Tag Archives: Women’s Economic Security
Leadership Assembly for Duluth Council Races
Posted July 25, 2017
We invite our members and leaders to join us as we screen the candidates running for Duluth city council races this year.… Continue reading »
Duluth ESST Task Force Input Session #3
Posted July 10, 2017
The Duluth earned sick & safe time task force is holding three final public input sessions to let the community respond to their proposed options for an ordinance. At these sessions, they’ll make available what they see is a list of options that could be included in an ordinance per their research and survey process. Things like, potential accrual rates, who is covered/not covered, which businesses would be covered, and what would enforcement look like. Please join us to advocate for what we know is needed!… Continue reading »
Duluth ESST Task Force Input Session #2
Posted
The Duluth earned sick & safe time task force is holding three final public input sessions to let the community respond to their proposed options for an ordinance. At these sessions, they’ll make available what they see is a list of options that could be included in an ordinance per their research and survey process. Things like, potential accrual rates, who is covered/not covered, which businesses would be covered, and what would enforcement look like. Please join us to advocate for what we know is needed!… Continue reading »
Duluth ESST Task Force Input Session #1
Posted
The Duluth earned sick & safe time task force is holding three final public input sessions to let the community respond to their proposed options for an ordinance. At these sessions, they’ll make available what they see is a list of options that could be included in an ordinance per their research and survey process. Things like, potential accrual rates, who is covered/not covered, which businesses would be covered, and what would enforcement look like. Please join us to advocate for what we know is needed!… Continue reading »
The Power of Women
Posted July 13, 2015
If someone were to ask you what leadership is, I’m sure your responses would be as varied as the responses I have heard when people are asked to define racial justice. As is true of most things in our lives, our lived experience supersedes dictionary definitions.
Leadership per the Merriam Webster online dictionary is: 1) a position as a leader of a group, organization, etc; 2) the time when a person holds the position of leader; 3) the power or ability to lead other people. Though I do not argue the definition as it appears, what leadership means to me is more convoluted.
As a child I dreamed of being president. I wish I had a quarter for how many times I heard I was insane to think this was possible. It is regrettably not the only situation in my life where I was informed my pursuit of leadership was ambiguously linked and limited due to my gender identity. So my experience and definition of leadership inevitably became linked to how unattainable I felt it was for me to achieve because I am a woman.
I have been blessed in my life to have incredibly brave, intelligent and resilient women mentor me in my pursuit of leadership. … Continue reading »
Welcome Shawnu!
Posted March 18, 2015
I come to TakeAction as the Women and the Economy Organizer in Duluth from the YWCA of Duluth where I actively worked to eliminate racism and empower women. Although not an organizer in title until now, social justice has been a proponent of my life since I was young.
I grew up in a small town and discrimination toward Native Americans was present everywhere, especially in the school system. Coming from a predominantly Native family I felt first-hand how awful oppression is and how public systems work to perpetuate that oppression. As a woman I know all too well the struggles faced in the workplace and educational systems. I’m passionate about energizing and engaging the community in work that fuels change and creates equity for everyone.
For me the most exciting part of my work at TakeAction is being part of creating a vision for Duluth through connecting with organizational partners & cohorts, community members & leaders, public officials and local businesses. Growing and building a sense of true community in our towns and cities will help us address social justice issues.
Though my focus in organizing is around issues for working women and their families, I think that you cannot truly address anything in solidarity. … Continue reading »
We can do better!
Posted February 17, 2015
I happen to think Northern Minnesota is pretty darn great. We have big lakes, nice trails, and good people. Yet, we aren’t perfect.
In fact, in Southern St. Louis County less than half of workers can earn paid sick time — the worst percentage in the state according to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. That’s why when the campaign to pass earned sick and safe time throughout Minnesota launched last week, they came to Duluth to do it.
We were proud to stand with the Minnesota Benefits campaign as it kicked off with labor leaders, legislators, community organizations, small business owners and people who know what it’s like to choose between caring for their family and a pay check.
I believe that by working together, Northern Minnesota, can and will do better.
Onward in 2015!
Posted January 21, 2015
The New Year has me thinking a lot about our great state.
Minnesota is home to 5.3 million people and 852 cities. We have four different ecosystems. We are vast, different and unique.
But we are also so much alike. We are Minnesotans.
I have lived in six of our state’s cities. From a tiny little farming town on the border of South Dakota to the heart of our largest city. Each place has shaped my experience of what it means to be a Minnesotan. One thing is clear to me: we all want a good life for our family, friends and neighbors. And the things that get in the way of someone thriving in north Minneapolis are the same as the barriers to living the life you choose in Duluth. 
