California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

Commission Interim Executive Director, Darcy Totten, shares her opinion on the opportunity to pass the 28th Amendment this year. Equal rights under the law shouldn't be a debate. The Equal Rights Amendment will guarantee rights and protections for women which would subsequently address other issues including the gender pay gap, healthcare inequities, reproductive rights, economic security, and protections for marginalized communities. Read more here: https://yhoo.it/4ffZokK

The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls was delighted to partner with California Women Lead to co-host the 2024 Capitol Women Fellows Scholars Summit. The event provided the new class an opportunity to connect with established women leaders in public policy to gain insight on navigating the next steps in their career. This is the third successful year partnering with California Women Lead for the Capitol Women Fellows Scholarship program, where we offer the class a $2,500 scholarship, resources, training, and professional development opportunities. The keynote speaker for the Summit was Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California, and current President & CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. Darcy Totten, Interim Executive Director of the Commission, and Myel Thelen (Jenkins), Executive Director of California Women Lead, delivered opening remarks. The event included a panel discussion led by Totten, and two tailored workshops “Growing Your Authentic Voice” and “Personal Strategic Planning,” led by Jaclyn "Jackie" Kirkwood, MBA, PMP®, RBLP-T®, Senior Manager, Professional Services, Clutch. Thank you to Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Erica Courtney for giving closing remarks; Tani Cantil-Sakauye, President & CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California for being our keynote speaker; panelists Aubrie F., Deputy Director of Partnerships, Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Minnie Santillan, Chief of Staff, Office of Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, Cindy Chin Senior Director, Public Affairs & Sustainability of The Coca-Cola Company as they passed on invaluable knowledge onto our new class of fellows. The Commission is proud to support the scholars as they transition from Fellows to policymakers at the Capitol.

In every scenario, no matter what happens in any election, the Commission will continue to serve and support CA’s women and girls even in turbulent times. We know that a future where gender equality is the norm is inevitable, and we will continue to lead and fight for it.

We are thrilled to partner with California Women Lead as we co-host the 2024 Capitol Women Fellows Scholars Summit. This is our third successful year working with CA Women Lead and the Capitol Women Fellows scholarship program! As part of the program, we offer the new class a $2,500 scholarship and opportunities to connect with established women leaders at the Capitol. Today’s summit will include panel discussions moderated by Darcy Totten, Interim Executive Director of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, keynote speaker Tani Cantil-Sakauye, The President & CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. From 2011-2022, Cantil-Sakauye served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California and led the judiciary as the chair of the Judicial Council - the first person of color and the second woman to do so. Fellows will also participate in workshops led by Jaclyn "Jackie" Kirkwood, MBA, PMP®, RBLP-T®, Senior Manager, Professional Services, Clutch which are tailored to help the scholars grow their authentic voices and create personal strategic plans. The Summit is at The California Endowment as one of two major programs where the fellows can connect with one another and key members of the Capitol community. The Commission is proud to support the ambitions of the new class of women scholars as they embark on the next step in their careers in public service.

Despite decades of progress, the gender pay gap remains a significant challenge, particularly for women over 50. This experienced group of women bring a wealth of experience, skills, and invaluable talent to the workforce, yet earn less than their male counterpart over time. Recent data show that, nationally, women over 50 earn 76 cents to every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earns. According to the Women's Bureau, Department of Labor, "in 2022 — the most recent year for which data is available — women aged 50 to 59 working full-time and year-round earned about $56,000 annually, about $18,300 less than men," affecting their financial and retirement security. The gap widens for women of color, and underrepresented, and marginalized populations. "For Latinas and Native women, the losses are more than $1 million, and for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander women, the losses are nearly $1 million over a lifetime." As we work toward a more equitable and inclusive workforce, addressing the gender pay gap is crucial. By recognizing their experience, developing supportive policies, ensuring transparent pay practices, we can make progress toward a fair workplace and society. #EqualPay #EqualPayCA Read more here: https://bit.ly/3S9Seo3

When Black women are paid less than their white counterparts, it impacts their finances today & financial futures. An economy that supports Black women is an economy that supports us all. #BlackWomensEqualPayDay https://lnkd.in/eC9iFXgS

Today is #EqualPayDay for Black women, where we raise awareness about the disparities black women endure in the workforce. Today, a black woman working full-time, year-round earns 69 cents per dollar compared to white, non-Hispanic men. The data show that the pay gap widens when we include part-time or seasonal workers, to 66 cents per dollar compared to what a white, non-Hispanic man earns. EqualPayToday.org says, "we know that there are many factors and forms of discrimination in employment that impact Black women’s pay throughout their careers reducing their economic security and stability, including the lack of equal pay for the same or similar work, reliance on salary history, and the failure to provide updated, robust protections against workplace harassment." The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls stands in solidarity with the millions of black women in California fighting to close the gender pay gap. All women should receive fair compensation for their work to create an equitable future for all. #EqualPay #EqualPayCA #PayGap #WomenAreEssential

Join the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls tomorrow for a conversation with Melody Hudson, MBA and Monica Simmons as we discuss actionable insights and strategies for addressing the pay disparity faced by Black women, empowering them to advocate for themselves and navigate the complexities of achieving financial equity in the workplace. We will explore the pay gap between Black women and their counterparts, the historical context and contributing factors to the disparity, the importance of allyship, and the different roles mentorship and sponsorship play in upward career mobility. Empowering Pay Equity: Navigating the Path to Equal Pay for Black Women Melody S. Hudson, Monica Simpson July 9th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Register at women.ca.gov/equalpayca/

Gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace is an urgent issue that impacts millions of women and gender-expansive individuals across industries. The violence and harassment can manifest in different forms including toxic environments, discrimination, physical violence, harming the mental health, safety, and well-being of employees. Employers can take action by implementing clear, and specific policies addressing GBVH, with zero-tolerance for acts of violence and harassment; conducting regular training sessions on recognizing, addressing, and preventing GBVH; provide confidential and accessible channels for reporting incidents; offer support services such as counseling and legal assistance for victims of GBVH. Last week, the Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, hosted their inaugural summit on GBVH featuring panelists from multiple agencies. Watch the event here: https://lnkd.in/eNCsK5aM and read their blog here: https://lnkd.in/emzT-Fmc.

The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls was proud to be represented last night by Interim Executive Director Darcy Totten who was honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the 2024 American Legion Auxiliary California Girls’ State opening ceremony on Tuesday, June 25, at 7:15 pm at California State University-Sacramento. The ALA California Girls State is an incredible annual weeklong program sponsored by the ALA, Department of California, in which high school girls come together for one week to learn about civic engagement and government administration by registering to vote, creating and passing legislation, and setting up their own mock city, county, and state governments. The delegates who attend Girls State are from diverse backgrounds' across our state and among the top one percent of their classes, selected based upon their academic achievement, school activities, and community service. We are so proud to support these more than 400 future leaders of our state and we hope that they continue to receive support and encouragement in their efforts from our incredible Capitol community!