@GOODGOODGOODCO
THE WOMEN EDITION
ISSUE 21
W E H AV E G O O D N E W S
4
A Nonprofit Is Bringing Gender Diversity This Organization In Making Sure Black Meet The Woman Who Is Carrying On A New Colorado Law Makes It Easier For To Trucking Women Can Thrive During Pregnancy Her Father’s Legacy Of Peace Women To Know If They’re Paid Fairly Trucking isn’t an easy job, but for women,
Black women are three times more likely than
In 1992, Ilwad Elman left Somalia as a young
A new law that took effect this year tries
it’s even harder. A nonprofit is working to
Hispanic women and 2.5 times more likely
child with her mother and sisters to seek
to ensure "equal pay for equal work"
improve the job for women, who face not
than white women to die from causes linked
asylum from the conflict that started in the
by allowing for more transparency
just the typical challenges associated with
to pregnancy, according to 2018 Centers for
country the year before. Her father, activist
around salaries.
the job, such as long hours, little sleep, liv-
Disease Control and Prevention data.
Elman Ali Ahmed — who is known as the
Colorado's "Equal Pay for Equal Work
Somali Father of Peace — stayed behind. He
Act” went into effect on January 1. One of
was tragically assassinated in 1996.
the law’s provisions prevents an employer
ing in a small space for days or even weeks
A national network of more than two dozen
on end, and the inherent danger of driving
maternal health initiatives and organizations
big rigs. Women also have to worry about
led by Black women, called Black Mamas
Almost 20 years after leaving Somalia,
sexism, harassment, and personal safety.
Matter Alliance, is working to close this gap
Elman returned and now oversees the
Women In Trucking encourages women
and ensure Black women have the rights,
peace and human rights programs at the
"Based on today's wage gap, white
to join trucking while providing support,
respect, and resources to thrive before, during,
nonprofit her parents founded, Elman Peace
women would lose approximately $400,000
resources, and community to ease the unique
and after pregnancy.
and Human Rights Center. She runs the
over the course of a 40-year career,”
The reasons behind the racial disparities
organization with her mother, and together
Lauren Casteel, president and CEO of The
Asked to rate how safe they felt on the job
are multifaceted and include lack of access
they work to promote peace, cultivate
Women's Foundation of Colorado, told
on a scale of one to ten, respondents reported
to healthcare and poor quality of care, among
leadership, and empower marginalized
Denver-based NBC affiliate KUSA. “For
an average of 4.4, a survey from the nonprofit
other factors.
groups, furthering the mission and legacy
Latinas, the career losses are over $1.1
her father left behind.
million, and then for Black women, a little
obstacles women in the industry face.
from retaliating against an employee for discussing salaries with coworkers.
found. The organization said it has been
"We're not biologically different; there's no
urging truck stops to install better lighting,
Black gene or Black heart or Black kidneys,"
The nonprofit focuses on monitoring,
more surveillance, and fencing.
Joia Adele Crear-Perry told HealthDay.
documenting, and reporting human
Besides allowing workers to discuss
As of 2017, 6.2 percent of all truck drivers
Crear-Perry is an OB-GYN and advisory
rights violations and abuses that happen
salaries without retribution, the law
were women, up from 4.9 percent in 2008,
board member of Black Mamas Matter
throughout the country.
requires job postings in Colorado to have
according to the American Trucking
Alliance. "When people ask me what is the
Although the country still faces a
a salary range posted. The law also does
Associations. The trailblazers who are joining
cause for Black maternal death, the answer
difficult road ahead, the first permanent
not allow potential employers to ask the
the industry make a difference because they
is not race. It's racism."
central government since the war was
salary an applicant currently makes.
over $900,000.”
make it a little easier for other women to
The Alliance provides training for clinicians,
founded in 2012 and is making progress
And employers are also required to let
follow their lead, which particularly matters
midwives, doula networks, and community
toward stability, thanks in large part to
all employees know about promotion
in an industry that hasn’t traditionally been
health workers, engages leaders in the medical
the peacemaking work people like Elman
opportunities — not just a select few.
women-friendly.
field, organizes for policy change, and cultivates
are leading.
“Gender diversity brings new perspectives,
a network of Black women leaders.
fuels greater idea generation, problem-
Through their advocacy, the organization has
solving and innovation, increasing business
become a powerful voice in the reproductive
performance and overall revenue generation,”
justice movement and will continue to push for
the nonprofit writes on its website.
a better future for Black mothers everywhere.
