United WE Testimony on Kansas HB 2818

Joan Ruff

Chair of the United WE Board of Directors

Joan Ruff, Chair of the United WE Board of Directors, provided testimony in support of House Bill 2818 to the Kansas House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development. Here is her full testimony:

My name is Joan Ruff and I am Chair of the United WE Board of Directors. As you may recall from previous sessions, the mission of United WE is to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership.

On behalf of United WE, I’m pleased to testify today in support of HB 2818 and propose that an occupational regulation is carefully considered, prioritizing public benefit and the least restrictive measures to protect the general welfare.

This legislation aims to establish structured guidelines for evaluating proposals to regulate occupations not covered before July 1, 2024. By promoting transparency and informed decision-making, we aim to facilitate individuals' pursuit of their chosen professions without unnecessary government intervention.

We believe this would help create a culture of economic empowerment for women in Kansas. Our Status of Women in Kansas research report told us that women are more likely to hold a certification or license than employed men. For that reason, United WE works to remove barriers faced by women in professions that are governed by occupational licensing regulatory boards and frameworks. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, the Kansas economy can grow by 10-15% by the year 2025 if women are fully participating in the workforce. This legislation is a step in the right direction to position Kansas as an economic leader becoming the 15th state in the country to have such a provision.

HB 2818 is the right approach to facilitate more informed decision-making, prevent duplicative and unnecessary regulatory boards from being created, and create a more efficient occupational licensing structure for women entrepreneurs, employed professionals, and all Kansans. For example, currently salon owners who offer spray tanning services, but do not have a tanning bed at their site, are not required to hold a state license. This allows salon owners to tap into a growing market in a manner that does not pose a risk to public health and earn a living for their family. This example shows a balance between entrepreneurism and public welfare and this is the type of balance we hope to secure throughout the state’s economy.

Thank you for the opportunity to share United WE’s perspective on this bill.

Advocating for Change: Closing the Pay Gap for Black Women

Ebony Reed, Chief Strategy Officer at The Marshall Project and United WE board member
Photo Credit: Chichi Ubina

Income gaps impact all women. But Black and Latino women have the greater burden of more often coming from families that trail in wealth, meaning they have less of an economic safety net. 

One proposed idea to address this inequity comes from Janelle Jones, the first Black woman to have served as chief economist at the U.S. Labor Department. Jones proposed a framework several years ago named Black Women Best: The Framework We Need for An Equitable Economy. The core of the framework’s philosophy is steeped in economic approaches that consider what is best for Black women, a group that has traditionally been economically insecure in the United States. The framework’s premise is that if Black women are lifted then all communities will be lifted. 

For the last three years, Louise Story, also an investigative journalist, my coauthor and Yale School of Management teaching partner, have included Jones’ framework for M.B.A. students to evaluate and think through in a class we co-designed to help business leaders consider the history and the contemporary applications of race and money. Story and I have extensively researched wealth and income gaps impacting all races and women. Our book —  Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap is available for purchase now. 

Ebony Reed’s Book is Available for Purchase Now!

Order Here

For our book, we conducted almost 400 interviews across the country, commissioned our own Harris Poll and deeply reported on seven Black families - three prominent and four most people may not know before reading our book. We chronicled their experiences with the student loan crisis, banking, technology, insurance, labor markets, housing and real estate, taxes, the criminal justice system, entrepreneurship and public and private policies, while also tracing their family trees back five-to-six generations. 

In most of the families we saw the impact of income disparities and racial wealth gaps.

According to the U.S. The Government Accountability Office, often called the GAO, an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress, “the pay gap was greater for women in most historically underserved racial and ethnic groups than for White women.” The agency, which provides non-partisan, fact-based information to Congress and other federal agencies, reports that “women earned about $.82 for every dollar men earned; Hispanic or Latina women earned about $.58 and Black women earned about $.63 for every dollar White men earned,” based on data released in December 2022.

The Social Security Administration, a federal agency, also reports that Black and Hispanic women’s earnings are less than that of white and Asian women. Those earnings can contribute to a family’s overall net worth because wealth is all of the assets minus liabilities in a household. Federal data does not separate women from men in wealth reporting, but we can see differences in income data. 

Wealth and income gaps impact every race, including white Americans, Native Americans, Latino Americans, but Black Americans and their families consistently rank in the bottom on federal wealth data reports. The Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 data from the Federal Reserve  – released in October 2023  – finds that the average and median Black family has only 15 cents on the dollar in wealth when compared to white families. Often wealth is passed through inheritance, but the gap Black Americans face has been deepened by policies and practices that have left them in worse financial shape. Today Black Americans on average have higher student loan debt, lower home ownership and higher unemployment. 

