PathWays PA E-Alert: October 3, 2011

LET THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR KNOW: WE NEED TO FIND AND ELIMINATE PAY INEQUITY

The Department of Labor is currently in the consideration stages of a tool that would help monitor pay fairness. Though laws like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 helped make it easier to file gender-discriminated unfair pay claims, to date there is no federal tool that effectively monitors wage discrimination on the basis of gender, race or national origin by private employers.

The National Women’s Law Center is urging people to support the tool, especially as it relates to private employers taking public dollars.

For more information, please visit the NWLC’s site.

HELP PRESERVE FUNDING FOR PERKINS LOANS

Federal Perkins Loans are an important source of funding for college for many students - providing direct, federally subsidized student loans. Though their allocation recently survived the Senate committee, the funding matter has not gone to the floor for a general vote, and the House has yet to pass such a measure.

The National Association of Commissions for Women is urging you to contact your members of Congress to urge them to maintain 2011’s levels of Perkins Loan funding so that higher education is obtainable for many across the nation. To find your House members, click here. For contact information on your Senators, click here.

Pennsylvania Updates

SUPPORT THE INSURING MOTHERHOOD BILL

State Senator Larry Farnese of Philadelphia has introduced an important bill in the Senate - the Insuring Motherhood Bill. It provides requirements for coverage of maternity care, as well as eliminates pregnancy as a pre-existing condition for determining insurance eligibility. This bill will ensure that women have access to the prenatal care they need for healthy families.

The Maternity Care Coalition is building a coalition to support the bill. If your organization would like to sign on, contact Erin Cusack at ecusack@momobile.org.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE BUILDING ONE PENNSYLVANIA SUMMIT

On October 27th, the Building One Pennsylvania Coalition will be holding a public meeting in Lancaster to address some pressing problems facing Keystone residents - including declining schools, poor infrastructure, high property taxes and unfunded state and federal mandates.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan is confirmed for the event. For more information, click here. To register, go to Building One Pennsylvania’s site. They are requesting $15 for registration to help defray costs of the event.

URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION RELEASES NEW FORECLOSURE GUIDE

Many Philadelphians have been adversely affected by the housing crisis, and possibly face foreclosure. The Urban Affairs Coalition has released its new Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide, which could help those facing foreclosure navigate the path toward not losing their home.

For more information or to download the guide, click here.


Events / Information

TEEN MOTHER IN NEED OF GUIDANCE? WE CAN HELP

If you are a teen parent aged 13-21, please come to PathWays PA’s Teen Parenting Classes at 3617 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA on Mondays from 4-6 PM.

Children are welcome, and we will have tokens and light refreshments available. Participants can learn how to improve their parenting skills, hear how other teens handle parenting, learn how to increase your communications with your child, and have an opportunity to help other teen parents by sharing your experiences.

Call 215-549-2686 for more information. Click here for a flyer with more information.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR CONFERENCE AGAINST TORTURE

When: Friday and Saturday, October 28th and 29th
What: Pennsylvania Conference Against Torture at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 South Second St., Harrisburg, PA

The Pennsylvania Network Against Torture will be holding the Pennsylvania Conference Against Torture in Harrisburg at the end of the month. Registration is due by October 15th.

The conference will bring together human rights advocates from across the state to discuss torture - a pressing issue brought to the forefront in recent years. In addition, there will be workshops for those who work with victims of torture.

The keynote speaker is Kate Porterfield, a clinical psychologist at Bellevue and New York University who has worked with Guantanamo detainees.

To register, visit the Network’s site.

TUESDAY KICKS OFF THE AMERICANS IN STRUGGLE FILM SERIES

The Philadelphia Unemployment Project, as well as area chapters of the AFL-CIO and NAACP and other local organizations, will be sponsoring the Americans in Struggle film series, showing the lives and struggles of the working class every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at 112 N Broad St., 2nd Floor.
The first movie, showing tomorrow, is With Babies and Banners, which tells the story of the Women’s Emergency Brigade and the Flint Sit Down Strikes, which paved the way for the labor movement.
For more information and to check other screenings, click here.

OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

Nationwide, women are trapped in abusive households, where the threat of physical and sexual violence looms large. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - and with nearly one in four women nationwide having fallen victim to household violence, it’s an important time to remember and to act.
If you know someone who may be a victim of domestic violence, this site provides a list of warning signs and resources. In addition, Women Against Abuse has a series of events this month to raise awareness and build support, including the iPledge event this Wednesday at Love Park, where the pledge is simple: “I pledge to take action against domestic violence by choosing not to remain silent.”