Whether we are talking about a failed criminal justice system or the antiquated workplace that holds women back, the only way we are going to move on a path toward a Minnesota that leaves no one behind is if we move together.
The city I live in now (and love so much!) also affords me the privilege to work for an organization grappling with what it is going to take to win real change in people’s lives. … Continue reading »
Top 9 Photos of 2014 (and one awesome video)
Posted December 16, 2014
From marching with single moms in a Polar Vortex in Brooklyn Center, to Rosie the Riveters in Duluth and Grand Rapids, and even heading to the White House — it’s been a busy year! Take a look at some of our favorite pictures, and make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for our favorite video of 2014. Happy New Year!
Women Across Minnesota
Posted October 21, 2014
Minnesota is a pretty big state. Stretching hundreds of miles from the rocky shores of Lake Superior to the vast prairie spanning along the Iowa border. But last Thursday night the state got a whole lot smaller.
We had over sixty people, mostly all women, calling from the far reaches of the state, from Northfield to the North Shore. Not to mention all the people making calls from our Duluth, St. Paul and Grand Rapids offices. Although the women callers may all see a different slice of Minnesota when they look out the window, all sixty volunteers shared a common story that night- we need a Minnesota that works for 
women and families. Several women shared their own stories of going to work too soon after a child was born or not having paid time off to care for a sick family member. Unfortunately these stories are too common in all corners of our state.
That’s why our work is so important. We can actually change this story for all Minnesota’s women and families. Seriously, this can be changed. On Thursday night we made 3,000 calls. Meaning we called households all over Minnesota to talk about these issues and why our elections are so important.… Continue reading »
The Road to Equality Tour
Posted June 3, 2014
In May, more than 100 women joined us in Duluth to talk about building a Minnesota that works for women and their families.
Continuing the conversation this month, our friends at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota will cross the state for their 2014 Road to Equality Tour. See the details below:
“The tour will take us to seven vibrant Minnesota cities: Duluth, Grand Rapids, Rochester, Twin Cities, Mankato, Willmar, and Moorhead.
We’ll share the latest findings from our 2014 Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota research and learn from you how well the new data represents what’s happening for women and girls in your community.We’ll also show you how to use our new online research tool, Gender Equality Explorer.”
Interested? Head to their website to sign up. … Continue reading »
Building economic security across Minnesota
Posted May 23, 2014
At the end of February, we laid out for you a vision to expand economic equity in the 2014 legislative session.
Three months (and 2,000+ emails to legislators, almost 30,000 doors knocked on, 8,000 petition signatures, 1,500 conversations on the phone, and one very (very) cold march with single moms later) much of that vision has been realized.
More than 300,000 Minnesotans will get a raise come August 1. Soon grandmothers will be able to stay home from work to take care of their grandchildren, and employers won’t be able to fire women simply because they’re a mom. More Minnesotans will get a second chance, and Minnesota will continue to lead the nation in health care through MinnesotaCare.
None of this would have been possible without Minnesotans like standing hand in hand with bold champions at the Capitol fighting for progress every day – while under immense pressure from corporate interests to back down.
We know that there’s more work to do. We’re still fighting to make sure that no mom worries about getting fired for staying home with sick kids. To make sure that all our neighbors can participate in our democracy. And to make sure that all Minnesotans have access to the affordable health care they need.… Continue reading »
A Minnesota that supports women and families
Posted
Working mothers in Minnesota are increasingly the primary breadwinners in their families and make up more than half of the workforce in our state. Yet, women continuously fall behind in almost every measure of economic success. 
Last week Minnesota took a big step towards tackling these problems when Governor Dayton signed the Women’s Economic Security Act into law. And on Monday, Duluth City Councilors, organizational leaders and community members gathered at Duluth City Hall to celebrate the passage of the Women’s Economic Security Act and to call on policy makers to continue moving forward. That night the Duluth City Council unanimously adopted a resolution highlighting the work that still needs to be done including expanding earned sick time for working families.
But you and I both know that there’s more to be done. Now is the time to continue to fight for changes that improve the lives of women in Minnesot and allow all Minnesotans to thrive — not just survive.
Want to be a part of a conversation on what’s next?
At TakeAction we are excited to be working with the Center for American Progress to bring a statewide summit on women and families economic security to Duluth on May 22nd. … Continue reading »
