I was honored to chair the White House’s Council on Women and Girls during the eight years of the Obama administration. We championed the creation of equality and opportunity for women and girls in the United States and around the world. We advocated for workplace policies that empower working families, including equal pay, raising the minimum wage, paid leave, paid sick days, workplace flexibility and affordable child care. We focused on removing economic barriers to equality. And in 2016 we launched the first United State of Women (USOW) Summit.
USOW is a national organization for anyone who sees that we need a different America for all women to survive and thrive. It serves as a convener and connector, bringing women together across backgrounds and beliefs to engage and inspire each other. We amplify the work of organizations and individuals at the forefront of the fight for women’s equality, and we provide tools, access and connections that help women see and step into their power to break down the barriers that hold women back.
{mosads}Last weekend, we held the second USOW Summit in Los Angeles, bringing together more than 6,000 powerful change-makers and equipping them with the tools they need to make even more change, faster. There has been building momentum from women around the country who are standing up and saying they will be sidelined no longer. From the Women’s March to #MeToo, from boardrooms to union leaders, from Congress and state or local elected officials to activist organizations fighting for gender equity, women are harnessing their power and making waves that will last for generations to come.
From all corners of the country and across party lines, a record number of women are running for Congress — close to 500, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. They’re taking the power and momentum built up over the last two years and using it to advocate for real change in their communities and in the country. But even in an election cycle being hailed as another “Year of the Woman,” they make up less than a quarter of all likely congressional candidates. Even in a year where we’ve seen history-making numbers of women step up and run, we still aren’t at an equitable point.
When women work together, we get things done. Consider this: During the 2013 government shutdown, the women of the Senate came together to help broker the deal that eventually ended the stalemate. Recent studies have shown that women are more likely to work across party lines to achieve their goals, and that women legislators are more effective once elected. If we can use these qualities to bring more women into the fold and empower them to stand up for their beliefs, our country will be bolder and brighter than ever before.
Earlier this month, I spoke at The Wing, an all-female co-working space and hub, to an audience full of extraordinary young women searching for their paths forward. The women in the audience wanted to make a difference, but some were struggling to find the right approach. It is the job of those on whose shoulders these women stand to make it easier for them to be forces for good. That is one of the reasons that the USOW Summit inspired women and our allies to break down the barriers that hold women back, then channel their energy into action that sets change in motion for years to come.
Our summit elevated voices that were united around the common mission of empowerment and equality for women and girls. We heard stories from young girls such as Marley Dias, a 13-year-old who tired of never reading books about girls that look like her so she launched a campaign called #1000BlackGirlBooks in response. I had a conversation on the main stage with Sallie Krawcheck, a self-proclaimed financial feminist who launched an innovative digital investment platform for women. Brittany Packnett, an educator and activist, shared her experiences on violence inside America’s schools and how we need to redesign the workplace so women are treated and compensated equitably, work and family co-exist, and all workers are valued.
We heard from actresses such as Sophia Bush and Connie Britton, and from activists such as #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, who motivated attendees to organize and amplify resources and support for those who have experienced trauma. We even hosted The Center, a central hub of engagement within the summit that included a marketplace of women-owned businesses and nonprofits that are stepping up for women’s economic empowerment.
When four U.S. gymnasts — Aly Raisman, Tiffany Lopez, Jeanette Antolin and Jorden Weber — shared their experience speaking truth to power, it reminded women everywhere that their voice matters, and when three Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors stood on stage in front of a crowd of 6,000 to express hope for a brighter and safer future, I was in awe of their bravery. Jane Fonda, standing side-by-side with Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, shared how necessary it is to broaden the lens through which we see race. And our keynote speaker at the end of an extraordinary day was inspirational former first lady Michelle Obama, who challenged us all to use our power to shake things up.
Our summit amplified concrete solutions to achieve gender equity for women and girls. We showcased this by announcing a concrete goal for women to take 1 million actions for gender equality in 2018. We made the announcement with commitment to support women change-makers through hands-on training, connecting allies and creating content. We will support this goal by continuing to invest in women leaders, whether in the field or online.
Throughout the weekend, we were surrounded by inspirational women and girls who lift their voices so others can lift theirs. We connected attendees with leading organizations working at the forefront of today’s most pressing issues and equipped them with tools and training. We also celebrated women and allies who have made a significant impact in their own communities. Women aren’t alone in this fight — men need to be a part of the solution.
Together we all must recognize that diversity and inclusion are a political and business imperative in the global marketplace. If not us, who? If not now, when?
Valerie Jarrett, a lawyer, businesswoman and civic leader, was senior adviser to President Obama from 2009 to 2017.