Welcome to the Blog for the Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative that advocates for women’s economic well-being and leadership in order to achieve, and possibly exceed, the policy goals for American women that are documented and adopted in the 2020 Democrats Abroad Platform.

Initiatives:
Women's Economic Empowerment

Team Leader: Carol Moore
Contact: [email protected]

Breaking News! On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the President signed into law: S. 475, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act,” which designates Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday.

Come Celebrate Juneteenth with the Global Black Caucus

Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day — has been a tradition in the United States for more than 150 years. The holiday finds its roots in Texas, where enslaved African-Americans in the city of Galveston were finally informed of their freedom on June 19, 1865, about two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Participation in Juneteenth celebrations grew throughout the years as descendants continued traditions in Texas and, as African-Americans in the South migrated across the country, Juneteenth celebrations began appearing in different cities.

To commemorate Emancipation Day, the Global Black Caucus has a tradition of celebrating the legacy of resilience and acknowledge the ongoing struggle through marches, prayers, and other remembrances. During gatherings, participants often picnic with traditional soul food dishes, one of the nation’s most identifiable culinary traditions.  Red food and drinks are traditional. Here are some recipes if you want to enjoy some traditional Juneteenth food and drinks.

Each June, Juneteenth celebrations across America and the world mark the anniversary of African Americans’ emancipation from enslavement and honor the ratification of the 13th Amendment while also examining the impact that slavery continues to have on America today.

Celebrate our Democracy and Freedom on the First Official Juneteenth!  This event will not be on Facebook live.

Join us for a One-Of-A-Kind Event - Non-stop show from 6 pm to midnight!

Our democracy is still imperiled. The fight must continue. Help raise funds for Democrats Abroad Get Out the vote efforts in 2022. 

Get a ticket even if you can't attend on 19 June. The event recording will be available for 90 days afterward. This is a global event with performers, many of who are Democrats Abroad Members from around the world.

• Musical performances in all genres from Opera to Rap from entertainers around the world.
• Poetry from our GBC Poet Laureates
• Art exhibition
• Lift Every and Sing Sing-along
• Fascinating historical facts about the holiday
• You can meet and talk with the artists in the VIP area. The first 25 people to sign up for VIP tickets receive a GBC swag bag.
• Segments from Black Caucus Juneteenth events around the world

Don't miss this Global Black Caucus event! Get a Ticket Today!

US Citizens can donate for tickets on this page, see below.

Please join Democrats Abroad Toulouse on Saturday, June 19th to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bessie Coleman becoming a pilot in France. She was the first woman of color to earn her pilot's license, truly a milestone in history! 

The event will be moderated by Beatrice Monthioux, DA Toulouse Member-at-Large

Speakers will include: 

• Christine Debouzy - President of the French Association of Women Pilots
• Coline Béry - Specialist on Adrienne Bolland, aviatrix who did the same type of training before Coleman
• Olivier Sarrazain - Director of the documentary film "Bessie Coleman Première Aviatrice Noire"
• Françoise Sockeel - Of the Aeroclub of Abbeyville in the region where Coleman trained

The event will take place via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive a link for joining the event. 

Co-sponsored by the Global Black Caucus and Global Women's Caucus--Main organiser Jeaneen Johnson 

Juneteenth festivities continue with a different event hosted by the Global Black Caucus from 6pm to midnight CET where there will be music, poetry and art.  Please click here for more details and to RSVP for the particular event.

Letter from the Editor

This month the GWC is highlighting leadership! Now may be the time to ask your Country Chair about starting a local women’s caucus, join a GWC action team, or partake in some political action. Are you registered to vote abroad? Don't forget to request your absentee ballot at www.votefromabroad.org! We celebrate and honor all Democrats Abroad who are leading the fight for a more progressive and equitable world!

Speaking of equality, this month we are celebrating PRIDE with the LGBTQ+ community, fighting discrimination and intolerance, and rejoicing in human diversity!

The GWC is working to provide you with lots of materials to help in your actions. Check out our list of resources, and Meet the Faces Behind our Actions! We’ve even designed some postcards for you to send to your representatives!

This newsletter has important updates on our action teams, insightful articles on our research, as well as a May Newsletter quiz! Don’t forget to check out our Artist’s Corner, spotlighting the renowned female choreographer, Crystal Pite, by scrolling down. Lastly, we would love your participation in our #MyStoryGWC campaign, where you can connect with other members through shared stories, to highlight the issues most important to us.

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-director, Global Women’s Caucus

Over 10,000 members and growing! Join us

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND KEYNOTES WOMEN’S ECONOMIC FORUM: RESETTING THE U.S. AGENDA FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

The return to Democratic leadership has reset the U.S. agenda for women across race, sexual orientation, and geography. This moment calls for bold political, social, and economic investments that lead to shared prosperity and equitable recovery for women.

Join U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for an important discussion of what is being done, and what must be done, at the Federal and State level to capitalize on this important moment, and to address the policy perspectives we bring as Democrats Abroad.

Senator from NY since 2009, Gillibrand has led legislative action on numerous issues including sexual assault in the military, child nutrition, childcare for members of the Armed Forces, and parental leave.  

Our conversation with the Senator will be followed by a panel of leading experts across several issue areas that impact women’s economic status as documented in the 2020 Democrats Abroad Platform and offer policy remedies that root out biases that shut women out.  

