On October 13, 2022, PowHerTM New York hosted a unique gathering of advocates and thought leaders in business, non-profit, union and government that inspired us to think and act boldly during this unprecedented moment created by the pandemic and escalating threats to women’s rights. A collective effort, the PowHerNY Host Committee, program team and leadership, engaged over 275 people, making it our largest event ever.
The Equity Summit started with a beautiful rendition of the song Rise Up, performed by soprano Yolanda F. Johnson, followed by a host of inspiring and informative leaders. In her greeting, Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the need for us all to work together at this critical moment and that by uplifting women, we uplift everyone. PowHer New York President Bev Neufeld added that the challenges we have faced with the pandemic and Dobbs decision must be viewed not as setbacks, but as opportunities. Setting the stage, human rights activist Ai-jen Poo discussed the lessons and significance of the twenty-two-year campaign for domestic workers’ rights which she led. “This is powerful work we must do because equity is on the other side.”
The first panel, introduced by Rebecca Damon of SAG-AFTRA, was moderated by NBC Washington Correspondent Tracee Wilkins who led an in-depth conversation about achieving pay equity, organizing, the role of business in the fight for reproductive rights and new work models. National Women’s Law Center President Fatima Goss Graves highlighted the historical patterns and systemic issues, especially racism, that must be combatted to build a more equitable workplace. Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio, which works with Fortune 2000 companies on achieving wage equity, underscored the importance of salary transparency. She noted that the energy building among younger workers is pushing employers to step up and take action to create better workplaces. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler focused on the vital role of activism, not only the traditional advocacy we are used to, but all activism, big and small, including talking to your friends, family, and colleagues about issues that matter to you.
Summit Co-Chair Mary Luke introduced Anna Wadia, President of the CARE Fund, who kicked off a substantive conversation about practical and cultural challenges to revaluing women’s caregiving work. Feminist economist Michelle Holder discussed the urgency of improving conditions for women and caregivers by increasing wages and access to social supports such as childcare benefits or federally-subsidized health insurance. Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families, encouraged us to name the problem: Our society’s ingrained cultural and political attitudes –grounded in legacies of slavery, racism, misogyny, agism, and ableism – devalue those who give and receive care.
Summit Co-Chair Linda Hartley opened our joyful award ceremony led by Maria Hinojosa of Futuro Media who gave a touching tribute to her friend and our honoree Ana Oliveira, President of The New York Women’s Foundation. In her remarks, Ana stressed that we, the advocates, are the ones on the frontline, pushing progress, and philanthropy must listen to and support our efforts to continue creating change through collaboration and connection. With the program concluded, some attendees joined small group discussion, PowHer Talks, sponsored by PowHerNY Partners. One major takeaway from the Summit was that our issues should be part of the election season dialogue. Look for PowHer the Vote questions next week!
Please watch the full event recording below and flip through our Program Book for a full listing of the speakers, host committee members and sponsors of the event.
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Full Program
- Welcome Remarks: Attorney General Letitia James will kick off the Summit urging us to think boldly in our response to the urgent needs of women and families.
- Setting the Stage: Ai-jen Poo (National Domestic Workers Alliance, Caring Across Generations) will share her vision of the cultural and political changes that are required to enable caregivers, and all women, to take care of themselves, their families and contribute equitably to the economy.
- Creating an Equitable Economy Panel Discussion: Explore the practices, policies and attitudes needed for New York to create a truly equitable workplace in the post-pandemic, post-Roe world with Tracee Wilkins (NBC Washington), Fatima Goss Graves (National Women’s Law Center), Liz Shuler (AFL-CIO), and Maria Colacurcio (Syndio).
- Valuing Women’s Work Panel Discussion: Delve into the systemic and cultural obstacles that continue to devalue caregiving, and New York strategies that will drive progress toward respecting and valuing the work of all women with Anna Wadia (The CARE Fund), Jocelyn Frye (National Partnership for Women & Families), and Michelle Holder (John Jay College & The Washington Center for Equitable Growth).
- Equity Summit Award: Presented to Ana Oliveira (The New York Women’s Foundation) by Pulitzer Prize winner Maria Hinojosa (Futuro Media).
- PowHer Talks: PowHer Talks will be held from 5:30 to 6:00PM following the program and awards ceremony. In a small group setting, you will have the opportunity to share your ideas and inform our strategies and collective action.
Host Committee
A Better Balance, Dina Bakst | Sasha Ahuja | American Association of University Women New York State, Carol Griffith and Nan Scinta | Asian American Federation, Jo-Ann Yoo | Michelle Blankenship* | Deanne Braveman | Blue Carreker* | Community Service Society of New York, Debipriya Chatterjee and Emerita Torres | CWA Local 1180, Gloria Middleton, John T O’Malley | Rebecca Damon* | Donna Dolan* | Empire State Campaign for Child Care | Equal Rights Advocates, Noreen Farrell | Erie County Commission on the Status of Women, Karen L. King* | Fearless Talent Development, Inc., Francesca Burack | Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Raysa S. Rodriguez | Gender Equity in Hiring Project, Sara Shapiro-Plevan | Girls for Gender Equity | H2Growth Strategies, Linda C. Hartley* | Haffner Consulting Inc., Nancy Haffner | Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Ilana Berger | HCMoneyball, Solange Charas | Human Services Council of New York |International Association of Women in Radio and Television, Sheila Dallas-Katzman | Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, Jamie Allen Black and Eva Stern | Latina Surge, Elisa Charters | League of Women Voters of New York State, Laura Ladd Bierman | League of Women Voters of New York State Rural Caucus, Kathleen Stein | Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund – Carol Baldwin Moody and Seher Khawaja | MomsRising/MamásConPoder, Diana E. Limongi | Ms. Foundation for Women, Teresa Younger | National Domestic Workers Alliance, Barbara Young | National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs – NYC, Nesli Cakiroglu | National Organization for Women Brooklyn-Queens, Sherry Rogers | New York Civil Liberties Union, Donna Lieberman | New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Connie Neal and Joan Gerhardt | New York State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior Leagues, Katelyn Galbraith | New York Women in Film and Television, Cynthia Lopez | New York Women’s Foundation, Azadeh Khalili | Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, Maria Lizardo | One Fair Wage Campaign, Saru Jayaraman | Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts | PowHer New York, Beverly Neufeld* | RX Compassion Inc., Paula Barbag* | Sakhi for South Asian Women, Kavita Mehra | Sexual Harassment Working Group, Erica Vladimer | Sister to Sister International, Cheryl Brannan | UN Women USA, Mary M. Luke* | Womankind, Yasmeen Hamza | Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement, Merble Reagon* | Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy, Yolanda F. Johnson* | Zonta Club of Brooklyn, Leslie Wright | Zonta Club of Greater Queens, Dr. Karen Siegel. * Denotes PowHer New York Board Member