Award-winning composer and pianist Marina Arsenijevic, a global advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, headlines Take The Lead’s Women’s Equality Day Concert 8/26.

Women’s Equality Day 101.

Consider this year, 2021, the fundamentals course one century plus one year past the day in 1920 when women were granted the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment.

This year is also 50 years past the year the U.S. Congress declared August 26 a national day acknowledging “the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights,” according to the 1971 Joint Resolution of Congress.

Women’s Equality Day is one day on the calendar, but for Take The Lead it is the forever goal on the horizon—moving closer each day. Progress is in process, but so are hinderances and backsliding internationally for all those identifying as female. So take the day—Women’s Equality Day—to continue toward the goal by joining in for Take The Lead’s Women’s Equality Day Concert August 26.

“#WomensEqualityDay is one day on the calendar, but for @Takeleadwomen it is the forever goal on the horizon—moving closer each day. #genderparity #womensrights”

The naming of Women’s Equality Day in 1971 was a monumental acknowledgment of the realities of the unfairness and inequities women in the U.S. historically faced.

“The women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,” the resolution states.

That is because “the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex.”

Take The Lead since its founding in 2014 by President Gloria Feldt and Amy Litzenberger has operated with the mission and purpose to achieve equality for women in leadership across all sectors with a deadline of 2025. With that in mind, Take The Lead prepares, develops, inspires, and propels all women of all diversities and intersectionalities to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions.

“@Takeleadwomen since its co-founding in 2014 by President @GloriaFeldt has operated with the mission and purpose to achieve #equality for #women in #leadership across all sectors with a deadline—2025. ”

Getting there is accomplished by Take The Lead offering a wide menu of offerings for individuals, companies and organizations to prepare, develop, inspire, and propel all women of all diversities and intersectionalities to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions. This happens through Take The Lead’s online courses, trainings, specific industry leadership programs, coaching, workshops, programs and consulting.

Here are 10 reasons to celebrate, acknowledge and honor Women’s Equality Day and how. It is urgent for everyone to exercise the power to change the world as we know it to a more fair world as we intend it to be.

“This #WomensEqualityDay, it is urgent for everyone to exercise the power to change the world as we know it to a more fair world as we intend it to be. #powertools #leadership”

1. Celebrate with a concert by a global leader in inclusion. Composer and pianist Marina Arsenijevic donates her time and enormous talents as a pioneer in inclusion, equity and diversity in music and entertainment, for Take The Lead’s Women’s Equality Day Concert. With the goal to #PutWomenAtTheCenter of the pandemic and economic recovery, the acclaimed musician offers one hour of inspiring music and more that includes violinist, Sonia Lee, actor Rhodessa Jones, founder of the Medea Project and co-artistic director of Cultural Odyssey and Tenor John Riesen and the Army Band. Register here for the 8/26 concert.

“Award-winning composer and pianist Marina Arsenijevic, a global advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, headlines @Takeleadwomen ‘s Women’s Equality Day Concert 8/26. #womensequalityday #putwomenatthecenter”

2. Connect and network. Few can achieve their goals independent and absent of support from mentors, colleagues and friends. Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, and author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships, tells Take The Lead, “This is about one to two, not one to 100. Even people who hide in the bathroom at events can triumvirate and say who are the three people to meet, the three people to share information with and what are three things I am open to learning.” Start there.

3. Counterbalance COVID impacts on yourself. Self-care has become a cliché, but paying attention to the added stress of COVID – and the Delta surge—is important as is alleviating stress with positive actions. A 2020 Working Mother study shows “21-23% of mothers with children from newborn to 18 reported they are not doing well at all personally. When asked about the causes of their stress, Working Mother reports that 44% of mothers say it is their child(ren)’s education; 38% percent state they have increased stress because of the virus and 36% say they are concerned with their own mental health.” Consider the Women’s Equality Day Concert an entertaining, uplifting, infomrative hour of self-care.

