You have likely heard me say that it will take both women AND men working together to advance gender equity. Each spring, United WE hosts our Champion Breakfast with business leaders, elected officials and community leaders, and I am reminded of the importance of collaboration and the power of male allyship.
Each year, I am awestruck at the number of champions in the room, those tuning in from a distance, and those rooting us on while watching the post-event recording.
You may be wondering…what does it mean to be a champion?
It means using your talents, resources, and influence to economically empower women. It’s everything from being a supportive parent, coach, or manager who empowers a girl or a woman in your life – to using your influence in your company to make policy changes that empower many women at a time.
We work with partners, male allies, and champions to develop and advance solutions and results. To highlight a few:
Kansas City Councilman Kevin O’Neill utilized our town hall research to recently pass legislation to extend paid parental leave for Kansas City, Missouri, employees from 6 to 12 weeks upon the birth or adoption of a child. He also passed legislation creating a formal paid family leave policy allowing employees two weeks of paid leave to care for an immediate family member.
Using our Status of Women in Missouri research that showed women are paid an average 82 cents to the dollar men make, Jackson County, Missouri Executive Frank White, Jr. worked to ban salary history questions on employment applications in Jackson County to help level the playing field.
Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan and Kansas City Market President Matt Linski championed family-friendly corporate policies like 16 weeks of paid family leave and childcare reimbursement of $240 per child, per month for every employee.
Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe utilized our Missouri Town Hall research (which revealed childcare as the number one economic barrier for women) and created a Childcare Work Group, elevating the importance of childcare in Missouri’s budget and key tax credits.
Former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri Sly James piloted the Appointments Project® with us 9 years ago and when our research showed a gender gap on local boards and commissions. Together, and with the continued support of current Mayor Quinton Lucas, we have increased the representation of women on city boards and commissions from 32% to 51% and have grown the program to empower 189 women across the nation to secure a seat at the civic leadership table.
While these stories are intended to spotlight the power of male allyship, I want to emphasize that you don’t have to be the CEO of a bank or an elected official to be a champion. There is much to do, and so many ways to advance the ball.
Here are eight specific ways you can advance women today:
Mentor or sponsor a woman in your workplace or community
Encourage a woman to sign up for the Appointments Project® and serve on a board or commission
Advocate for paid family leave at your company
Implement our Pay Equity Best Practices in your workplace, ensuring salary history bans and more
Advocate for childcare policies with your company and legislators
Become a United WE Trailblazer
Save the date for We Work for Change: September 26, 2023
Become an Ambassador because, united, WE can change our communities, and change the world
Tomorrow at our Champion Breakfast, I look forward to seeing many champions in the room – both women AND men moving that ball down the field. Our work for change is about the long game, and we need everyone working as a team.
Together, let’s keep our eye on the ball because we can and will make a difference.
Fondly,
Wendy Doyle