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Today marks Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution over 100 years ago. The 19th Amendment was a monumental victory for women suffragists, as it made it illegal to deny citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex. However, the rights granted by the amendment did not immediately extend to all women.* Women of color were largely prevented from voting due to individual state laws, threats, and violence. And it would be decades before they gained equal legal access to the polls. Unfortunately, systemic barriers to participating in our democracy persist today and disproportionately impact women of color. Threats to voting equality exist in voter ID laws, voter registration challenges, and disrupted polling sites. It is imperative that we work together to build collective power in our communities. We must work to transform systems and power dynamics that disenfranchise all women, especially women of color. At the YWCA, we urge our stakeholders to vote and encourage their networks to vote, as well. It is also critical to invest time and resources in organizations leading efforts to support women and families, ensuring their needs are valued, represented, and prioritized by those elected to public office. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a vehicle for change, and we need you to be part of our movement. |
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Our work to build collective power and advance women’s equality includes direct services and public policy advocacy – both critically important. As one example of our direct impact, we are helping women of color business owners realize growth and success through our Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center. We believe that with adequate funding and support, these entrepreneurs can build wealth and have a catalytic impact on the communities they serve. |
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YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is an active member of many national, state, county and city-level coalitions, advocating for equitable policies that combat racism and positively affect women and families. We are also actively promoting voter registration and education to ensure our constituents are informed about voting requirements and key policy issues affecting their families and communities. Consider supporting our work today with a tax-deductible gift in celebration of Women’s Equality Day, and also in recognition of the work that is yet to be done to exercise our collective power and realize full equality. Together we can advance equality for all women. |
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*We define women as anyone who identifies as a woman, regardless of sex assigned at birth or sexual orientation. |
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