The Women’s March

Last weekend we marched with thousands of women and men across the country in support of equality and justice for all. In NYC, a group of ABB staff and friends joined in the march and took the opportunity to speak with young women about their workplace rights, because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. We encouraged them to reach out to us for more resources like our new New York Working Woman’s pocket guide.

The guide—which has been featured in Forbes and shared widely on social media—provides a user-friendly way for women to understand their rights in the workplace, from sexual harassment to equal pay to paid family leave to healthcare coverage, and much more!

In Nashville the march, attended by 15,000 people, was preceded by a conference that ABB co-sponsored. The conference included panels on activism, organizing, and legislative skills. ABB’s Elizabeth Gedmark was a presenter.

Patricia Garcia & Madeleine Gyory marching in New York City

Elizabeth Gedmark marching in Nashville, TN after the conference

Elizabeth Gedmark presenting at Nashville’s Women’s March 2.0 Power Together TN Conference

The Kentucky Pregnant Workers’ Rights Act

Inspired by our former client Police Officer Lyndi Trischler’s story, This bill, SB 38, would ensure pregnant workers in the state do not have to choose between their health and their jobs. ABB is part of a robust and diverse coalition advocating for the bill, which has received bipartisan support after being introduced this month.

ABB Co-President Dina Bakst spoke on a panel with partners from Planned Parenthood, Eleanor’s Legacy, and Emerge New York.

The 2018 NY State Women’s Opportunity Agenda

On January 11, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa hosted an event at the New York Historical Society to announce Governor Cuomo’s Women’s Opportunity and Rights Agenda for 2018, which outlines dozens of proposals to advance the rights of women and girls in the State, including an end to sexual harassment in the workplace and the need for pay equity. As part of the event, ABB co-president Dina Bakst joined partners, including Planned Parenthood and Eleanor’s Legacy, on a panel to discuss how to turn these goals into lasting change.

Paid Sick Time

We’re working to expand the right to paid sick time across the country, including what could be the first sick time law in Texas, an ordinance recently introduced in Austin. ABB Co-President Sherry Leiwant spoke at a recent town hall meeting to launch the campaign for paid sick time in Westchester County, NY.

Dilini Lankachandra presenting at a workshop for advocates on how to defend progressive local policies against state preemption attempts.

Creating Change

This week, we are participating in the National LGBTQ Task Force’s 30th annual Creating Change Conference in Washington, D.C. ABB’s Dilini Lankachandra is co-presenting a workshop for advocates on how to defend progressive local policies against state preemption attempts, while Preston Van Vliet is helping to lead an interactive movement building workshop on how LGBTQ families can ground their experiences within a historical U.S. public policy context using racial, gender, and economic justice lenses.