PathWays PA Policy Blog

On April 30th, 2014, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) introduced the Getting into Researching, Learning and Studying of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (GIRLS STEM) Act, a bill that would establish a program at the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that more female students have access to and participate in STEM education and training. This program would provide grants to local educational agencies that develop plans to encourage young women to study STEM, educate parents about STEM opportunities for their children, provide training and mentoring opportunities for students, and prepare secondary students for college STEM programs. "When women succeed, we all succeed. With more women in STEM jobs, we'll help grow our economy and make sure we're competitive with the rest of the world," said Congressman McNerney, who is a mathematician and wind energy engineer himself. Women hold less than a quarter of STEM related jobs despite the fact that...

The U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau will be holding a green business workshop Monday, August 19 from 1:00PM-3:00Pm at Congreso de Latinos Unidos located at 2800 North American St. in Philadelphia.  Please come to learn about green businesses and how to green your business. Participating organizations are the Small Business Administration and the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Register Here!

For more information and to RSVP, please visit  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4357573620 .

The U.S. Department of Labor  Women's Bureau Region 3 office is offering a Green Guide Workshop for Women in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 30 at the Free Library of Philadelphia located at 1901 Vine St.  The Women's Bureau Green Guide is a comprehensive manual designed to assist women with job training as they enter nontraditional jobs. The guide offers women resources and information they need to so they can succeed in the emerging green economy. Attend this FREE event!

Join the solar career move and learn valuable green job skills for free! If you qualify for a Free Grant you can receive Funded Solar PV Installer Training for women and men with previous experience working in the building trades. There will be a 3 week training from April 8th-26th Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM. Apply only if you meet the following requirements: 2+ years experience in construction, home remodeling, carpentry, electrical, roofing, HVAC, or related skilled trade  Basic electrical & tools of the trade knowledge  Comfortable working with fractions and solving equations  Valid Driver's License & daily access to a reliable car  H.S. Diploma/GED  Ability to lift 50lbs  Not afraid of working at heights  There is a special focus on recruiting WOMEN to join this program. To apply you must first fill out this survey . The grants will be administered through the Department of Labor .

Wednesday, Oct 10 10:00a to 1:00p at Congreso Education and Training Center, Philadelphia, PA Hosted by the US Dept. of Labor’s Women’s Bureau and La Mega 1310 AM This free forum will provide information on how Latino women in the Philadelphia area can become financially stable and earn higher wages by pursuing jobs in the green industry and information on entrepreneurial opportunities.

With just a few minutes to spare on Saturday night, Governor Corbett signed the budget for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year, which began on Sunday, July 1.  You can find a final copy of the budget at  http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/current_and_proposed_commonwealth_budgets/4566/ . Also, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center will be holding a phone call next week to discuss the budget. Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center Budget Phone Call July 9, 2012 10 AM Conference line: (760) 569-7676; Code: 453547 Even though the budget debate is over, there are plenty of issues to take action on. Please take a moment to make calls, write emails, and provide overall support for the issues that matter to you. Even though the budget debate is over, there is more you can take action on.  Please check out these links for more information: Elimination of General Assistance Delayed Until August 1 Outreach for the Earned Income Tax Credit Marc...

Ensuring women are prepared to succeed in a 21st century changing economy is critical to the financial stability of women, their families, and our country. Why Green Is Your Color : A Woman's Guide to a Sustainable Career (from the US Dept. of Labor Women's Bureau) is a comprehensive manual designed to assist women with job training and career development as they enter into innovative and nontraditional jobs.

HELP MAKE CALLS FOR EARNED SICK DAYS In Philadelphia, over 40% of workers do not have a single paid day that they can use to care for themselves or a family member when sick. Last year the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces and PathWays PA passed a bill in City Council that would give workers the opportunity to earn a minimum number of paid sick days. Unfortunately, this bill was vetoed by the Mayor. The proposed 2012 earned sick days bill is very similar to last year’s bill, but with one important difference. After studying earned sick days bills across the country, the Coalition added a “safe days” option to the bill so that workers who are survivors of domestic violence can receive the medical attention and support they need to leave an abuser. To pass this bill again, and to pass it with a veto-proof majority, we need your help. Will you call your City Council member right now? If you see your City Council member in the list below, please call and tell them ...