As part of this new law, employees can
“Everyday I have an opportunity to live
contact their company’s human resources
intentionally and to serve, and I just feel so
department and ask for a salary audit. As
grateful for that opportunity,” she said.
the effects of the law become better known,
In 2019, Elman was shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize.
we hope to see less pay disparity and hope other states will follow suit.
HOW TO HELP ENSURE CHILDBIRTH IS EQUALLY SAFE FOR ALL GO OD
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BEST
Learn more about the U.S. maternal mortality rate and how it disproportionately affects Black women. Dive into ProPublica and NPR's Peabody Award-winning investigative series, "Lost Mothers."
Help ensure birth equity in the United States. Donate to National Birth Equity Collaborative, which creates solutions that optimize Black maternal and infant health through training, policy, research, and community collaboration.
Support healthy deliveries around the world. Shop (RED) at red.org to help ensure babies are delivered HIV-free. And donate to UNICEF to help save newborn lives at unicef.org/every-child-alive.
W E H AV E G O O D N E W S
There’s Now A Woman On Every S&P 500 Board Women are taking up more space in corporate board-
Telehealth Has Paved The Way To Make Healthcare More Inclusive For Women
rooms than ever before.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption
5
As of December last year, there is a woman on every S&P
of telehealth services, making them increasingly the
500 board, according to the 2020 Spencer Stuart Board
norm. Not only has telehealth taken away long stays in
Index. And women made up 47 percent of the incoming
waiting rooms and provided a way to contact health pro-
class of new directors — the highest percentage to date.
viders while staying in the safety and comfort of home,
Karlie Kloss Created A Free Coding Camp For Girls
Women still only represent 28 percent of all S&P 500
but some services have emerged that specifically make
Fun fact: Karlie Kloss is both a model and an amateur
board directors, according to Spencer Stuart's study. The
healthcare more accessible and inclusive to women and
computer programmer. In 2015, she founded the Kode
average S&P 500 board has just under 11 directors on
other marginalized communities.
With Klossy camp to teach young girls interested in computer science and software engineering.
it, with an average of three female directors. Just over 3
Some women, LGBTQ people, and BIPOC communities
percent of boards have six or more women directors. These
have unequal access to the traditional medical system be-
The first year, she hosted a free two-week summer
include Procter & Gamble, Best Buy, Etsy, and General
cause of socio-environmental disparities, but the rise of tele-
coding camp for girls from ages 13–18. As of 2018, the
Motors, according to BoardEx.
health has led to the emergence of new services that offer
camp had expanded to include 50 coding camps in 25 U.S.
In 2018, California passed a law mandating that public
alternatives to traditional healthcare settings, giving people
cities, teaching 1,000 girls to code. The camp teaches the
companies headquartered in the state have a minimum
who might sometimes feel excluded from or ill-at-ease with
basics of numerous programming languages, including
number of women on their boards. Since then, several
conventional doctor’s visits a new entryway to the healthcare
Ruby, JavaScript, and Swift. By the end of the program,
other states have required companies to at least start
they need.
participants build fully functional mobile apps or websites.
Carolyn Witte, CEO and co-founder of one such women’s
“Just like art and fashion, code is about creativity and that
healthcare startup, called Tia, told Healthline that her com-
women who have these skills have the power to shape our
"What we think really made an impact on increasing
pany seeks to expand the very definition of women’s health-
future,” Kloss wrote on the camp’s website. “Now more than
the number of women in the boardroom was pressure
care — where women’s health isn’t just synonymous with
ever, women need to have a seat at the table in shaping the
from institutional investors and the promise of
reproductive health.
technologies that are shaping our world.”
reporting on how many women directors they have on their boards.
accountability and measurement from that audience,"
“Our model is to take a more integrative approach to fe-
The camp inspires girls to not just explore a new
said Julie Daum, who leads Spencer Stuart's North
male health and well-being and integrate multiple services
hobby but also inspires them to pursue higher education
American Board Practice. "It should be noted that year-
into a one-stop-shop that is convenient,” she said.
in technology. 65 percent of camp alumni go on to major
over-year, we find that companies with … more significant
The company provides primary care, mental health, and
diversity in the boardroom benefit from a business
OB-GYN services. Tia’s services all start virtually with a
performance standpoint."
40-minute meeting to review the patient’s health history and
Not only does gender diversity in boardrooms mean wins for equality, but according to 2020 reporting from Forbes,
or minor in computer science or engineering in college, compared to 3 percent of women nationally.
review their history of trauma, giving the patient the chance
WHAT'S THIS? THIS IS THE GOOD BAR.
to open up in a comfortable setting.
teams with less diversity are more likely to make poor
Witte added that we see disproportionately negative health
choices for their companies, while inclusive teams make
outcomes among Black women, in particular, in the tradition-
better business decisions up to 87 percent of the time. We
al healthcare system — which is in many ways a byproduct
call that a win-win.
of lived experiences and social determinants of their health.
