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.

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PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES

PAY EQUITY FOR WOMEN
MARCH 12, 2024, IS EQUAL PAY DAY, marking the current state of the gender pay gap for women: 84% for full-time, year-round workers and 78% for all workers (including part-time and seasonal). And many women of color are paid far less.

Urge your members of Congress to do their part by supporting the
Paycheck Fairness Act

– Write a Letter to the Editor
      – Join the Conversation on Social Media
– Contact Your Members of Congress

SEE THE AAUW TOOLKIT @
https://www.aauw.org/resources/policy/pfa-toolkit

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A Win for Gender and Racial Pay Gaps
“A huge win for closing the gender and racial pay gaps was announced this week: the White House is banning the use of current or past pay when determining the salaries of new federal employees.This means:
    *  The country’s largest employer will halt a practice known to foster discriminatory pay and allow it to follow an individual throughout their career.
    *  Federal contractors may soon follow a similar rule in the future and may be required to post salary ranges in job listings, as proposed by the White House.
    * Women’s paychecks, and the respect for our value in the workplace, should be positively impacted.
It was fitting that these announcements came on the 15th anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Lilly has been tenacious in her advocacy for the fight to reduce pay inequity.  Her journey inspires our continued advocacy with the White House, Congress, and around the country to advance policies that address gender and racial inequity.”

In solidarity,
Meghan Kissell
Senior Director, Policy & Member Advocacy

Click HERE for more Details!

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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.

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The ERA
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. 

NATIONAL

Gloria L. Blackwell
AAUW CEO

AAUW 
MEMBER
RESPONSIBILITIES

     *  Stay Informed
     *   Be Respectful
     *   Promote Inclusivity & Equity For All
     *   Vote
     *  Pay Dues and Donate 
     *  Commit To Engage

FOLLOW THIS LINK to access more information regarding AAUW Member Responsibilities*

“We are tenacious and trailblazing –
advocating for women and girls since 1881 and into the future!”

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 additional news of online events HERE.

Newly Posted Webinars:
Aired Feb 28, 2024 – AAUW’S History and Evolution: A Journey Through Time – 2024
Watch this insightful webinar on AAUW’S history. Here, we highlight pivotal points in AAUW’S history that turned us into the organization we are today. The featured speaker is Jessica Miller, AAUW Archivist, as she discusses both larger organizational changes and individual trailblazers who shaped our current structure.

Aired Feb 7, 2024 – School Boards: the Battleground for the Education Culture Wars. An AAUW National Public Policy Committee webinar to learn how one AAUW state board is fighting back and what you can do locally.

Additional Resources from AAUW National:
– Be sure to review the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Toolkit, which has been updated with plug-and-play tools for affiliates.
– 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  has upgraded the organization’s data system, now called the AAUW Community Hub. You’ll need your updated account to renew your membership, donate, vote, 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!

SIGN UP HERE!

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We’re Involved! You can be, too!
Click “JOIN HERE” or at the top or bottom of this page.
Already a Member? RENEW NOW!
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Click on SPOTLIGHT ON MEMBERS (above) and read about some of the
branch’s talented women and why they joined AAUW Reston-Herndon (VA).

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. 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

To learn about a specific issue, click on the topic link below the category button

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