, but we are making progress together, and that is worth celebrating. United WE are thankful.

Kindly, 

Wendy

Enabling Equity for Future Generations

United WE Donor Feature: Ebony Reed

When United WE CEO Wendy Doyle met Ebony Reed on an airplane flying back to Kansas City in early 2020, she quickly knew she wanted to recruit her to serve on United WE’s board of directors. As New Audiences Chief of The Wall Street Journal, Ebony led many projects at the intersection of gender, which included writing and editing the Journal’s Women In newsletter. Ebony joined United WE’s board in January 2021 and hit the ground running by supporting the We Work for Change event and co-leading board recruitment efforts.

“I’m proud to be a board member to strategically support United WE’s inclusive mission of advocating for women’s economic and civic leadership and opportunity,” said Ebony. “This urgent work is nonpartisan and is at the heart of some of the most significant change and calls for change that we are seeing in society right now.”

As a journalist and co-author of the forthcoming book, “The Black Dollar”, some of the top policy areas of concern for Ebony are pay equity, workplace opportunity and entrepreneurship. “All of these areas have a significant impact on women’s financial equity and are linked to legislative changes and challenges, so that underscores the importance of United WE’s growing work with the Appointments Project.”

Ebony has held other board positions in Boston, New England and journalism industry nonprofit boards, but right now she is focusing all of her nonprofit time on United WE. Ebony is currently on book leave from The Wall Street Journal to write “The Black Dollar'' with fellow journalist Louise Story, which is focused on the economic systems and intersections of race with Black Americans over time in this country. The book is a mix of history, statistics and multi-generational personal stories. 

She also recently decided to make an impact on future generations of women by making a gift to United WE in her estate plan and joining United WE’s Legacy Society.

“I’ve had a lot of time lately to think about the impact I want to make with my life and how I want to help future generations. When we think about the fact that we all only have a finite amount of time in this life on this earth, it makes it really clear that making a contribution to a mission-focused organization that will use those funds for the betterment of the community is the right thing to do. Better outcomes for women mean better outcomes for our broader society.”
— Ebony Reed

Thank you, Ebony, for your incredible leadership and support to empower women! We invite you to join Ebony as a founding member of our Legacy Society by including United WE in your estate plan. An estate gift is an easy way to make an impact and can be as simple as designating United WE as beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. Estate gifts can be any amount that is meaningful to you! If you have already included United WE in your estate plan and have not yet notified us of your intention, please let us know so we can recognize your legacy as a founding member. Contact Angie Heer, Chief Development Officer at cdo@united-we.org or 816.988.2007 for further information.

Want to grab a copy of “The Black Dollar” once it is published? You can sign up here to get updates.

Ebony Reed accepts a Legacy Society Founding Member recognition piece from former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and United WE Change Campaign Honorary Chair, Sly James. Founding Members received a framed photo of the Fearless Girl statue from Wall Street engraved with their name and the title “Fearless.”

Press Release: Mayor Whipple and United WE Partnership Aims to Appoint More Women to Boards and Commissions

Free Virtual Webinar on November 10 Invites Wichita Women to Learn About Leadership Opportunities

As announced in a press briefing today with the Office of Mayor Whipple, the City of Wichita and United WE have a collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on local boards and commissions through the Appointments Project®. Started in 2014, United WE’s Appointments Project® has successfully placed more than 160 women on boards and commissions, with women of color representing 34% of applicants.  

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to increase gender parity and better drive representation across civic leadership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents,” Mayor Whipple said. “Our partnership with United WE and its Appointments Project® is strengthening our city by increasing the number of women, including women of color, who are at the decision-making table of their communities.”

United WE’s Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The award-winning approach guides women through the process of applying for these positions and suggests applicants for appointment.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they aren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project® so local boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “With the help of partners like Mayor Whipple, we are addressing the gender disparities in local leadership and able to make real changes in our communities.” 

Based on a growing number of success stories, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to work with elected officials and better community representation that leads to better lives for all.  

A public training event is planned for November 10, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. CST with local community partners Wichita Urban Professionals, The Hive, Greater Wichita Partnership and YLPWichita. Interested residents can sign up at https://united-we.org/events/2021/11/10/appointments-project-wichita-overview. 