The Panel will examine four issues within the Platform that are key to reversing inequalities for women: Intersectionality, Economic Inequality, Social Safety Net, and Sexual Identity Equality. Featured Panelists:

Intersectionality: Why Connecting the Dots Matter in the Fight for Women’s Equality - Dr. Ronda Zelezny-Green, Chief Learning Officer, BRK Ujima

Economic Inequality – Building an Inclusive Economy for the Long Term - Dr. Linda Scott, Emeritus Professor, University Oxford

Social Welfare: Assuring A Baseline of Support and Security for Women - Dr. C. Nicole Mason, president/CEO, Institute for Women’s Policy Research (WPR)

The Economic Case for LGBT Equality - Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett, distinguished scholar, the Williams Institute & Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

The Forum, sponsored by the Global Women’s Caucus Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative will be presented virtually on Zoom from 3pm-5pm CET. Forum attendees will be invited to join discussion breakout sessions with our panelists at the conclusion of their presentations. This event is open to all DA members, US elected officials, members of academia, and the global expat community. 

You won’t want to miss this important exchange with champions of women’s issues.

Our Event Sponsors

We are pleased to announce the launch of the GWC's Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative.

Expanding leadership and economic opportunities for women, across race and geography, and rooting out systemic biases that shut women out, is a priority for the Global Women’s Caucus and Democrats Abroad overall. Important policy recommendations to address these systemic inequities can be found throughout the 2020 Democrats Abroad Platform from, taxation to wage equality to education.

We must translate these recommendations to action to ensure voters understand the issues and the recommended policy changes. This new initiative will draw attention to, and advocate for, policy recommendations that address systemic inequities and promote equity and fairness for women. We will especially focus on issues impacting women of color, a segment of the American population for whom unjust discriminatory practices and policies throughout history have limited their prosperity and inclusion in arenas of leadership.

We have an opportunity to make the election of a woman to Madam Vice President more than a celebration, but a Call-to-Action on behalf of women at home and abroad. The new Biden-Harris administration believes that equity for women is paramount: it has established a Gender Policy Council; appointed and promoted more women to key cabinet and administrative positions than ever before and passed the American Rescue Plan that will lift millions of women and their families out of poverty. This is a watershed moment for improving women’s economic condition and placement at the tables of leadership, if we want it

To capitalize on a return to Democratic leadership, and with the opportunity of the new White House Gender Policy Council to push for gender equality, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative.

Join us as we capture this moment into a movement. Help us position women’s economic well-being and leadership as a priority area for the Party of democrats, which is the Party of Women! 

For more information about the Initiative or to volunteer, contact Pat White ([email protected]) or Carol Moore ([email protected]).

MISSION STATEMENT

Letter from the Editor

If the last year has taught us anything, it is that humans are just as resilient as Spring’s first blooms after a long and dark winter. While we admire those first sprouts of crocus petals waving their vibrant colors proudly, let us emerge from this past season strong and ready for action, too. Our GWC has a lot going on!

We have a host of events this month in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a new GWC Initiative: Women’s Economic Wellbeing and Leadership, as well as Earth Day. While women and women’s issues are finally getting their deserved attention, our Action Teams are also busy preparing campaigns to warrant you the title of "Activist". Scroll down for important updates, insightful articles on the filibuster and the American Rescue Plan, and make sure to take our March Newsletter quiz! Lastly, we would love your participation in our #MyStoryGWC campaign, where you can connect with other members through shared stories, to highlight the issues most important to us.

We hope you enjoy this edition and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-Chair Global Women’s Caucus

Over 10,000 members and growing! Join us

On December 5th, Senator Tina Smith (NM) shared on Twitter that she was in favor of removing the filibuster, in an attempt “to move this country forward.” With previous convictions over using the filibuster to protect voting rights, civil rights, and women’s health, she took an abrupt turn stating, “it’s been a highly effective tool to thwart the will of the people.”

The filibuster, a congressional tool requiring a supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate, was mistakenly created to protect minority representation. For example, the filibuster in its ideal form looks something like this:

With roughly 9 million Americans living abroad, what does immersion in another culture offer people, and what, if any, environmental factors impact their behaviors as empathic, tolerant human beings? “Being able to take another’s perspective may be a key element in reducing prejudice” a 2012 study stated, but does simply living abroad offer individuals that experience, or does maintaining empathy and tolerance go beyond the effects of environmental exposures? How much does our environment affect our behaviors and attitudes?

“A matter of justice and compassion.” That’s how President Joe Biden describes the issues at the heart of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2021. The issues include: sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and sex trafficking. It’s a piece of legislation Biden knows top to bottom, having authored the U.S. federal law as a Delaware senator in 1994, under then-president Bill Clinton. Reauthorizing this signature piece of legislation – which now includes protections for Native-American, LGBTQ and immigrant women – is one of Biden’s first-100-days promises. Those protections translate into money and resources, protections ever more critical in the time of COVID, with domestic abuse numbers spiking.

Last month, Reauthorization of VAWA (H.R. 1585) narrowly passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, with only 29 Republicans breaking ranks to join their Democratic colleagues. With the thinnest of majorities in the U.S. Senate – a majority of one really – Democrats face an even tougher fight to ensure these protections for half the country’s population. “This should not be a Democratic or Republican issue,” Biden said recently. Apparently, it is. 

A bit of history: