And we are finally getting it NOW!
Click here for a great video: What AAUW does Be proud!
The gender pay gap won’t close until 2119 at the current rate of change.
AAUW is doing something about it. Take action now!
Empowering women since 1881
February, 2021
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A Few Thoughts from, Beverly
After some friendly constant nudging from Tobi, I was finally able to get a reservation for January 28th when I had my first Covid-19 Moderna vaccination at Kaiser and am anticipating the second injection February 25th. I tolerate discomfort very well so for me no problems except for a slight bruise feeling on my arm sixteen hours later and lasting about twenty-four hours. Ridiculously small price to pay to be protected. I hope everyone makes the call for a reservation and if you haven’t yet then please do because this terrible monster is not going away unless we all cooperate and help one another.
I am excited about getting together eventually, but do not anticipate anything until the end of 2021 or maybe early 2022. I have become accustomed to our Zoom meetings and appreciate all the work that goes into making these work well and thank you Tobi for all you have done. All I need to do is press a link and I am in. Love it!
Joan and Diane have arranged a few social get-togethers via Zoom so we don’t lose contact with each other and for those who had the time to participate I know a good time sharing was enjoyed by all. Thanks Joan and Diane for your caring.
Our meeting for February will be an afternoon meeting at 1:00PM with Constance Iloh, Ph.D, recipient of an AAUW grant speaking on “Exploring the College Going Decisions and Trajectories of Low Income Single Mothers of Color.” Please register to attend and guests are welcome.
May we all look forward to Sweet Memories in 2021 by being well and healthy, staying home and being safe.
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Please welcome and support your new officers. Remember that their job is to lead and encourage other members. Please offer to help them when they ask.
Reminder to members: As is written in your directory, the AAUW mail/email list is to be used for AAUW business only. If you wish to share something personal with selected members, please verify with the members first, if they want to be included. Members who find themselves receiving email they do not want should feel free to ask to be removed. We’re all friends here.
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Meeting & Program, Karen, Nancy & Mary Ann
La Palma Cerritos AAUW February General Meeting
Thursday, February 18
Zoom Meeting
12:30 Social
Meeting at 1:PM
Our General Meeting/AAUW Fund program will feature Constance Iloh, an American Fellowship winner. Constance is working on a postdoctoral degree at the University of Irvine in Anthropology and her project is exploring college- going decisions and trajectories of low income single mothers of color.
Dr. Iloh is an anthropologist of education known for her cutting-edge research and conceptual frameworks that advance understanding of educational inequities, institutional culture social contexts. One of her contributions includes “The model of college-going decisions and trajectories.” She has shared her expertise with NBC Universal, Telemundo, and Michelle Obama Reach Higher Campaign. Dr. Iloh is one of the few academics ever named to the Forbes “30 Under 30” list.
Joan Flax and Diane Merrick are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting
Tech Trek, Celia and Edna
Tech Trek has recently made the decision to allow girls selected for the 2020 camps to attend virtual camp in 2021. We had already chosen and notified four outstanding girls for last year’s camp at Whittier, which was cancelled. After learning about this latest decision and reviewing the 2021 camp plans, the committee decided to contact our girls to see if they still are interested in the camp and enroll them if they are. At this point, we are awaiting their decisions. The funds for their virtual camp have already been raised.
AAUW Fund, Esther, Thea
Thank you for your generous response to this year’s AAUW FUND non-event “Share Your COVID Savings”. As of January 31st, we have donations totaling $2190. Some Branch members have donated directly to National and we should get credit for those donations later this year. We have not yet received checks from everyone and we hope that those of you who have not had the opportunity to donate will consider making a donation soon. AAUW National had hoped for at least $20 from each AAUW member in order to fulfill its mission.
You can…
Create Change,
Advance Equity,
Empower Women and Girls,
By helping to raise money for AAUW Fund.
The La Palma-Cerritos branch of AAUW created our own memorial fund in July 2017, called the Alberta Brose Memorial Fund, to go to women who return to school just as she did. We currently have completed our goal. This was a short time, two year fund with a goal of $5000 for completion by June 30, 2019. The branch got CA State and National recognition for completion. Final donation has gone to AAUW Fund for Career Development Grants for graduate students returning to school after 5+ year absence.
Elsie Carbajal is the recipient of our own Alberta Brose Memorial Fund. We are proud!