“We encourage and invite everyone to learn more and join us in unlocking women’s potential for civic leadership,” Mayor Whipple said.

Appointee Profile: Teresa Miller

Teresa Miller was appointed By Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. Teresa recently joined the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in May 2021. She brings more than six years of experience serving in state government in Pennsylvania, most recently as Secretary for the Department of Human Services. In this role, Miller led a department working to address health disparities and racial inequities, finding innovative ways to address social determinants of health like food insecurity, housing and employment, connecting Medicaid enrollees to work supports, redesigning employment and training programs for Pennsylvania’s lowest income residents and supporting Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents through the pandemic. As the leader of the department, Miller oversaw a staff of approximately 16,000 and a total budget of more than $45 billion.

Prior to her time at Pennsylvania DHS, Miller served as the state’s insurance commissioner, beginning in 2015. As commissioner, Miller renewed the department’s commitment to consumer protection and reestablished an emphasis on consumer education and financial literacy in partnership with other state agencies, consumer groups, and advocates across Pennsylvania. Miller led the Insurance Department through attempts to replace the Affordable Care Act and advocated across Pennsylvania and to the United States Congress in defense of the law and how it has helped more than a million Pennsylvanians directly access health coverage and countless others through its consumer protections.

Before coming to Pennsylvania, Miller held leadership roles in the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and was administrator of the insurance division at the State of Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services. Currently, Miller is serving on the Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisers, providing feedback on federal policies and legislation that affect health care consumers.

A native of Oregon, Miller received a juris doctor from Willamette University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University.

It’s Time for Change to Stick - Paid Family Leave

From Our President & CEO Wendy Doyle

Wendy D. Doyle

Image c/o Justina Kellner

Research tells us that family leave policies are critical to the economic success of families and communities. We know that women are disproportionately affected by these policies, more often having to give up their job to stay at home to provide childcare when circumstances change. The most recent - and perhaps most destructive - instance of this impact is the increase in women staying home amidst COVID-19 challenges. 

Family leave is a pillar of our efforts to increase gender equity. Of course, we are not alone in our commitment to advocating for better paid family leave policies. Melinda French Gates recently lobbied for a national paid leave policy, detailed in a Time magazine feature. As she noted, 75% of American voters across party lines support a national paid leave policy; her guess on why the support is so broad is that the need is universal. The unexpected changes in our lives, from an ailing family member or new baby to small business struggles, will impact all of us at some point and therefore must be incorporated into the fabric of our workplaces and communities. 

As the Bipartisan Policy Center states, providing leave supports work, as employees can return to jobs more effectively when they’re given opportunities to take time away. While a national paid leave policy is still widely in discussion, these articles and resources prove the importance of establishing better scenarios for women and families to effectively participate in the workplace - both before, during and after unexpected circumstances - is critically important. 

Here in our homeland, we’ve seen executive orders advancing paid family leave in Missouri and more recently commended and supported Governor Laura Kelly for making great progress in Kansas. Thousands of additional state employees in Kansas now benefit from paid parental leave, as the Judicial Branch and Board of Regents updated their paid family leave policies in September. Learn more about these updates here. In August, the Legislative Coordinating Council approved a significant change to the legislative employee parental leave policy. Changes included more leave for both primary and secondary caregivers. 

We’re also hearing from women across Missouri in our Economic Development Town Halls that families need better policies in order to maintain - or regain - financial stability.  I want to share a few comments with you directly from working women: 

  • “There is no one of childbearing age in my leadership. Who’s fighting for us in these discussions when you talk about these different policies?...Someone told me, ‘When we had kids, my wife stayed home.’”

  • “During COVID, exceptions were made for families to give flexibility because schools and daycares were closed. Although we are still very much in the pandemic, we are no longer in COVID mode, [and] the expectation is you have permanent care as if you were in the office. Even from that perspective there’s the mindset that now we have to move on. The care still isn’t there, some of that is related to [being] underpaid [or] having a higher education degree.”

With national attention on the need for better family leave policies, it is more important than ever for change to stick. It is not enough to draw awareness to the statistics and the families facing difficulties; we must enact change that lasts for generations to come. Imagine a future where a national policy is in place and our economy is full of women who thrive in the workplace and at home. If we imagine this future, we can achieve it. 

