LET'S TAKE THE LEAD TOGETHER

Speakers:

Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO, IWPR

Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

Starr De Los Santos, Associate Director of Coalitions, Women Employed  

Robyn Watson Ellerbe, Chief Strategy Officer, IWPR 

How can we translate research into actionable policy recommendations? And how does policy contribute to women's leadership? In this fireside chat, speakers will discuss how the work of researchers and advocates equips policymakers to champion gender equity on Capitol Hill.

Speakers: 

Lauren Underwood, US Representative, Illinois 14th Congressional District

Jan Schakowsky, US Representative, Illinois 9th Congressional District

Nina Besser Doorley (moderator), Vice President for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, IWPR 

Evidence-based research is a critical tool in advocacy, but storytelling highlights the true human impact behind the data. So how can we effectively share stories to shift narratives and drive change? This session will feature two gender equity experts working to shape the public conversation, amplify issues impacting women’s lives, and change hearts and minds through impactful storytelling. 

Speakers: 

Anne E. Price, Co-President and Founder, The Maven Collaborative

Vicki Shabo, Founder and Director, Entertainment-Related Narrative and Culture Change Practice, Better Life Lab at New America

Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to state senate and the nation's highest-ranking transgender elected official, will share her insights on the importance of representation in legislatures and why it’s essential for trans rights to be part of the gender justice movement.

Speakers: 

Sarah McBride, Delaware State Senator

Jamila Taylor (moderator), President and CEO, IWPR

Governor JB Pritzker takes to the Power+ stage to reflect on his work to secure abortion access and advance paid leave and child care in Illinois, why state and federal action is essential on these issues, and the role of gubernatorial leadership in advancing equitable policy solutions nationwide.

Speaker: 

JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois

In an era where we face challenges in advancing change in Congress along with the Supreme Court’s rollback of hard-won rights, we have seen strong policy wins for women at the state level. In this session, advocacy leaders will deliver TED-style talks, sharing powerful stories from campaigns in states that are driving change and setting the pace in care, reproductive rights, and pay equity.

Speakers: 

Ai-jen Poo, President, National Domestic Workers Alliance 

Fatima Goss-Graves, President and CEO National Women’s Law Center

Kelly Baden, Vice President for Public Policy, Guttmacher Institute

We know that caregivers are undervalued and underpaid, especially women of color. But how did we get here, and what does the path to progress look like? Dr. Chrishana Lloyd takes to the stage to ground our present challenges in our past—particularly as they relate to colonization and the institution of chattel slavery—and how policy solutions can build a better future for the caregivers in our communities.

Speaker: 

Chrishana M. Lloyd, Research Scholar, Early Childhood Development, Child Trends

Allyship is essential for a strong gender equity movement. In this session, we’ll hear from three fathers who are leading impactful campaigns in support of mothers. Our panel will discuss ways that fathers can help drive policy solutions that advance gender equity and serve all caregivers.

Speakers:

Jonathan Webb, CEO, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

José Campi-Portaluppi, Director of Communications and Advocacy, Equimundo

Charles Johnson (moderator), Founder, 4Kira4Moms 

Building on IWPR’s virtual event “Pay Equity and Beyond: Supporting Black Women in Leadership,” this off-the-record conversation is intended to be a safe space for Black women to openly share the unique challenges and obstacles they face in their leadership roles. Our goal is to facilitate open and honest dialogue while collectively recommending actions that IWPR and similar organizations can take to drive narrative and culture change that will support Black women in navigating—and thriving—as leaders in the gender equity movement.

Note: This event will not be live streamed or recorded.

Facilitator: 

Robyn Watson Ellerbe, Chief Strategy Officer, IWPR

While women in the workplace have made great strides in recent decades, there are still fields where we don’t see many women represented, much less in leadership roles. Join us to hear the experiences of women in STEM and the trades who have become leaders in male-dominated industries. Our panel will discuss what is needed to break down barriers to entry including how we shift the narrative on so-called “traditional” occupations for women.

Note: This event will not be live streamed, but will be recorded and available for viewing in the coming weeks.

Speakers:

Leah Rambo, President, Nontraditional Employment for Women

Megan Johnson, Program Officer, National Science Foundation (NSF)   

Neena Hemmady, Vice President, Project and Contract Management, ComEd

Emily E. LB. Twarog (moderator), Associate Professor, School of Labor and Employment Relations, University of Illinois and Co-Director, Regina V. Polk Women’s Labor Leadership Programs

Are you an aspiring leader in the feminist movement or someone looking to support the next generation of women leaders? Join us to hear from three women who will share their own leadership journeys, explore the challenges facing the next generation of leaders, and discuss ways to activate rising leaders.

Note: This event will be live streamed.

