Press Release: Lieutenant General (Ret) Nadja West Inspires Leaders At United WE’s We Work For Change Event

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.”
— Lieutenant General (Ret) Nadja West, We Work for Change 2022 Speaker

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.

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Press Release: United WE Reveals Updated Occupational Licensing Policy Brief and Findings on Women in Missouri 

Although Progress is Being Made, Occupational Licensing Requirements are Still Creating Barriers to Entry for Those In Greatest Need of Economic Opportunity

Kansas City, Mo – August 25, 2022 – United WE, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, held a virtual press conference today with the University of Missouri’s Institute of Public Policy to announce findings from ongoing research on Occupational Licensing and Women in Missouri. Occupational licensing protects the safety and well-being of the public, however, it can create unnecessary barriers for women entrepreneurs by restricting entry and re-entry into professions, reducing employment, and creating economic inequity.  

The 2022 report revealed that Missouri women still tend to be employed in licensed occupations to a greater degree than men, and many occupations dominated by women require a license or certification. In 2021, 27.6% of women were certified or licensed compared to 21.1% of men. Women of color tend to hold licenses or certificates at slightly lower rates than white women. In 2021, 29% of white women held a license or certification compared to 18% of Hispanic or Latina women, 25% of Black women, and 26% of Asian women.

Because women are more likely to work in occupations that are licensed and are more likely to earn less than men, the economic barriers to entry are more severe for women in the workforce. For example, social workers, particularly new social workers, are nearly 90% women, and much more racially and ethnically diverse than other health care professions.

“Occupational licensing is a critical economic development issue. We know from our research that the required hours of training, exam fees, licensing fees, and renewal fees can present a financial barrier for Missourians, especially women entrepreneurs, seeking to enter professions requiring licenses or certifications,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “While these requirements offer a measure of protection, excessive regulation can create barriers for applicants and exclude potential workers from allowing them to support the economic development of our state.”

Commissioned by United WE and sponsored by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, the policy brief updates previous research conducted in 2016 with new information concerning licensing requirements, women’s participation in the workforce, national and state policy updates, and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

“CommunityAmerica is focused on helping people get on a path to thrive and we were eager to fund this research report to help elevate the impact that occupational licensing has on our communities, our citizens, and our state,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer at CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Not only do licensed workers earn higher wages, they also tend to stay longer at their jobs, be less likely to work part-time voluntarily and involuntarily, and have lower rates of unemployment — these are all important attributes for our economy.”

Key findings from the research include the following:

Women in the Workforce

  • In Missouri, about 55% of women were employed in 2014, rising to 55.9% in 2018 and 56.4% in 2020, for a total of about 1.4 million people. 

  • Due to COVID-19, women lost their jobs at higher rates than men, were less likely to regain them when the economy started to recover, and were more likely to have increased their unpaid household and care work.

  • At the end of 2020, although the economy had started to recover, more than two of every five women’s jobs that were lost from February-April 2020 had not been recovered.

Occupational Licensing in Missouri

  • 509,908 Missouri individuals and businesses were registered with the Missouri Division of Professional Registration in April 2022.

  • There are 41 regulation boards, regulating over 300 professions.

  • Approximately 103 board members on occupational licensing boards and commissions are serving expired terms and 56 board seats are currently vacant.

  • Missouri ranked 22nd in 2017 in the percentage of low-income occupations the state licensed (1st=most licensed, 50th= least licensed).

  • Missouri’s licensing fees and average education requirements in 2017 had increased relative to other states since 2012.

Economic Impact of Occupational Licensing

  • People with a certification or license earned about 1/3 more than those without these credentials.

  • Employed people were more likely to hold an active certification or license (24%) in 2021 than the unemployed (12.3%) or those who were not in the labor force (5.6%).

Boards and Commissions

  • The U.S. Department of Labor classifies Missouri as among the states with the most flexible interstate license recognition options for military spouses.

  • The Division of Professional Registration recently secured $21 million in ARPA funding to create and maintain a new licensing system that will empower the workforce and potentially enable improved data collection.

Notable Missouri Occupational Licensing Updates

  • Two significant advances have been made within the fields of Cosmetology and Barbering. The first is the exemption of hair braiders from needing a cosmetology license, and the second is the exemption of individuals who engage solely in shampooing from needing a cosmetology or barber license. 