So, what can we do as individuals, corporations, and communities to achieve this future and improve paid family leave across our nation? I encourage you to do the following:

  • Individuals: Ask local policy members to step up and advocate for change to stick. Ask the women in your life what they need, what they’re missing, and how they’ve been impacted at work by COVID-19. And review our paid leave report that shares findings and opportunities for advancing policies that empower women and families.

  • Corporations: Implement better policies that encourage women to address their family’s needs outside the workplace, knowing they can confidently and successfully come back to work. 

  • Communities: Ask women and families how local policies can better support them. Advocate at the city and state level. Find families like yours and listen, respond and act.  

In all of our lives we will have moments of progress and times of setbacks. We will all be impacted by the need for workplace support as we face challenges. Now is the time to unite and create change that sticks, moving away from a piecemeal approach that doesn’t achieve the future we envision. I hope you share in our commitment to improve family leave policies for families across the nation. Let’s get to work.

Kindly,

 

Wendy D. Doyle, President & CEO

Wendy Doyle Inducted Into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame

Congratulations to our very own Wendy Doyle for being inducted into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame!

The Class of 2021 induction ceremony took place on October 15. Wendy was inducted alongside Christopher “Kit” Bond, Dr. Patricia Dix, Bob Holden and Dred Scott. Each inductee was honored for defining the essence of public affairs and consistently acting for the benefit of others.

Wendy, thank you for all you do in advancing women and fighting for equality in the workforce, our community and across the nation. You are a true trailblazer, making meaningful change for women across the country.

Three Decades of Women’s Empowerment: United WE Signature Event features Groundbreaking Speakers

KANSAS CITY, MO – September 30, 2021 – Through a uniquely hybrid in-person and online format, United WE presented We Work for Change 2021, a celebration of equity, diversity, and 30 years of empowering women on September 29. 

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 Governor Laura Kelly and Missouri United States Senator Roy Blunt. 

“Congratulations to United WE for 30 years of empowering women and working for change across Kansas and Missouri. Your research and policy solutions have made a lasting difference for thousands of women,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “United WE has been an important partner for my administration on women’s issues, and a voice and resource for women across Kansas and beyond.”

The event program featured virtual speaker Mellody Hobson, a nationally-recognized voice on financial literacy. Named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world, Hobson serves as Chair of Starbucks, the only Black woman to lead the board of directors for an S&P 500 company. She is also the co-founder of Ariel Investments. 

“I’m focused on women – particularly people of color – being brave. I think that fear keeps us from realizing our potential,” said Mellody Hobson. “So many people are held back by fear, and life is not living with an absence of fear, but courage is overcoming it.”

Attendees also heard from in-person speaker Tiffany Dufu, Founder & CEO of The Cru, a peer coaching platform for women. Dufu’s book, Drop the Ball, provides a manifesto for women to learn to let go. Dufu spoke with United We’s President & CEO Wendy Doyle and event chair Mary Jane Judy in a fireside chat, with some questions asked by local youth attendees.

“I think it’s important for us to recognize that there are many different ways to add to the ecosystem of empowering women. It wouldn’t be feasible for all of us to be on a Fortune 500 board or to have seats in Congress,” said Tiffany Dufu. “What’s important is we all need to support one another. We all need each other.”

Formerly known as the Women’s Foundation, this year’s event was particularly impactful for the organization as it marked the celebration of 30 years of empowering women. Formerly known as the Women’s Foundation, United WE was incorporated in 1991 to help address the unmet needs of women and girls in Kansas City. Today, the organization’s strategic investments and passionate work have resulted in work across seven states, including 20 impactful research studies, 39 meaningful policy actions, and 162 women appointed to civic leadership positions through the Appointments Project®. 

United WE unveiled a 30th anniversary video encapsulating milestones from the past three decades, celebrating the women —and men— who said yes to creating meaningful change in their communities. Several of those bold and trailblazing leaders were at the event and featured in the video, available here. 

In addition to celebration, the signature We Work for Change Event raised more than $670,000 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. 

Join United WE in creating meaningful change for all women and learn more at www.united-we.org.