According to the Black Women Best framework outlined in the paper by Jones and her coauthors Kendra Bozarth and Grace Western, published on the Roosevelt Institute website, “centering Black women also means centering other marginalized identities, all of which intersect with race and gender and are identities that Black women hold and live.” The paper argues that focusing on Black women in its application in policy making would be complex and require those who apply it to focus on Black women’s intersecting identities and ensure they can build economic security. 

Through our reporting for our book, Story and I cross major historic moments that impacted the Black-white wealth gap – the 2008 economic crisis, the ending of government enforced and legal discrimination and slavery, which is the starting point for the Black-white wealth gap in America. And we include academic research and data  – knowing that the more people who are exposed to it, the deeper, richer and more nuanced our conversations can be. Some communities are trying to find solutions to wealth disparities, but even in places, such as California, where the universal basic income was piloted, there is still debate about the best solution.    

After three years of deep research and reporting on wealth and income gaps, I often reflect on how big and wide the coalition needs to be to address these issues in American society. 

It will take people working in partnership who are different from each other. The coalition will need people of all backgrounds, fields and disciplines. 

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Ebony Reed is a media executive who has worked at The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press and other regional media companies. She teaches at the Yale School of Management in Connecticut and has taught at seven other colleges and universities. She is a United WE board member and lives in Kansas City, Mo. To learn more about Fifteen Cents on the Dollar go to 15.cents.info.

United WE Joins Engaged Kansas Coalition

United WE is proud to join Engaged Kansas, a coalition of organizations that are encouraging and supporting civic-minded individuals to consider local public service.

"Our research showed us that women don't become civically engaged because they weren'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 and CEO. "Being a part of the Engaged Kansas Coalition, we look forward to furthering our work to address the gender disparities in local leadership and are able to make real changes in our communities."

Other Engaged Kansas partners include: 

• Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas

• Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership

• Kansas Association of Counties

• Kansas Association of REALTORS

• Kansas Association of School Boards

• Kansas Bankers Association

• Kansas Chamber

• Kansas Farm Bureau

• Kansas Leadership Center

• Kansas Medical Society

• League of Kansas Municipalities

"There are many great organizations across Kansas developing resources for citizens to run for and engage in local civic government," said Brenden Wirth, Kansas Farm Bureau Director of Political Affairs. "Engaged Kansas is a hub for these like-minded organizations to share those tools."

Since its launch in 2023, Engaged Kansas continues to expand and reach out to Kansas leaders on how they can best help their community through the nonpartisan, nonpolicy resources offered by these partner organizations.

United WE Provides Testimony for Missouri Childcare Tax Credit

United WE’s quantitative and qualitative research shows that Missouri women cannot reach their full economic potential when families can’t access affordable childcare. 

This month, United WE testified in support of House Bill 1488 and Senate Bill 742, which would create childcare tax credits for families, employers, and providers.  These legislation are an important first step to tackling the growing problem of childcare in Missouri, and United WE is thrilled to see policies reintroduced that work to support childcare accessibility to grow our Missouri economy.

Sponsored by Representatives Brenda Shields (District 11 - Buchanan County) and Senator Lauren Arthur (District 17 - Clay County), the bills create three tax credit pathways to support working parents, employers that invest in childcare services, and childcare facilities. Each program is capped annually at $200,000 per taxpayers and $20 million for the program.

1. Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act: Taxpayers can receive a 75% tax credit after making a verified contribution to a childcare provider.

2. Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act: Businesses can receive a 30% tax credit for donating to a childcare facility or investing in childcare services.

3. Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act: Childcare providers can receive a 30% tax credit for investing in their own facilities.

Making childcare affordable and ensuring families have a variety of options ensures businesses can create the workforce needed to support an expanding economy. United WE supports policymakers in finding common sense solutions that move our state forward – and these bills put the state of Missouri on the right track.

Why Aren’t Women Business Owners Getting the Support They Need? Our Economy Depends On It.

By: Wendy Doyle, President & CEO at United WE

In business, relationships matter. This is the case for any organization, including small businesses, but the magnitude cannot be understated for women business owners. The impact of relationships is so vital, the creation of a small business hinging on a banking institution loaning money to get the business off the ground. 

Women business owners face this type of barrier every day. We know this – because at United WE, we talk to them – but more importantly, we listen.

Recently, a woman entrepreneur told our organization she was turned down by 22 banks and finally received a loan from bank number 23. Only two of the bankers explained why she was declined, with one citing the need for a husband to support the business, and another suggesting she allow the bank to manage her money and that she should get a traditional job.