We believe in celebrating good and then joining in and making a difference ourselves. The Good Bar is full of recommendations from the Good Good Good community on how to take action in meaningful ways. Start small and work your way up.
HOW TO SUPPORT GIRLS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH GO OD
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Follow @kodewithklossy on Instagram to follow along with coding memes, inspiring women software engineers, and opportunities to learn coding and find jobs that utilize your skills.
Donate to organizations working with specific communities supporting girls in STEM. Black girls: @blackgirlscode. Syrian refugees: @malalafund. Rural communities: @girlswhocode.
Volunteer to be a community leader, moderator, or speaker for AnitaB.org — an organization named after trailblazing scientist Anita Borg, who inspired other women to embrace tech as a career path. Visit anitab.org/volunteer.
MORE GOOD NEWS
6
Black Trans Women Face Higher Rates Of Homelessness, But These Activists Are Working To Change That having experienced homelessness in their lifetimes, com-
This Nonprofit Is Destigmatizing Mental Health Among Women Of Color, Millennials, and Gen Z
pared to one-third of the overall transgender population in
After facing her own battles with mental health and trying
the U.S., according to a 2017 report by the National Center
to navigate an often-complicated mental healthcare
for Trans Equality.
system, video producer and director Elyse Fox founded Sad
Over 40 percent of Black transgender women reported
Memphis, Tennessee-based grassroots organization My Sistah’s House is working to solve homelessness among the transgender community by building tiny homes.
A Law Student Founded An Organization Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Find Financial Independence
Girls Club, a nonprofit to create community and provide resources to improve mental health among women of color, millennials, and Gen Z.
The group helps transgender people find doctors, social
One of the biggest barriers to leaving an abusive relationship
According to 2019 research from the American Psycho-
groups, and safe spaces. They also provide emergency
is fear of financial insecurity. Without the means to support
logical Association, Gen Z is more likely to report mental
shelter, access to sexual health services, social services,
themselves or their children, or as a result of economic
health concerns. They are also more likely (37 percent),
survival kits, and hot meals to people experiencing
abuse — which occurs in 98 percent of cases, according to
along with millennials (35 percent), to report they have
homelessness.
the National Network to End Domestic Violence — many
received treatment or therapy from a mental health pro-
women are forced to suffer and endure domestic violence.
fessional, compared to 22 percent of baby boomers and 15
Their tiny home project broke ground in January and includes plans for building 20 homes.
Then-UC Berkeley law student Sonya Passi founded
percent of older adults.
"Transitional housing is a Band-Aid, emergency housing
FreeFrom in 2019 to help women become financially
“Current events are clearly stressful for everyone in the
is a bandaid, but homeownership is a permanent solution,"
independent and secure funding to pay for the consequences
country, but young people are really feeling the impact of
Kayla Gore, a public health counselor and founder of My
of abuse, such as hospital bills or property damage.
issues in the news, particularly those issues that may feel
Sistah’s House, told USA Today. Gore has been homeless
The organization teaches entrepreneurship skills and has
beyond their control,” APA’s chief executive officer, Arthur
herself in the past and has turned her own home into a
a product line of self-care products, which survivors can help
Evans Jr., said in an article from the association. “At the
shelter that has housed over 60 transgender women in the
produce for a living wage of $20 per hour.
same time, … their openness to mental health topics repre-
last three years.
Because one in four women in the U.S. will experience
sents an opportunity to start discussions about managing
Transphobic violence makes safe housing especially
severe domestic violence, according to the Centers for
vital for transgender women. At least 44 transgender
Disease Control and Prevention, FreeFrom’s work to
Sad Girls Club partners with therapists of color who
people were killed in 2020, according to a report by Human
empower survivors is necessary not only so women can leave
lead online “Soul Sessions,” which are “like group therapy
Rights Campaign, and more than 75 percent of the victims
abusive relationships, but also for their survival.
but digitally.” In these sessions, young people have a “cozy
were trans women of color.
With financial independence, survivors have the oppor-
their stress, no matter the cause.”
space to vent, heal, and grow.”