  • Reciprocity has expanded to include additional professions since 2012, although reciprocity still does not exist for all boards and fees and requirements still vary.

  • Short-term fee waivers for military families and low-income individuals have reduced some financial burdens to licensure.

The last several years of policy changes have focused on increasing license reciprocity and decreasing the burden of licensure where it is unnecessarily heavy. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some of these efforts, as increasing the flexibility of licensed healthcare providers became increasingly important. 

“Our research revealed that COVID-19 presented challenges that have worsened existing barriers to obtaining or retaining an occupational license,” said Emily Johnson, Associate Director of Operations, Institute of Public Policy, Truman School of Government and Public Affairs, University of Missouri. “With many occupations impacted by state and local shutdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing or stay-at-home orders, the data validates the importance of removing barriers for Missouri’s women so they can contribute to making the economy stronger.”

A full copy of the report can be viewed here.

Moving the Needle Forward for the Future of Rural America

Author: Cassie Bicknell

I often think about how fortunate I have been to live, work and raise my family in Pittsburg. Rural Kansas has afforded me and my family countless opportunities for connection, community, volunteerism and growth. As a longtime resident of Pittsburg, trust me when I say that this community is a great place to live, but we still have more growing that we need to do.

There are several structural issues that are preventing our women and families – and in turn our state – from realizing its potential. These are issues that affect all of us, including childcare, eldercare, and the digital divide. In fact, the McKinsey Global Institute found that Kansas could grow its economy by as much as 10-15% by 2025 if women’s participation in the workforce increased.

Earlier this year, United WE, an evidence-based, nonpartisan organization dedicated to unlocking women’s economic and civic leadership, unveiled new research that illuminated progress made by Kansas women but also showed barriers to their economic potential. While several issues impact women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce, barriers like childcare stand out as a pressing issue in Kansas that even garnered national attention. Kansas infant care costs are 29% of female median earnings and infant care at daycare centers are typically 1.3 times more expensive than in-state college tuition. In order to recruit and retain Kansas women in the workforce and grow our Kansas economy to its full potential, we need to come together and make progress in these areas.

When a woman’s economic potential is unleashed, their families succeed, their communities succeed, and their state succeeds. I want this for our community and its residents. However, this responsibility isn’t just for our policymakers to tackle – it’s going to take all of us. I urge you to use your voice so that we can pay it forward for the future of our families, community, and state.

A simple first step is by engaging in a Town Hall Series taking place across Kansas this summer that’s hosted by United WE and sponsored by The Bicknell Family Foundation to identify barriers impacting women in the workplace and entrepreneurship, including childcare, paid family leave, broadband access and more. There is a Town Hall taking place in Pittsburg on August 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pittsburg State University Governor’s Room. I’m proud that Mariner Foundation is sponsoring this event that is open to all women and allies and includes complimentary lunch, free professional childcare and a $10 gift card for all participants. The stories heard will be combined into a comprehensive report and used to create bipartisan policy reform for all Kansas women. Register online and learn more about the initiative at www.united-we.org/townhalls.

We need our community to share their time and their experiences to provide a picture of the challenges that women in rural America are facing, including access to affordable healthcare, childcare, and eldercare to name just a few. These insights will help organizations like United WE and our great state to develop smart, targeted solutions to these challenges. Let’s collaborate with organizations and nonprofits that offer a hand up as opposed to a hand out.

I support the empowerment of women to affect change in our rural communities. Will you use your voice and join me in doing the same?

From Our President & CEO: Occupational Licensing: The Piece of Child Care No One is Talking About 

One of the biggest problems impacting the growth of America’s economy, equitable access to entrepreneurship, and workforce development is child care. Our research has revealed that child care costs more than in-state tuition across multiple states and absorbs 29% of a woman's income in Kansas.

“The cost of child care is more than my mortgage.” - Town hall participant in Hays, KS

Due to the pandemic, child care centers have closed at an alarming rate with no plans to reopen. The centers that do exist are struggling to stay open, meet federal licensing requirements and pay a living wage. 