Over the past couple years, we’ve held town hall meetings across Kansas and Missouri as an opportunity for women and allies to share their experiences. We constantly hear from women that limited business resources, damaging cultural norms and networks have negatively impacted their business endeavors. 

The findings are published as research reports in our United WE Institute with next step recommendations to address the barriers women are experiencing.

Access to Capital for Women Entrepreneurs

We learned women lack fruitful relationships with banking institutions – indicating that relationships are most commonly transactional in nature. From our town hall research, 66% of Kansas women describe the relationship with their financial institution as transactional vs. 34% who categorize it as relational.

This lack of relationships with banking institutions affects women’s ability to access capital when forming businesses and limits their awareness of important financial information and resources to grow and sustain businesses.

• One town hall participant from Garden City, Kansas said, “…I got laughed at when I tried to get capital from financial institutions for my business, so I had to open several credit cards.” 

• Another participant in Wichita, Kansas said, “…the banks don’t take women business owners seriously.”

In Missouri, more than 60% of women surveyed were interested in starting a business. Yet, women from the town halls talked about receiving very little to no support from others when starting businesses and access to affordable benefits being a barrier to getting started.

A Roundtable Revealed More Barriers

To further expand on what we heard in our town halls, we partnered with the Center for American Entrepreneurship on a roundtable with women entrepreneurs to dive deeper into understanding the barriers they face. The session focused on many issues like mentoring, peer support, and the issue of inequitable treatment by banks.

The session revealed many issues, including challenges with women-owned businesses in male-dominated industries, the desire for male and female mentors to launch and scale business, lack of access to capital (especially from large banks), and a desire to provide great benefits and professional development without absorbent costs. Read here for a report that further details the learnings, insights and next steps from the roundtable event.

Change Must Happen Now

Small businesses are the engine to our economy, and we must support women business owners. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, Kansas and Missouri’s economies stand to grow by 10-15% by 2025 if women’s participation in the labor force is boosted.

On average, women business owners believe they will achieve equal access to capital by 2031. That’s not soon enough. Change will not come far enough or fast enough unless we intentionally focus on creating opportunities for prospective business owners, particularly those underrepresented in entrepreneurship today.

We will never achieve true economic prosperity in this country without women. As the daughter and granddaughter of small business women, I feel it is a privilege and my responsibility to lead an organization that works to empower even more women to achieve their dreams. 

At United WE, we are taking action and will continue to be a leading voice in our region by removing barriers for women and advocating for policies that support women’s economic development.

After all, our economy depends on it.

Press Release: United WE’s National Women’s Entrepreneur Childcare Project Announces Commission Members and Survey on Women’s Entrepreneurship

Initiatives to lead efforts that propel United States to next generation of childcare policy solutions

As part of the National Women’s Entrepreneur Childcare Project, United WE today announces a childcare commission of national leaders and a nationwide survey of mothers who are entrepreneurs.

The United WE National Commission on Childcare and Women’s Entrepreneurship is a critical component of the National Women’s Entrepreneur Childcare Project, an effort funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, that will generate new policy ideas in the heartland to reduce the childcare barriers limiting women’s entrepreneurship. The Commission will convene in Kansas City, Missouri on November 1-2, 2023, to assist United WE in advancing research and policy solutions to the childcare barriers that are limiting women’s entrepreneurial risk-taking on both sides of the childcare equation – entrepreneurial childcare providers and entrepreneurial mothers.

“Access to childcare is a cascading crisis - a situation that was at its breaking point before the pandemic and loosely held together with pandemic-era relief funding,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President and CEO. “Now that critical childcare funding has expired and sent America over a “childcare cliff,” the potential effects could be disastrous for families, the economy and especially women.” 

A nationwide survey is being conducted to better understand the childcare needs and barriers for mothers who are entrepreneurs in a post COVID-19 environment. Preliminary survey findings will be compiled for a full release in 2024. 

In 2022, United WE was granted $475,000 from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for a two-year national childcare research study. In addition to the Commission of national leaders and nationwide survey of mothers who are entrepreneurs, the project includes a state-by-state childcare licensing research study as part of the United WE Institute, a mid-year Commission report in 2024 and collaboration with women entrepreneurs to advocate for policy change.

“Childcare infrastructure is critical in supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in our communities,” said DeAngela Burns-Wallace, President and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “The existing barriers limit women’s entrepreneurial risk-taking ability, which ultimately affects us all. By collaborating with United WE and the National Women’s Entrepreneur Childcare Project, we can amplify the voices of those most affected, raise awareness about the existing barriers, and develop more effective policy solutions."

The nonpartisan Commission will generate new policy ideas about childcare barriers that are limiting women’s entrepreneurial risk taking. The Commission is comprised of leaders from across the nation, including:

• Tess Adair, University of Scotland

• Casey Adrian, Office of MO Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe

• Gayatri Agnew, Walmart

• Rhian Allvin, Brynmor Holdings, LLC

• Laura Black, LCB Ventures

• Leslie Borrell, Carefully

• Melanie Bridgeforth, Women's Foundation of Alabama

• Emily Buckman, American Farm Bureau Federation

• Shannon Cotsoradis, Buffet Early Childhood Fund

• Marica Cox Mitchell, Bainum Family Foundation

• John Dearie, Center for American Entrepreneurship

• AJ Griffin, Potts Family Foundation

• Jamee Herbert, BridgeCare

• Shayna Hetzel, American Family Insurance

• Jennifer Kelly, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

• Missy Love, Biostar Renewables

• Aaron Merchen, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce

• Jeanne Olofson, Ex-Officio

• Elle Patout, National Association of Women Business Owners

• Emma Pengelly, Ingeborg Initiatives

• Erica Phillips, National Association for Family Child Care

• Tonja Rucker, National League of Cities

• Leslie Lynn Smith, Themis Strategic Partners

• Helene Stebbins, Alliance for Early Success

• Louise Stoney, Opportunities Exchange

• Julie Trivitt, Heartland Forward

• Sheldon Weisgrau, Missouri Foundation for Health

Learn more about how United WE is creating meaningful change for all women at www.united-we.org.

Press Release: United WE Institute Announced at We Work For Change Event as Newest Endeavor to Advance Policy Solutions

United WE Institute is first-of-its-kind centralized hub for research and policy work

KANSAS CITY, MO – September 26, 2023 – Today during United WE’s annual We Work For Change event, President & CEO Wendy Doyle announced the launch of the United WE Institute, a first-of-its-kind centralized hub for research and policy work across the Midwest and beyond.

Building off years of robust research, the United WE Institute will house national data and research on women’s economic participation and civic leadership and will formalize a Midwest Policy Lab that elevates the voices of women and advances nonpartisan policies. United WE’s first national research study, the national childcare licensing project, will be part of the Institute along with the organization’s next national study on occupational licensing.

“We seek to advance policies in a non-partisan manner that celebrates and restores civility, hope, and trust in American civil society,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President and CEO. “The United WE Institute will serve as a model for the rest of the country, promoting evidence-based and nonpartisan policies that remove barriers and provide opportunities for all women to lead meaningful change.” 

The United WE Institute was announced to attendees gathered both in-person at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and through a virtual livestream for United WE’s annual We Work For Change event.

This year’s event program featured one of the nation’s most high-profile and truth-seeking political journalists, Mara Liasson, who spoke about the important role media, politics, and civil discourse play in our lives. 

Mara Liasson, National Public Radio’s (NPR) national political correspondent, has dedicated her career to listening, storytelling and amplifying the voices of others. During the event she discussed the importance of media, politics, civil discourse and breaking down barriers for women. Mara also shared her extensive knowledge of politics, current events, and her experience as a woman leader in the media. 

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 proud to be the presenting sponsor of We Work for Change, which celebrates progress and inspires generations of women,” said Linda Lenza, Senior Vice President and Market Executive, Bank of America Kansas City. “Mara Liasson and United WE reminded us not to miss opportunities to listen so we can better understand each other and find common ground – especially for crafting economic solutions for women and their families.”

The 2023 We Work for Change Event raised more than ever before – $704,677 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 27 impactful research studies, 57 meaningful policy actions, and 191+ women appointed to civic leadership positions through the Appointments Project®. 

“Change is not a distant echo but a tangible reality that gets closer with every footstep of reconsideration and new perspectives,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President and CEO. “Let the sound of change be our guide, our motivation, and our constant reminder that united, we are stronger.”

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

Press Release: United WE and the University of Missouri–St. Louis Unveil New Research on Gender Parity and Racial Diversity on Civic Boards and Commissions in Missouri

Study reveals Missouri municipal boards and commissions are not reflective of the racial, ethnic and gender composition of the state  

United WE today announced research conducted by the University of Missouri–St. Louis about women’s representation and racial diversity on Missouri municipal boards and commissions. The research found that boards and commissions in Missouri cities are not reflective of the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of the state. 

The report, “Gender Parity on Civic Boards and Commissions in Missouri,” revealed findings that women and people of color are underrepresented broadly on boards and commissions. While Missouri is home to more women than men (50.6% women), women comprise only 36.9% of boards and commissions members. While 11.7% of the state’s population is Black, the data shows Black Missourians hold only 5.4% of seats on boards and commissions. White Missourians comprise 92.3% of members. 

