We're pulling out a seat for you! The Michigan Women’s Commission is partnering with the Executive Office of the Governor to host a panel discussion encouraging more women to apply for a board or commission. Join us at the table on Women’s Equality Day, Monday, August 26 at 12 pm to hear from commissioners on the Michigan Women’s Commission, Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission, Black Leadership Advisory Council, Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan, and Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, moderated by Sumaiya Ahmed Sheikh, Head of Engagement of Appointments in the Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Panelists include:
- Consuela Barber-Lopez - Vice Chair of the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
- Dr. Donna Bell - Chair of the Black Leadership Advisory Council
- Ayesha Ghazi-Edwin - Chair of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
- Suzanne Sukkar - Chair of the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
- D. Sue Townsel - Chair of the Michigan Women's Commission
- Audra Wilson - Commissioner on the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission
In collaboration with the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics and the Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, MWC released the 2024 Women in the Michigan Workforce Report. The report highlights key data regarding women in the Michigan workforce, focusing on earnings, labor force participation, and the educational attainment of women in Michigan.
Read the full report.
Watch the webinar.
MWC held a Public Meeting on April 16, 2024, at the Consumers Energy Innovation Center in Jackson coupled with a Pathway to High Wage Jobs roundtable to promote Consumers Energy’s skilled trades apprenticeship program. The panel conversation was moderated by D. Sue Townsel, Vice Chair for the MWC.
Panelists included:
- Tamara Faber, MWC Commissioner and Chief Digital Officer and Vice President, Technology at CMS Energy Corporation
- Susan Corbin, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
- Kendra Quinlan, Accenture Market Development Director and Co-Founder of Michigan Apprentice Network
- Stacey Lamb, Executive Director of Learning and Development at Consumers Energy
- Rachel Babale, Director of Labor Relations at Consumers Energy
The next Public Meeting will be on Oct. 22, in Battle Creek.
To view meeting agendas, meeting minutes, disability accommodations, and public comments visit Michigan.gov/MWC.
According to the 2024 Women in the Michigan Workforce Report, the share of women in Registered Apprenticeships is growing, but still small. Women made up one in every 10 active registered apprentices, an increase from the roughly one in every 12 in 2014. Women are concentrated in lower-wage apprenticeship programs, such as hospitality, administrative services and cosmetology.
MWC is hosting roundtables throughout the state to highlight pathways to high-wage jobs such as skilled trades and IT registered apprenticeship programs and to educate employers about the unique barriers women face when it comes to entering and remaining in an apprenticeship, educational program, and the workforce.
In November 2023, MWC kicked off the round tables with Governor Whitmer highlighting Accenture’s IT apprenticeship program. In April 2024, MWC highlighted Consumers Energy’s skilled trades program. MWC is currently planning its next roundtable focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurship opportunities for women.
The next roundtable will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. in Lansing focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurship opportunities for women. This roundtable will be live streamed.
Follow MWC on social media for upcoming roundtables near you and how you can participate.
To learn more about Registered Apprenticeships, visit Michigan.gov/Apprenticeships.
MWC was invited to the MEATA 2024 Spring Conference to share the findings from the 2024 Women in the Michigan Workforce Report to those who utilize apprenticeship and other like workforce training solutions to grow and expand Michigan’s talent. The panel conversation was moderated by MWC Commissioner Dr. Tracy Joshua.
Panelists included:
- Shannon Garrett, MI Tri-Share Senior Program Advisor for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
- Evelyn Szpliet, Regional Director of Apprenticeship Services for Northwest Michigan Works!
- Kendra Quinlan, Accenture Market Development Director and Co-Founder of Michigan Apprentice Network
- Breah Kidder, Healthcare Associate for Ophthalmic Consulting and Surgery Center
Pictured left to right: Gina Rodriguez, Regional Administrator for the Women’s Bureau, Chong-Anna Canfora Executive Director, Michigan State AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute, and Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of MWC.
The Women’s Bureau and City of Lansing’s USDOL/National League of Cities - Good Jobs Great Cities hosted a community roundtable discussion exploring equity in infrastructure jobs for women and marginalized communities to increase representation of women in construction and the electric vehicle workforce.
Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of MWC, was a panelist and shared the data from the 2024 Women in the Michigan Workforce Report and the unique barriers women face to entering and remaining in the workforce such as access to affordable childcare.
Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of MWC, was invited to the first ever National Child Care Innovation Summit hosted by United States Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo and the United States Chamber of Commerce. Bergman showcased The MI Tri-Share Child Care Program on the Public-Private Policy Case Studies panel. Tri-Share is a first of its kind, innovative public/private partnership, that splits the cost of child care equally between the employer, employee, and the State of Michigan.
The MWC successfully piloted Tri-Share and recently transferred it to the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) to become a permanent program for the State of Michigan demonstrating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s dedication to affordable accessible child care for Michigan families.
Shannon Garrett, former MWC Chief Strategist, has also transitioned to MiLEAP as the Senior Program Advisor for the Tri-Share program.
Watch the full conference (MWC panel begins at 6:28:42)
To learn more about the MI Tri-Share Child Care Program, visit Michigan.gov/trishare.
Anna Rose Benson, Stakeholder Relations Lead for MWC, was a panelist for the Strength of Sisterhood: Throughout Time conference hosted by the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW). Benson participated on the Creation of Pipelines and Partnerships with Girl Serving Organization panel. She shared about the MWC’s partnership with the Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan (GSSEMI).
The MWC and the GSSEMI created a yearlong Women Leaders in Government mentorship program designed to educate and inspire young women to become more informed and involved in government. MWC and GSSEMI plan to share the mentorship program to troops around the country for their own implementation.
LEO's Mental Health in the Workplace monthly webinar series features discussions around the importance of investing in mental health to build stronger, more resilient workplaces.
MWC Commissioner and founder of Mothering Justice, Danielle Atkinson, hosted a webinar regarding the crucial topic of caregiving for children and elders, exploring its impact on workplace mental health and strategies for finding balance in both personal and professional spheres.
Watch the webinar.
August: Breastfeeding Month
August 7: Mom’s Equal Pay Day
August 26: Women’s Equality Day
October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 3: Latina Equal Pay Day
October 18: World Menopause Day
Bergman, Corbin: Investing in women is good for business and Michigan (detroitnews.com)
Atkinson: Give caregivers the break they deserve (detroitnews.com)
The ‘mom gap’: Few mothers have served in the Michigan Legislature while raising children (michiganadvance.com)
Is your organization interested in learning more about the Michigan Women’s Commission's priorities for 2024? Fill out our MWC Speaker Request Form!
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