Special Announcements Help Your Employees, Clients, and/or Constituents Meet Their Financial Goals Please join us on October 26! PathWays PA is pleased to present the First Annual Network for Strategic Asset Building Symposium to offer financial education and asset building in the workplace. This free Symposium will help you offer your workers strategies and tools to build financial knowledge and resources-at no cost to you! If any of these tools are right for you, PathWays PA will be happy to help you implement them in the workplace without charge. Featured national and state experts include: John Wancheck, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, EITC Expert Holly Chase, PA Office of Financial Education Topics will include: How to find free tax preparation during tax season How to improve credit How to save money through banks/credit unions, prepaid debit cards, U.S. Savings Bonds, and Individual Development Accounts How to access economic security programs su...

Two weeks ago, the National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP) , an initiative of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development , hosted a webinar that offers listeners a sector-based solution for eliminating gender disparities in the workforce. The webinar, which you can listen to here , features speakers from Workforce Results , Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) , and the National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP) . Using interactive slideshows, the webinar highlights current employment trends and gender-based workforce inequities. Additionally, the webinar covers the resources, policies, and sector-based solutions available for improving women’s integration and earnings in job sectors, specifically in Green and Non-Traditional Jobs. Susan Crandall, President of Workforce Results, begins the webinar by looking at how current industry analysis helps explain the significant earnings gap between men and women . According to Crandall, women occupy more low-paying jobs than t...

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011 Philadelphia Release PathWays PA is proud to announce the Philadelphia release of the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011 ! WHEN: Wednesday, June 2nd 2:00-4:00 WHERE: United Way Building of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA The Standard measures how much income a family of a certain composition in a given place must earn to meet their basic needs without public or private assistance. The Standard is based on the cost of each basic need in each county—food, housing, health care, child care, transportation and taxes— determined independently using official and publicly available data. Join us to learn more about the Self-Sufficiency Standard from the President and CEO of PathWays PA, Carol Goertzel, and the author of the Standard, Dr. Diana Pearce. Please register for this event today! Federal House Expected to Vote on Unemployment Insurance, COBRA, and TANF...

On Saturday, March 20, PathWays PA and other organizations participated in The WOMENomics Forum (co-sponsored by the Friends of Delaware County Women's Commission, Eastern Delco and Interboro Business & Professional Women, Delaware County Women's Commission, The Center Foundation, PathWays PA, The Pennsylvania Commission for Women, and Delaware County Council), where we spoke about green jobs for women. A copy of our presentation is below, and a description of the event appeared in The Delaware County Daily Times on Monday. If you are interested in green jobs, now is the time to get involved. The Sustainable Business Network just released a list of green jobs available in Philadelphia, including information on the education level needed to access these jobs. For more information on women and green jobs, you can also visit the Women's Economic Security Campaign .

Public Forum on Earned Sick Time Thank you to everyone who came out to the Public Forum on Earned Sick Time sponsored by PathWays PA, WOMEN’S WAY, The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces! The campaign for paid sick days got a boost as more than forty people came to the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library to learn about the need for earned sick time and to tell their stories. Some important facts discussed include that: 40 percent of all private sector workers lack access to job-protected earned sick time. Among food service workers and child care workers, 73 percent lack any access to earned sick time. 46 percent of all workers lack earned sick time. A diverse group of panel members agreed that employees should not need to work sick. The owner of a child care center explained how she saved money by providing the opportunity for workers to earn sick time, since one sick worker at home was less costly...

Green Jobs for Women by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman More than half of all women in the US work in sales, clerical, or service jobs-- "pink collar" jobs. While they fill important needs, they offer low pay and few benefits. Carol Goertzel, President and CEO of PathWays PA, which enhances opportunities for women, girls, and families, points out that there are new opportunities for women to make history in the workplace. Women should look to the growing field of green jobs to find careers and higher incomes. Please read the full article on KYW's website and listen to the radio to hear it on air!

Please Join Us at the Public Forum on Earned Sick Time PathWays PA, WOMEN’S WAY, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces invites you to our Public Forum on Earned Sick Time WHEN: March 10, 2010 - 10 AM to 12 PM WHERE: Central Branch of the Free Library, 4th Floor Skyline Room, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia PA Join us to learn more about earned sick time from: Affected workers Supportive employers Physicians  The event will also include polling data and information on earned sick time from The National Partnership for Women and Families ! To sign up for this event, please visit http://earnedsicktime1.eventbrite.com !You can also email your RSVP to policy@pathwayspa.org or call Kate Scully at 610-543-5022 x255. You can also sign an online petition , which will be delivered to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and, if you live in Philadelphia, to City Council – both of which are currently working on legisla...