Factors such as municipal population, average household income, and average educational attainment were found to be largely unrelated to gender and racial parity on boards and commissions in Missouri. While the assumption is that larger municipalities will have better representation given the larger pool of members available to serve, the research found municipalities with fewer than 3,000 people have at least 50% female representation on 41.8% of their boards.

“At United WE, we believe all levels of civic engagement, including boards and commissions, should reflect the rich diversity of the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “As we continue our mission to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership, United WE’s Appointments Project® plays a critical role to convene, connect and celebrate women on their civic leadership journey through a virtual network of support.” 

Missouri women are especially underrepresented on “power boards” that have direct influence on policy making and financial resource allocation. Women in Missouri have the highest proportion of seats in stereotypically feminine areas, such as boards and commissions focused on the arts (60.07%), community development (52.95%), human rights (57.07%), and libraries (71.55%). 

Conversely, primarily white men in Missouri have the highest proportion of seats on “power boards,” which include planning and zoning (74.82%), transportation (81.84%), budget and finance (72.74%), adjustments and appeals (78.85%), and public works (76.41%).

“The voices of women and people of color are diminished on influential boards that influence critical issues, such as home prices and environmental justice,” said Anita Manion, assistant professor of political science and affiliate faculty member in gender studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “This critical research intends to increase transparency and accessibility of information about boards and commissions to better inform policymakers, elected leaders, advocacy groups, and potential members of boards and commissions.”

The full research study is available here. To learn more about United WE’s Appointments Project® visit www.united-we.org/appointments-project.  

Press Release: NPR’s Mara Liasson to Headline United WE’s Annual We Work For Change Event on September 26

KANSAS CITY, MO – May 23, 2023 – One of the nation’s most high-profile and truth-seeking political journalists, Mara Liasson, will speak at United WE’s 2023 We Work For Change event on September 26. Hosted in-person at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and live streamed nationally, Liasson is sure to inspire us to listen and understand the important role media, politics, and civil discourse play in our lives. 

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 toward a more gender-equitable world.

“Bank of America is committed to empowering and advancing women within our own organization and throughout society through equitable policies and opportunities,” said Linda Lenza, Senior Vice President and Market Executive, Bank of America Kansas City. “United WE has a long 32-year history of impacting progress for generations of women, and we are proud to be the presenting sponsor of We Work For Change.”

As a national political correspondent for NPR, Liasson provides extensive coverage of politics and policy from Washington, DC — focusing on the White House and Congress. Each election year, Liasson provides key coverage of the candidates and issues in both presidential and congressional races. During her tenure she has covered eight presidential elections — from 1992 to 2020.

“In my 36 years at NPR, I’ve had the opportunity to listen firsthand to the politics and policy issues facing the country,” said Mara Liasson. “United WE’s non-partisan approach is more important than ever, as their research shows inequities in pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and barriers for women entrepreneurs are challenges that affect our nation’s economy.”

Liasson’s reports can be heard regularly on NPR’s award-winning news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She is a three-time winner of the White House Correspondents' Association's Merriman Smith Award for daily news coverage.

“Mara Liasson is one of the most trusted non-partisan voices in political journalism and we recognize and value the power of storytelling that she brings to the table,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “We are delighted for Mara to share her extensive knowledge of politics, current events, and her experiences as a woman leader in the media at We Work For Change as we unite with hundreds of women and allies across the country to fuel and advance all women’s economic and civic leadership.”

Event sponsorship opportunities are available now. To view sponsorship opportunities or to become a sponsor, visit https://united-we.org/wwfc2023.  

If space allows, tickets will be available in August. Join United WE in creating meaningful change for all women and learn more at www.united-we.org.

Wendy Doyle Statement on Kansas SB 25

It is with great pride that today we celebrate Governor Kelly’s signing of Senate Bill 25 that includes increased funding to the Kansas Heroes Scholarship Act.

Senate Bill 25 includes $700,000 for the Kansas Heroes Scholarship, a fund created in 2021 to enable eligible dependents and spouses of certain public safety, public office, and military personnel to enroll at higher education institutions with no charge for tuition fees. This is yet another step in the right direction to support the dignity and livelihood of survivors and families of Kansas’ heroes and public servants.

Last May, United WE advocated for the Kansas Heroes Scholarship Bill (Kansas HB 2716) to be signed into law, which provides post-secondary education tuition assistance for a spouse or dependent or an emergency service provider or military service member who died or was disabled in the line of duty.

We appreciate the work of our policymakers to support the families of Kansas’ heroes and public servants.