Career Development Grants
Name: Elsie Carbajal
Award Year: 2018-19
Award: Career Development Grant
Institution: Brandman University
Location: Irvine, California
Discipline: Education
Degree and Specialization: M.A., Education leadership
Elsie Carbajal is a seasoned special education teacher who is passionate about meeting the diverse needs of public school students with special needs. Her goal is to strategically reform outdated practices that limit the growth and progress of the unique population she services. She plans to obtain her master’s in education leadership to collaborate with stakeholders and make informed decisions to enhance student outcomes in and out of school.
Sponsors:
4431 – Alberta Brose Memorial Fund
1262 – Laguna Beach (CA) Branch/Laguna Hills (CA) Branch
1285 – San Diego County (CA) Branch/Marilyn George Poluzzi
1298 – Los Angeles (CA) Branch/Dallas Shenk
1484 – San Clemente-Capistrano Bay (CA) Branch
4105 – Redlands (CA) Branch/Bernice Black Johndrew
1491 – Somerset Hills (NJ) Branch—Science and Technology
Public Policy, Sondra & Norma
2069? 2369? 2451?
WHEN WILL THE GENDER PAY GAP BE CLOSED?
By Ginny Hatfield, AAUW California Public Policy Committee
How long will it take? What can we do to make it happen sooner rather than later? These are questions that AAUW has been grappling with for decades. As we mark Equal Pay Day on March 24th, perhaps there is hope that we can make progress in decreasing the gender pay gap in 2021, given a new administration that is committed to social justice and leveling the growing disparity between the haves and haves not. We also now have women in the highest echelons of national leadership; and as we all know, when women are in charge, things get done!
According to the 2020 update to AAUW’s The Simple Truth, it will take white women until the year 2069 to achieve parity with men based on the projected earnings ratio compiled between 1988-2019. For women of color the numbers are even worse. Black women will have to wait until the year 2369 – 350 years – as their earnings ratio has only advanced a mere 7% from 1988-2019. And Latinas find themselves in the worse scenario as their earnings ratio has only increased 4% from 51% to 55% during this period of time, projecting their year of parity to 2451! (AAUW, The Simple Truth 2020 update)
The reasons for these disparities in the gender wage gap are known – and understanding what’s causing the problem is the first step to meeting it head on. Members are urged to read the summary of The Simple Truth update on our National website which lays out the problem, its causes and solutions. https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2020/10/SimpleTruth_1.8.pdf
AAUW is leading the charge to effectuate change and you are part of the solution with the work your branches undertake on behalf of women and girls. The more we educate ourselves and others about the scope of this gender wage gap with programs like Start Smart, Work Smart, NCCWSL, etc., the more we chip away at the disparity. What is your branch doing to make a difference in the Gender Pay Gap? Let us know what creative ideas you have come up with to spread the word in these days of social distancing, we’ll share them on the web (send to publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org).
Academic Achievement Awards, Carol
I was able to contact the Foundation at Cerritos College and talked to the woman who is now handling the applications for the students. I told her we had $2,500.00 and would like to split it into two scholarships of $1,250.00 each. One would go to a regular student that was completing the first two years of school and would be transferring to a four year college. The second one would go to a woman that had been out of school for 4 or more years and was returning to finish her education. I asked for no more than 15 applications. By a show of hands the members at the October zoom meeting approved this.
Applications will be coming in the first of the year and should close in February. Copies of their applications will be mailed to us to distribute to our committee. At this point in time I have not chosen them. We should be able to evaluate them in March and make a decision. The school usually notifies the students in May. Since we have no idea how long the covid lockdown will continue, we will have to see if it is even possible to hold a brunch. We will have to play it by ear. The school may even have to give the awards to the girls. We do have lots of time to make that decision.
If you have any questions or further input please feel free to call or email me.
International Issues, Jackie Shahzadi
Women Graduates-USA
…through its global focus and reach, empowers all women and girls to create a secure and just world built on education, advocacy, friendship and mutual respect.
WG-USA is an online organization based in the United States focusing on global issues *Support and Advocacy for Refugee and Migrant Women and Girls
*Safe Access to Education
*Human Trafficking Advocacy and Action
*Women, Peace and Security
Join WG-USA at www.wg-usa.org
In 2019, Graduate Women International celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Celebration in Geneva, July 25-28. GWI was founded in 1919, by representatives of AAUW, and other international women’s groups. It used to be known as the IFUW, International Federation of University Women. Currently, Women Graduates-USA is the organization representing American women at GWI.