“I wanted to stay home with my children, so I opened a child center. It was so expensive to operate that I did not make a profit at all. I had to close it and return to a full-time job outside of the home.” - Town hall participant in Garden City, KS

Occupational licensing barriers are not new to us at United WE. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 23% of full-time workers have a license or certification. While most requirements exist for public safety, some get caught up in the system and create unnecessary burdens, including expensive fees and irrelevant training. Women hold occupational licenses at a higher rate than men - in Missouri, women hold them at a 3 times higher rate than men. 

While the demand for child care has been an issue for decades, the data that exists lacks an emphasis on understanding licensing barriers and identifying solutions to meet the child care demand. The multiple aspects of the child care crisis are holding women back every day and solutions are possible.

As always, our approach to any issue is rooted in data. We know to create sustainable, nonpartisan policies to improve the child care situation, we must know more about the issue. That’s why we’re starting a two-year national research project evaluating child care licensing. 

We will:

1.) Work with an academic partner to conduct state-by-state child care licensing research study to expand upon the existing research available. Our research will look through the women’s entrepreneur lens by developing a baseline of state-by-state licensing requirements for childcare providers, identifying which states are implementing child care licensing extremely well, identifying which licensing standards may contribute the most to center closings/barriers for women-owned providers, and identifying occupational licensing barriers that exist for the childcare workforce (i.e., certifications).

2.) Conduct a nationwide survey of mothers who are entrepreneurs – We will collaborate with a

nationwide partner supporting women entrepreneurs to better understand the childcare needs and barriers for mothers who are entrepreneurs in a post-COVID-19 environment.

3.) Convene a Women’s Entrepreneur Childcare Task Force consisting of women-owned

childcare providers and mothers who are entrepreneurs from multiple states. They will focus on reviewing research results, brainstorming innovative solutions, and developing next-step recommendations to improve childcare for women entrepreneurs as providers and parents alike.

4.) Advocate for policy change by sharing the research and recommendations from the actions above to convene and educate elected officials, policymakers, community leaders, and thought leaders about the barriers and creative solutions to reduce onerous licensing barriers and help address the childcare crisis for women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs from the task force will be engaged in our education and advocacy efforts. We will focus our advocacy efforts initially in three Midwestern states (Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma), and expand beyond to key states identified in the research.

This initiative is made possible through funding by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. By developing solutions to tackle this crisis, women will have the option to fully participate in the workforce, boosting our economy by 10-15% according to a recent McKinsey Global Institute study. Together, we can improve the lives of women and families across the nation by attacking all aspects of the child care issue, including occupational licensing. 

Fondly,

 

Wendy D. Doyle

United WE President & CEO

Dear Kansas: Let’s Change The Narrative For Our Current and Future Generations

Author: Sierra Marie Bonn

Passion.

I’ve been passionate about making the world a better place since I joined Girls Scouts as a young girl.

Passion is what motivated me to write a book to empower the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, artists and mathematicians.  Passion is what encourages me to make an impact and serve my community. Passion is why I started my own non-profit organization that empowers individuals of all ages to pursue their own passions, specifically working to address the inequity and under-representation in innovative fields. Passion is why I support local businesses and growing our economy through the empowerment of our current and future workforce.

I’m a passionate Kansan and I want to show the next generation what’s possible. For me, that has meant truly serving my community and spotlighting volunteers, organizations, and people who are working to make the world a better place.

One such organization is United WE, a nonpartisan non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking women’s economic and civic leadership. Their recent research found that nearly 30% of a Kansas working mother’s salary is spent on childcare costs — one of the highest percentages in the U.S.! Infant care costs are 1.3 times more expensive than in-state college tuition, and childcare for four-year-old children compares to in-state tuition in Kansas.

As a first-generation student and daughter of a single mom, these statistics hit home. We need to support our Kansas women and families. We need to reduce the structural barriers keeping women from fully participating and succeeding in our economy. We need policies that will help everyone in our state to flourish. We need change. But more importantly — we need passion.

I was surprised to learn from The McKinsey Global Institute that Kansas could grow its economy by 10-15% by 2025 if women’s participation in the workforce increased. Kansas is a great state create new businesses, innovate solutions to big problems, and lead the world in changing the future. We have work to do to make that a reality, to invite progress and to grow our economy. It may seem like a big feat, but we cannot sit idle.