Speakers: 

Dawn Huckelbridge, Founding Director, Paid Leave for All

Jocelyn Yow, Legislative Advocacy Director, IGNITE National

Liuba Grechen Shirley, Founder and CEO, Vote Mama

Research plays a critical role in building evidence that informs—and persuades—policymakers to take action. This session brings together researchers and policy practitioners for a discussion about the ways research can be more responsive to the needs of advocates and activists and why breaking down the silos between these areas will strengthen our movement.  

Note: This event will be live streamed.

Speakers:

Jocelyn Frye, President, National Partnership for Women & Families

Kate Bahn, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research, IWPR

Khadine Bennett, Director of Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs, ACLU of Illinois 

Janelle Jones (moderator), Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Washington Center for Equitable Growth

Organizers and grassroots organizations are at the heart of movement building. But how can researchers and policy practitioners be more effective partners? In this breakout session, activists from the abortion rights, labor, and other feminist movements will share how we can better collaborate and communicate to break down silos and support one another in activating at the local level.

Note: This event will not be live streamed, but will be recorded and available for viewing in the coming weeks. 

Speakers:

Erica Iheme, Co-Executive Director, Jobs to Move America

Nourbese Flint, President, All* Above All and All* Above All Action Fund

Rachel O'Leary Carmona (moderator), Executive Director, Women’s March

We know how critical research, advocacy, and organizing are to driving progress for women. But how can we ensure there is sustained investment in this work, especially when the needs outpace the funding? In this breakout, speakers will share how they are rallying funders to support organizations working to end gender-based violence—and how these tactics can be used in the gender equity movement more broadly.

Note: This event will not be live streamed, but will be recorded and available for viewing in the coming weeks.

Speakers: 

Aleyamma Matthew, Executive Director, Collective Future Fund  

Sonya Passi, Founder and CEO, FreeFrom

Raymond Ampil (moderator), US Program Manager, Fondation CHANEL 

Join us to wrap up our first day, featuring special guests and performances!

Start the day with IWPR President and CEO Dr. Jamila K. Taylor and podcast host and author Anushay Hossain for a conversation about the long game in the fight for gender equality. Jamila will share her vision for the role of research in driving long-term change that undoes systemic inequities across race, class, and identity. 

Speakers:

Anushay Hossain, Author and Podcast Host, The Pain Gap

Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO, IWPR

Corporations can be powerful allies for gender equity leaders, but how do we navigate building and sustaining these cross-sector partnerships? During this panel discussion, three nonprofit leaders will share how they have made a compelling business case for why corporations should center gender equity issues and how they have leveraged these partnerships to drive change.

Speakers:

Jesse Matton, Director of Corporate Social Impact Policies, National Partnership for Women & Families

Sunita Thakkar Mahtani, Vice President for Corporate Engagement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund 

Julia Taylor Kennedy (moderator), Senior Director of Corporate Engagement, 

Center for Reproductive Rights 

Participation in the civic process—including voting—is a key tool to create much-needed change for women and families. But how do we effectively participate, and not just in an election year? In this mini keynote, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner will share how we can powerfully engage throughout the process by educating policymakers and the public on the issues we care about, centering those issues during election cycles, and holding elected officials accountable once they're in office.

Speaker: 

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director/CEO and Co-Founder, MomsRising

We know that when movements work together, they are stronger. But how do we do this effectively while still ensuring underrepresented voices are heard and amplified? In this mini-keynote address, advocate, activist, and TV personality   Preston Mitchum will share his insights on the intersection between the gender, race, and LGBTQ+ movements, why it’s important to build evidence that speaks to these intersections, and why showing up with our full, complex identities strengthens our message and leads to stronger policies. 

Speaker: 

Preston Mitchum, Policy Professional and TV Personality

In 2022, Nabeela Syed, a 23-year-old Indian American, defeated an incumbent to become the first Muslim woman elected to—and youngest member of—the Illinois General Assembly. In this fireside chat with Sabrina Taludker, she will share what inspired her to run for office in a traditionally conservative district, why it’s crucial for young people to be represented in legislatures, and what it will take to galvanize the next generation of policymakers.

Speakers: 

Nabeela Syed, State Representative, Illinois 51st House District

Sabrina Talukder, Senior Counsel for the Economic Justice Project, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 

Media can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and driving positive change. But how can we ensure women’s voices are represented, and their needs are front and center in news coverage? In this fireside chat, speakers will explore how modern media is changing the conversation about gender, why gender-inclusive media outlets are needed, and how researchers and advocates can partner with journalists to advance our shared goals. 

Speakers: 

Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large, The 19th 

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Editorial Director, The Meteor

We'll end the Power+ Summit with a rousing keynote performance from powerhouse organizer and reproductive justice leader Monica Raye Simpson.

Speaker: 

Monica Raye Simpson, Executive Director, SisterSong

Speaker:

Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO, IWPR