Housing insecurity plays a substantial role in making
tunity to escape domestic abuse and raise their families in a
They also run a popular Instagram account, @sadgirls-
transgender people a target of violence, so securing home
safe environment. The group also provides a peer network
club, which is a bright, uplifting space with inspiring and
ownership is sure to change and even save lives.
that allows survivors to foster their collective empowerment.
informative messages about mental health.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY GO OD
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Diversify who you follow, learn from, and repost by following trans influencers on social media. Start with @ileosheng, @suddenlysamantha, @upandoutcomic, @pinkmantaray, @jazzjennings_, and @cmclymer.
You can support trans-led organizations all over the U.S. by donating to the Trans Justice Funding Project — a community-led funding initiative that support grassroots, trans justice groups: transjusticefundingproject.org
Help create systemic policy change to "keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation" by making a donation to the Transgender Law Center: transgenderlawcenter.org
MORE GOOD NEWS
7
Solar Energy Is Empowering Young Women In Yemen A group of women in Yemen have built and With assistance from the UN Development
A Nonpartisan Nonprofit Is Helping Women Run For Office
Programme, 10 women began the project,
Women make up 51 percent of the U.S.
and they now run the station as their own
population but less than one-third of
business, providing affordable, renewable
elected leaders.
are now managing their own solar microgrid.
energy to a community living near a
She Should Run encourages and
This Nonprofit Is Diversifying The Aviation Industry
empowers women to run for office both
Less than 1 percent of professional pilots
Many of the women running the program
The project has been so successful that
locally and nationally. The nonprofit is on
are Black women, but the nonprofit Sisters
expressed that they felt isolated and
now plans are in motion to replicate the
a mission to get 250,000 women to run
of the Skies wants to change that.
discouraged during training or schooling.
project and build 100 microgrids around the
for local, state, and federal office by 2030
There are fewer than 150 professional
"Sometimes they don't think women
country, which will not only provide clean
— representing half of the approximately
Black women pilots in the U.S. that hold
should be flying, let alone a woman of
energy to communities with no electricity
500,000 elected offices in the U.S.
airline transport pilot, commercial, military,
color," Sisters of the Skies vice chairwoman,
For women considering a run, She
or certificated flight instructor certificates,
Stephanie Grant, told GMA. Grant didn't
Should Run provides resources, education,
according to Good Morning America. Some
meet another Black woman pilot until she
Currently, women make up just 7
and community, which all help women
of them joined forces to grow that figure.
was in her thirties.
percent of Yemen’s workforce, according to
overcome common barriers to campaign
The Pearland, Texas-based nonprofit
At Sisters of the Skies outreach events,
BBC. Career opportunities for women are
success. This matters because when more
works to inspire young girls of color
young girls get to suit up in pilot gear,
severely limited, so expanding this project
women run, more women lead. And having
to pursue careers in aviation through
manipulate the flight controls, talk to air
will help empower more women.
women in positions of leadership means
professional development, outreach, and
traffic control, plan their own flight, and
Station manager Iman Ghaleb Hadi Al-
better representation — plus more positive
scholarships. The group also pairs young
even fly in a jet. Through their outreach and
Hamali told BBC the work has given the
role models for young girls, who will one
girls with mentors, who are women already
support, the nonprofit furthers its mission
group confidence and hope.
day have their turn.
working in the field.
to diversify the flight deck and inspire young
war zone.
but also employ local women and people displaced by civil war.
“We are graduates, but we had no job
“Ours are essential voices as we navigate
"You don't see [Black women pilots]
opportunities, so this project was a dream
today's challenges and work together to
often," one 16-year-old program participant
for us,” she told BBC.
create a stronger and more secure future
told GMA. "It's a very rare sight. But I hope
The women have diverse roles on
for everyone,” She Should Run founder and
to be one of them."
the project: Some read meters and
CEO, Erin Loos Cutraro, wrote in PopSugar
converters, while others clean the
in February. “We need women's experience,
batteries and solar panels.
perspectives, input, and expertise at the
“This work has given us more
forefront. … We cannot move forward
confidence and hope for a better future,”
unless we are intentional and inclusive in
Al-Hamali said.
our efforts to involve women — all women.”
girls of color to join an industry in which they are underrepresented. "The sky is not even the limit," pilot Monique Grayson told GMA.
“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai
HOW TO SUPPORT WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE GOOD
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Take your first baby step toward running for office (or supporting someone else's run) by joining the She Should Run community to access curriculum and connection at community.sheshouldrun.org/join.
You can show your support for the next generation of women leaders by donating to She Should Run at sheshouldrun.org/donate or by donating directly to women candidates you believe in — big and small races alike.
Run for office. If you care, you're qualified. If you don't believe us, listen to our podcast episode "This Organization Is Helping Young People Get Elected" on "Sounds Good with Branden Harvey."
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