I’m taking action by serving on the Kansas Women’s Economic Development Task Force formed by United WE to study issues related to women’s participation and advancement in the workforce. We’re hosting a Town Hall Series across Kansas this summer to hear firsthand the personal stories from women and families throughout the state on the barriers they face. The stories will be combined into a comprehensive report and used to create bipartisan policy reform for all Kansans.

You can serve your community. You can make an impact. You can use your voice and share your story. I invite you to join us for a town hall in Wichita on July 14 at Wichita State University from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Complimentary lunch, free professional childcare, and a $10 gift card for all participants will be provided. There is also a statewide virtual town hall that will be from noon to 1:00 p.m. on August 24. Town Hall discussion topics will focus on women in the workplace and entrepreneurship, including childcare, paid family leave, broadband access and more. Learn more and RSVP at www.united-we.com/townhalls.

Let’s change the narrative for women and families while showing the next generation what’s possible. Unite with us in Wichita on July 14. Don’t forget to bring your passion.

 

From Our President & CEO: Representation Matters

June is always an important month to me. It represents progress and hope for more change by recognizing some of the most important groups in our communities. In these 30 days, we recognize the passing of Title IX, Juneteenth and Pride. Each of these celebrations elevates those who have historically been underrepresented in the public and private sectors. 

I believe the one thing that truly brings us all together is that we are all different. It is our differences that make a community full of potential.  

Passing of Title IX

On June 23, 1972, the Education Amendments of 1972 were passed, also known as Title IX. This important civil rights law prohibits discrimination based on gender in schools. Among other important rights, it required women and girls to be given equal opportunities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Today, 50 years after its passing, women make up only 28% of our nation’s private-sector workforce in STEM fields. 

I was surprised to realize this statistic mirrors the percentage of women in Congress nearly identically. Perhaps there is a lesson for us to learn between the connection of STEM and civic engagement as we continue to educate more girls of these opportunities. 

Juneteenth

This month we also pause to recognize the history of Black individuals in our nation. Juneteenth is an important holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. While today’s Congress is more diverse than ever, it is still disproportionately more white men compared to the overall U.S. population. Some progress we must celebrate is the increase of Black individuals in the House of Representatives. Now, 13% of House members are Black, equal to the share of Black Americans. However, The Pew Research Center expects the Black population to grow to 59 million by 2050. We must continue to elevate and support this community that has decades of barriers to overcome. 

PRIDE

Of course, we cannot forget the importance of the LGBTQIA+ individuals in our community. Pride month is recognized every June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. It was a key tipping point of liberation. While 8% of the U.S. population identifies as LQBTQIA+, only 2% is represented in Congress. 

Representation is the cornerstone of true democracy and equity. While we celebrate this month, our work doesn’t start or stop in June. We must all continue to vote, encourage participation in civic leadership and take action to further increase representation at the local, state and federal level. 

Learn more about serving on a board or commission for your city, state or county here.  



Donor Profile: A Legacy of Giving Forward

Long-time United WE/Women’s Foundation supporter, Lisa Gioia, is an enthusiastic believer that the more you give, the more joy you receive.

“I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to have been given opportunities to learn to give,” said Lisa. “My mom and dad always taught my brother and I about giving. I later learned so much from being involved with the Women’s Foundation, now United WE. It gave me an opportunity to learn, but also to give forward.”

“Imagine our future if everyone gave forward – our world could be so much more equitable. Giving to United WE really IS working for change.”
— Lisa Gioia

Lisa has given forward with her time, talents and treasure to advance women in our community for more than 20 years. It all started when she joined the 360 Degrees of Giving circle, which was the monthly donor circle for the Women’s Foundation at the time. She later became a charter member of Voices in Philanthropy and served on United WE’s board. As a CPA and financial management consultant specializing in non-profit accounting, Lisa’s passions aligned when she was asked to serve as board treasurer.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to give of my time and talents to advance women. I gain so much knowledge, new talents and blessings in return. Giving to United WE has actually been a great gift to me.”

Lisa is also a founding member of United WE’s Legacy Society, making a gift in her estate to help fund United WE’s future.

