In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks an inclusive membership… There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, geographical location, national origin, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES

Lobby Corps is Back!
After 3 years, AAUW Lobby Corps was back on the Hill on Thursday, July 27, 2023!  There were 14 members in attendance from Virginia, including 5 of our dedicated Reston-Herndon Lobby Corps members pictured below (L to R): Stephanie Abbott, Jackie Brown, Maureen Dwyer, Janine Greenwood, and Mary Zane. Thanks to all for your commitment to equity for women and girls through AAUW and Lobby Corps. Your time, effort, and dedication are greatly appreciated.   AAUW members and college students in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area are welcome to join Lobby Corps. See the Public Policy and Lobby Corps page on this website for additional information regarding Lobby Corps and a photo of the entire July group. ~~~~~~ 

Women’s Equality Day

August 26, 2023,  marked the commemoration of the addition of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. AAUW continues to lead the fight for equity. We fight for equal pay for all women, for bodily autonomy, for equal voting rights across the country, and for full and equal rights in the Constitution.         

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote
 shall not be denied or abridged by the United States
 on or by any state on account of sex.”
— U.S. Constitution, 19th Amendment
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The ERA
Tell Your Senators: Equality in the Constitution is not up for debate, support the ERA now! While the advancement of women’s equality has continued, sex discrimination does not have the same legal protection as other constitutional classes, such as race, religion, or nationality. And as we have seen over the past year, how women’s equality under law can be changed or even revoked at the whim of legislators and judges. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would provide, once and for all, the constitutional guarantee that all men and women are truly equal under the law and that these rights cannot easily be abridged. The ERA needs your support for its historic day in Congress — Tell your senators to vote in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 4!

NATIONAL

Gloria L. Blackwell
AAUW CEO

NATIONAL PRIORITY ISSUES
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Priority issues include:
Removing Bias from Education
Startling inequalities persist in American education. Gender, economics, race and ethnicity should not limit our opportunities.
Fighting for Fair Pay & Economic Equity
It’s time to close the pay gap and for the work world to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion so we can all thrive.
Advancing Women in Leadership.
Women make up more than half of college graduates and half of the labor force.  But we’re still not represented at the upper levels. We need equal representation.

AAUW WEBINARS – Check out the recordings from past National Webinars and look for news of upcoming online events HERE.
– Be sure to review the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Toolkit, which has been updated with plug-and-play tools for affiliates.
– Did you miss the webinar, Delivering on Debt Relief: The Fight for Racial and Gender Justice? Watch AAUW’s webinar in which U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell,  Natalia Abrams of the Student Debt Crisis Center, and Kristin McGuire, the executive director of Young Invincibles, discuss how student loan debt puts a disproportionate burden on women of color and contributes to gender and racial inequity.

Join the Community Hub 
AAUW National has upgraded the organization’s data system now called the AAUW Community Hub. You’ll need your updated account to renew your membership, donate and update branch activities. Need help? Visit the “Systems Update” page for instructions on how to log in. If you encounter any issues or have concerns while interacting with the Community Hub, please reach out to aauw.org or join the Office Hours sessions held on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. You can sign up here.

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GET INVOLVED!
Become a Two Minute Activist

“YOU PROVIDE THE VOICE. WE’LL PROVIDE THE MEGAPHONE!”        Send emails and texts to your legislators to fight for equal pay, family leave, stopping sexual harassment, equality in education, and more. Sign up to get regular alerts to be able to take timely action. If you have registered in the past, but aren’t receiving notices, please RE-REGISTER below!

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AAUW WORK SMART ONLINE IS HERE!
Learn to negotiate your salary. 

LEARN MORE

Why does it matter?
The pay gap has lifelong financial effects that grow over time, from the ability to pay for education and childcare to saving for retirement, impacting women in nearly every profession. The Work Smart program teaches women at every stage of their careers how to negotiate their pay, resulting in improved financial futures for each of them and their families. Share this program with everyone you know.  Just download and print our AAUW WORK SMART flyer created by the Reston-Herndon Branch to distribute or post in the community.

GOOD NEWS!
AAUW, in partnership with Coca-Cola, exceeded the goal of training 100,000 women to ask for the salary they deserve through Work Smart online or in-person workshops!  During the process, 500 professional organizations, and state and local commissions were engaged. Now the program is being expanded through women.nyc, Starbucks Global, the City of Wichita, and many others.Thank you to all AAUW members who participated!

All AAUW members are encouraged to take the course.
Website guests can take the course for free by clicking
WORK SMART ONLINE

RESTON-HERNDON EARNED ALL 5 STARS AGAIN!
AAUW established the “Five Star Recognition Program” to acknowledge and celebrate the organization’s branches and which foster AAUW’s mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls. Reston-Herndon has achieved a star in all five areas. 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

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