4. Voting rights are threatened today. In Georgia, Arizona and Texas, voting rights and access are being challenged. According to Human Rights Campaign, “This inequity of voting rights remains a serious issue today, but thanks to committed activists and pro-equality champions, change is on the horizon. The power of voting is more important than ever in our fight to move equality forward — not only for women, but for communities of color, other marginalized communities and those at the intersection of those identities.” As Women’s Equality Day honors a century plus of voting access for women, it is urgent to use the power to vote to elect officials who protect those rights and speak out against those who inhibit the rights of all.

“As #WomensEqualityDay honors a century plus of voting access for women, it is urgent to use the power to vote to elect officials who protect those rights and speak out against those who inhibit the rights of all. #votingrights #womensrights”

5. #MeToo needs everyone’s support. With recent headlines about sexual harassment and assault by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and also music legend Bob Dylan, it is critical to stand with all men and women against harassment in this moment of accountability, transparency and action. Stories of gender discrimination and assault must lead to change. And change can happen with education, trainings and targeted programs offered by Take The Lead on many levels.

6. Be the solution. Systems do not change without great efforts over time by multiple people creating new directions in myriad ways. The change can begin with you taking stock and acting on your own power to create change in your life. Creating a Strategic Action Plan and advocating for what you need by using the power of your voice and your story is essential to claiming your power. Focus on your intentions and purpose whether you are in a corporation, organization or working as an entrepreneur.

“This #WomensEqualityDay, be the solution. Systems do not #change without great efforts over time by multiple people creating new directions in myriad ways. The change can begin with you taking stock and acting on your own power.”

Read Power To Change Story by Dr. Lorin R. Carter

7. Put women at the center of recovery. Shop and buy from female entrepreneurs, push for promotion of women in your organization, honor the accomplishments and efforts of women leaders to create change, speak up and push yourself to be heard. Why? Because the pandemic and economic impacts are detrimental to all women. Recently NPR reported that 1.8 million fewer women are in the labor force than before the pandemic. One in four women are considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers versus one in five men after the pandemic, according to McKinsey. Women suffered $64.5 billion in lost wages and economic activity for mothers leaving labor force, according to Center for American Progress. Employment for Black women is 9.7% lower in 2021 than 2020, and Hispanic women are 8.6% lower than last year, reports CNBC. Take steps by participating in the Women’s Equality Day benefit for Take The Lead aimed at putting women at the center of the recovery.

8. Numbers moving, but not enough for all leaders identifying as women. Yes to progress, but the need is for faster progress for equity in leadership across all identities, and not just white women. According to Deloitte, women’s overall representation in senior management is just 22%, despite the fact that they make up about 50% of the industry as a whole. The only two Black female CEOs on the 2021 Fortune 500 list are Thasunda Brown Duckett of TIAA and Rosalind Brewer of Walgreens Boot Alliance. “The report’s data also highlighted that Black Americans account for just 5% of manager positions in the 80 Fortune 500 companies for which data were available, compared to a 13% share of the broader U.S. population (according to U.S. Census data). Hispanics and Latinos held just 6% of manager positions against an 18.4% share of the population,” Essence reports. The stressors on women of color—particularly Black women—are enormous.

9. Address the stress of inequality. ”It is not uncommon to hear employees complain about the toxic nature of their workplace, abysmal company cultures, unrealistic work expectations, little free time, inaccessible leaders, and more. And this problem does not go away just because most non-essential workers now have to work remotely,” Nancy Williams writes for Take The Lead. “In these tense times, women will play a significant role in helping employees buck the stress trend and perform their duties without the risk of burnout. But this is going to be an especially difficult task for women leaders. The most effective leaders are those who don't just tell but show, according to the Corporate Finance Institute. Employees will be more willing to take the plunge if they see their boss rolling up her sleeves and making the first dive as an exemplary leader.”

10 Reasons To Support Women’s Equality Day Now With Take The Lead

Info

Action