I am here to testify in support of House Bill 609. The Women’s Foundation wants to create a culture of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for women and their families. House Bill 609 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 Missourians.
Nacente Seabury Appointed to Kansas City Environmental Management Commission
Women's Foundation Appointments Project Continues to Make Progress
Kansas City, MO -- Women’s Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Nacente Seabury to the Kansas City Environmental Management Commission. Seabury was appointed by Mayor Sly James, who has partnered with Women’s Foundation’s Appointments Project through his Women’s Empowerment Initiative (WE), in order to address the gender gap in city leadership positions.
Women’s Foundation Releases New Data that Underscores Need for Policy Solutions
New Data Shows Much More Work to Be Done to Achieve Economic Empowerment for Women in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, Women’s Foundation released new findings to their ongoing research on the Status of Women in Missouri at a web-based press conference.
The research examines and benchmarks progress, or lack thereof, on a variety of indicators for women in Missouri. For example, there are signs of incremental progress in some areas, such as health care, where a higher percentage of Missouri women now have health insurance coverage than two years ago. However, in other areas there has been regression: despite women making up 51% of Missouri’s population, the percentage of women serving in the Missouri General Assembly is now only 22.3% -- down from 25% two years ago.
Women’s Foundation, City of Topeka, and Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Announce Appointments Project
TOPEKA, KS -- Today, Women’s Foundation, the City of Topeka, and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce announced a new effort to increase the number of women serving on city boards and commissions. Topeka is the ninth community in Kansas and Missouri to launch the successful Women’s Foundation Appointments Project program. As part of the event, Councilwoman Karen Hiller announced the first appointment through Women’s Foundation Appointments Project - Topeka, Angel Zimmerman, who has been appointed to the Capital Business Improvement District.
Women's Foundation Advocates for Missouri Rule Changes to Advance Family Leave
Proposed rules unanimously adopted by Personnel Advisory Board on Tuesday would provide more comprehensive and flexible leave options for state workers
Jefferson City, Mo. - As part of of their ongoing work to advance flexible workplace solutions for families, Women’s Foundation submitted comments to the Personnel Advisory Board, which met today, in support of Governor Jay Nixon's proposed rule changes related to state employee leave policies. These rule changes would expand the Federal Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Missouri state employees to allow more flexibility for workers to care for their loved ones without losing their jobs or going broke. The board unanimously adopted the rule changes today.
EMPOWERED for the Next 25 Years
By Wendy Doyle - Huffington Post Blog
On December 2nd more than 1,500 guests joined us at the Will Work For Change Annual Luncheon celebration to kick off the Women’s Foundation’s 25th year of working to improve the lives of women of all ages across Kansas and Missouri. Featured speakers included Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, America’s first woman Secretary of State, legendary journalist Ann Compton, and Missouri Speaker of the House Todd Richardson. It was a truly an inspiring day and I wanted to take this opportunity to share some highlights and why I’m feeling more empowered than ever to continue to work for change...
Read the full post on Wendy Doyle's Huffington Post Blog.
Statement from Women's Foundation on IKEA Policy
Kansas City, MO -- Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of Women's Foundation released the following statement on IKEA USA's announcement of expanded paid parental leave:
We commend IKEA for their leadership in expanding paid parental leave for their employees and hope to see more employers follow suit. Our research shows that, among other things, paid family leave can reduce the percentage of those who receive public assistance or food stamps in the year following a child’s birth, encourage women to stay in the workforce, and allow fathers to take a more active role in caretaking. Expanding paid leave policies is good for families, businesses and the economy; it's simply the right thing to do.
Women’s Foundation Kicks off its 25th Year with a Public Policy Strategy Focused on Economically Empowering Women
Women's Foundation Releases Findings on Occupational Licensing Research
During Global Entrepreneur Week, Women’s Foundation released findings in a new research report: Occupational Licensing and Women Entrepreneurs in Missouri. The research study was conducted in partnership with the University of Missouri Truman School Institute of Public Policy and with the generous support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. It found that occupational licensing, while intended to protect the safety and well-being of the public, can often create unnecessary barriers for women entrepreneurs by restricting entry and re-entry into professions, reducing employment, and creating economic inequity. This research shows removing these barriers will meet one of Women’s Foundation’s key goals of empowering more women to become entrepreneurs.
More Empowered Than Ever
The 2016 election cycle will be remembered for many things, some of it very divisive, and some of it very ugly, particularly as related to women. But there were some bright spots in Tuesday's election with women making history:
- In Missouri, Robin Smith became the first African American woman nominee by a major party for statewide office.
- Nationally, there will now be more women in the United States Senate than ever before (21) and the number of women of color in the Senate went from one to four.
- The House of Representatives will now include its first Indian-American woman and Vietnamese-American woman to serve in the chamber.
- A Somali-American Muslim woman was elected to a state legislature for the first time in American history.
- Kellyanne Conway became the first woman to successfully run a presidential campaign.
- And, of course Hillary Clinton continued to put a thousand cracks in the highest glass ceiling as the first female nominee of a major political party and the winner of the popular vote in Tuesday's general election.