Women Employed

Women Employed WE relentlessly pursue equity for all by effecting policy change, expanding access to education, & advocating for fair, inclusive workplaces.

We are a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit & do not endorse candidates for office nor views expressed in comments.

The summer may be coming to close, but our work is not. We ended July with convenings for entrepreneurship, families, an...
08/31/2026

The summer may be coming to close, but our work is not. We ended July with convenings for entrepreneurship, families, and higher education, and celebrated the conclusion of another cohort of The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program. And in August we witnessed the signing of two very important pieces of legislation.

Want to know more about what we’ve been up to? Check out this month’s edition of Where in the World is Women Employed: https://ow.ly/hYmj50ZHqmS

Women Employed stood with Mayor Johnson as he issued an Executive Order on Wednesday, including a provision ensuring pub...
08/28/2026

Women Employed stood with Mayor Johnson as he issued an Executive Order on Wednesday, including a provision ensuring public dollars don't go to companies that have committed workplace discrimination or wage theft. WE are proud to be in support of alignment of city contracts with companies who live up to expectations of public integrity.

Learn more about the Executive Order: https://www.wbez.org/city-hall/2026/08/26/mayor-brandon-johnson-executive-order-contracts-city-business-deportation-campaign?subscription=true&DE=

63 years after the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the work is not finished. Today, we are standing t...
08/28/2026

63 years after the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the work is not finished. Today, we are standing together to , advance economic dignity, confront the affordability crisis facing working families, and for fair representation.

The right to vote, the source of our collective power, is under direct attack. As it is challenged across the country, we must protect it for every citizen, in every community.

The 2026 general election is November 3rd, 2026. Have you registered to ? If you plan to , have you submitted your application? Do you have the information you need to be an informed voter? Can you ? If you need support with one or all of these, check out our Voter Mobilization Toolkit: https://ow.ly/Rc2e50ZGgqO

You can’t correct a problem you refuse to see. That’s why Women Employed, along with thousands of other individuals and ...
08/27/2026

You can’t correct a problem you refuse to see. That’s why Women Employed, along with thousands of other individuals and organizations from across the country, submitted public comment urging the EEOC to continue collecting the data that has been so central to executing the agency's mission. Now it's up to the EEOC. We hope they will withdraw their plans to eliminate the workforce data collection that helps uncover illegal, unfair, and discriminatory employer practices. Regardless of what comes next, WE―and many, many others―stand ready to fight for equal opportunity and against discrimination.

08/26/2026

Today is Women’s Equality Day, the 106th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted some women the right to vote. Unfortunately, for millions of Women of Color, gaining the right to vote would take several more decades.

Right now, there are dangerous threats to our right to vote, and it’s time we ring the alarm! Proposed bills like the SAVE Act and promises from the administration to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines, could strip voting rights from millions of Americans and undermine our democracy. There’s even a proposal to abolish the 19th Amendment!

Don’t let anyone take away your right to vote! Make sure you are registered here: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote And then, in EVERY election—federal, state, and local. General elections and midterms. We can’t afford not to! Period.

📣 ACTION NEEDED NOW! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair ...
08/23/2026

📣 ACTION NEEDED NOW! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair employer practices & uncover discrimination. On July 23, the EEOC proposed rules that would eliminate collection of this critical data. Without the data, it will be harder to identify & address discriminatory practices.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Submit a public comment opposing the removal of EEO-1 data collection. The deadline is TOMORROW Aug 24. 11:59 pm. Make your voice heard today: https://ow.ly/581650ZAGWh

Please join us in celebrating Judy Miyash*ta’s promotion to Senior Director of Marketing and Communications! During her ...
08/20/2026

Please join us in celebrating Judy Miyash*ta’s promotion to Senior Director of Marketing and Communications! During her 17 years at Women Employed, Judy has consistently stepped up as a leader and has been an invaluable thought partner to our President & CEO, Cherita Ellens, our Board of Directors, and the organization as a whole. We’re grateful for her dedication and excited to see her continue to grow in this new role.

As we continue to create opportunities for our staff to grow, develop new skills, and advance their careers, we’re also thrilled to congratulate Lauren Wheeler on her promotion to Accounting & HR Senior Manager! Earlier this year, Lauren courageously stepped into an unfamiliar role to fill a critical organizational gap—and she exceeded expectations. We’re so excited to see Lauren thrive and bring her talents to this new position.

Please join us in congratulating Judy and Lauren on their well-deserved promotions! 🎉

Last Wednesday, Women Employed was joined by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), government leaders, and mem...
08/19/2026

Last Wednesday, Women Employed was joined by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), government leaders, and members of a coalition of advocates as we hosted a press event to celebrate Gov. JB Pritzker’s signing of Senate Bill 3777, the Civil Rights Safeguard Act. During a time when the federal administration has been undermining national civil rights protections, Illinois continues to be a champion for equity and justice.

WE has had a front-row view to how the disparate impact standard has been one of the most critical tools in rooting out structural sexism and racism—and is now at risk as the federal administration unravels key civil rights protections. We are proud that Illinois has taken action to protect disparate impact in our state, and we urge other states to follow Illinois’ example.

We were thrilled to celebrate the win with Director Jim Bennett of the Illinois Department of Human Rights;, bill sponsors State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) and Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Orland Park);, Juan-Carlos Bautista, Associate Director of Government Relations and External Affairs, Latino Policy Forum;, Adam Slade, Director of State Fiscal Policy and Governance at Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative,; and Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg, President of the National Employment Lawyers Association of Illinois.

Learn more here: https://ow.ly/ebim50ZBF0p

Read the coverage in the Windy City Times: https://windycitytimes.com/2026/08/14/illinois-human-rights-protections-strengthened-by-newly-signed-bipartisan-legislation/

📣 ACTION NEEDED! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair empl...
08/17/2026

📣 ACTION NEEDED! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair employer practices & uncover discrimination. On July 23, the EEOC proposed rules that would eliminate collection of this critical data. Without the data, it will be harder to identify & address discriminatory practices.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Submit a public comment opposing the removal of EEO-1 data collection. The deadline is Aug 24. Take action today: https://womenemployed.org/.../protect-data-for-working.../

📣 ACTION NEEDED! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair empl...
08/10/2026

📣 ACTION NEEDED! For over 60 years, the EEOC has collected workforce data known as EEO-1, which helps expose unfair employer practices & uncover discrimination. On July 23, the EEOC proposed rules that would eliminate collection of this critical data. Without the data, it will be harder to identify & address discriminatory practices.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!

Listen in on the hearing for public comment today, Aug. 12th: https://ow.ly/MWh750Zy812

AND, then by submitting a public comment: https://ow.ly/j8i550Zy810 The deadline is Aug 24th!!

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