“United WE is a huge gift to donors like me – it gives us the opportunity to give back for change, especially for the next generation of women. I appreciate how the Women’s Foundation has evolved to United WE to stay relevant with what the needs of women are today. Change is hard, but necessary,” remarked Lisa.

When asked why supporting the advancement of all women’s economic and civic leadership is so important to her, Lisa reflected on the importance of change and progress. “I think about the name of the annual event - We Work for Change – and the meaning of those words. The work of United WE brings about change that makes our world a more positive place, especially in diversity, equity and inclusion. Imagine our future if everyone gave forward – our world could be so much more equitable. Giving to United WE really IS working for change.”

Thank you, Lisa, for your years of leadership and inspiration to give forward!

We invite you to join Lisa and other individuals who have made plans to empower the next generation of women by making a gift in their estate to United WE. An estate gift is a straightforward 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 you as a Legacy Society member, like Lisa. Please contact Angie Heer, Chief Development Officer, for more information.

From Our President & CEO: Amplifying Women’s Voices to Drive Impact

Amplify am·​pli·​fy

to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity)

I talk about listening often. Not because it’s something we should do, but because it’s something we must do. It is by far the most powerful yet overlooked way to make meaningful change. Making assumptions is one of the most harmful things we can do when leading a movement and taking action to improve lives. We must slow down, actively listen and amplify the voices we hear. 

Our data shows that women don’t often get the opportunity to talk about economic issues. This does not sit right with me, so I have made listening a key step in our three-part formula for change. If you aren’t familiar with this formula, it’s incredibly simple, yet deeply effective: 

  1. Research

  2. Solutions 

  3. Results 

Last year we listened to hundreds of women in Missouri about their socioeconomic challenges. The Missouri Town Halls report provided a summary of our findings, identifying opportunities for impact to increase equity and grow Missouri’s economy through more women in the workforce. I’m grateful to the countless women who spoke with us. Thanks to these Missouri women’s voices, we are amplifying concerns and advocating for change, creating a model that can be replicated and scaled. 

Now is a critical time for us to use this model as we examine the challenges for women in Kansas this year. As much as I would like it to, this doesn’t happen overnight - and before any solutions can be pursued, we must know absolutely everything we can about the issues women in Kansas are facing. At United WE, this does not include assumptions. Our actions are always rooted in facts and data.

For us, research is two-fold. First, we partner to conduct quantitative research that leads to comprehensive reports. Like this one by the University of Kansas. Next, we formalize our listening with qualitative research by meeting women where they are and creating safe spaces for honest conversations. This summer, I am eager to share that we are hosting a three-month traveling listening session called the Kansas Town Halls.

  1. Research

    Quantitative: Status of Women in Kansas

    Qualitative: Kansas Town Halls

  2. Solutions 

  3. Results  

Our goal of the Kansas Town Halls is to embed those voices and experiences into the Solution phase of the formula, which is bipartisan policy reform. We’ll be asking questions to help reveal the greatest workplace and entrepreneurship barriers Kansas women are facing, including childcare, paid family leave, broadband access and more. 

But, one of my favorite byproducts of the conversations is the validation the women feel. You are not alone. You are not the only one struggling with childcare. You are not the only one thinking about caring for aging parents as you fall asleep. While we are all different, many are all deeply impacted by the same issues. That’s why our work is nonpartisan and focused on all women. Regardless of political beliefs, we are all intimately connected by daily issues that need to - and can - be changed. 

Today we see our work positively impacting hundreds of thousands of women and families. But our successes wouldn’t exist without direct input from the people whom we serve: women.

If you live in Kansas, learn more and RSVP for a Town Hall near you here. 

Fondly,

 

Wendy D. Doyle

United WE President & CEO

Governor Kelly Signs Kansas Heroes Scholarship Bill

Today we celebrate another win for Kansas families. The Hero’s Scholarship, formerly known as the Wartime Survivors and First Responders Bill was signed into law. It clarifies the definition of disability and spouse, as well as raises the $350,000 annual monetary cap to $500,000. This bill expands the law providing post-secondary tuition assistance for a spouse or dependent of an emergency service provider or military service member who died while in the line of duty to include public service employees and those disabled while performing duties.