New Year, Turn Page
We are near the end of the first month of the new year. How are you feeling? Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? With a new year, many people make New Year’s resolutions to reach their goals, improve their health, and better their lives.
From Forbes, we learn that the top resolutions for 2023 include: Improved mental health, Improved fitness, Lose weight, Improved diet, Improved finances. Research also shows 43% of people give up on their goals by February and only about 9% of people successfully keep their resolutions.
With the start of the New Year, there are also a new set of laws which have gone into effect. More than 180 new laws took effect on January 1, 2023. Some of the laws that are important to women include:
Time Off for Miscarriage (SB 3120) – which allows women who have a miscarriage, still birth, or other diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility to take 10 days of unpaid leave.
Electronic Orders of Protection (SB 3667) – women are overwhelmingly impacted by domestic violence. Filing paperwork to take an abuser to court should not be dangerous. To better protect survivors, this law allows anyone to file for a protective order at any time by email or online in addition to the in-person option.
Helping Women Afford Treatment (HB 5254) – In order to prevent osteoporosis and other medical conditions, this law requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary hormone therapy treatments for women who have undergone a hysterectomy causing menopause.
Another law, HB 4271, was signed into law in 2022, but won’t take effect until January 2024. It requires that insurance companies pay for medically necessary breast reduction surgery.
The anti-discrimination law (SB 3616) originally went into effect in 2021 and applies to schools. Now known as the Crown Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair), intended to combat hair discrimination in the workplace, most commonly experienced by Black women.
If you’ve hit a rocky start to the year, I invite you to begin again. One of my favorite quotes is “it’s never too late to be what you might have been.” You can start over at any point and give yourself the fresh start you choose. This could be next Monday, next month, on your birthday, or pick any day to start over. You define your own life. Don’t let other people write your next chapter. Stare at the blank page of 2023 and start writing. Here is some musical inspiration from Natasha Bedingfield and her song “Unwritten” .
Felicia Davis Blakley
President and CEO
Chicago Foundation for Women
UPCOMING EVENTS
CFW’s LBTQ Giving Council Open House
Learn all about how you can generate positive change for the LBTQ community! CFW’s LBTQ Giving Council is hosting a virtual open house on Tuesday, February 7th, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Join us here!
OUR NEWS
CFW Funding Opportunities
Chicago Foundation for Women has released the application for new applicants for its 2023 Spring Grant Programs/Cycles. Due date for all new application is February 6.
Funding opportunities include
- Primary Cycle focused on general operating and program support (both direct service and advocacy) across all three issue areas
- Epidemic of Violence: Missing and Murdered Women of Color focuses on program and general operating support grants supporting community solutions, interventions, and deeper interrogations to understand the root causes of this on-going epidemic
- Reproductive Justice Champion focused on women of color-led organizations and efforts to build the reproductive justice movement
Featured Item
Are you a feminist? Baby August is modeling CFW’s, “Hello I’m a Feminist” onesie. Visit our online shop to see all of our merch for both babies and adults. We also have mugs, masks, and totes!
SHEcovery™ Video
Watch our SHEcovery™ video here, highlighting why the time is NOW to ensure an equitable recovery.
CFW is Hiring!
We are seeking candidates for the following open positions:
Manager of Donor Data and Stewardship is responsible for coordinating and overseeing CFW’s fundraising efforts and operations by providing support services, including analysis, applications support, list management, business process, and other services related to all donor data used by CFW.
Director of Communications & Events Marketing will oversee all communications involving the organization, including developing and implementing communication strategy and a broad and diverse range of marketing communications.
Find the full job descriptions here.
In The News
Disrupting Privilege: Conversations on Race & Health
CFW’s President & CEO, Felicia Davis Blakley joined Equal Hope’s podcast with John McIlwain and Mary Richardson-Lowry. She spoke about about CFW’s beginning and the growth under her leadership. Listen to the full interview here.
CAN TV’s In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon
CFW’s President & CEO, Felicia Davis Blakley was joined Darrious Hilmon for guest on the winter premiere of “In The Arena” on CANTV. The episode, “This Woman’s Work” follows Blakley’s upbringing and career path. Watch the full episode here.
American Dream Podcast
Hear from two founding mothers of the Reproductive Justice movement, Dr. Toni Bond and Loretta Ross, along with CFW’s President and CEO, Felicia Davis Blakley, on Make it Work Nevada’s “American Dreams” podcast. Listen to the full podcast here.
Rolling Out: Felicia Davis Blakley says her purpose is effecting change in the community
CFW’s President and CEO, Felicia Davis Blakley, spoke with Eddy “Precise” Lamarre from Rolling Out about effecting change through her work and the lessons she’s learned as a leader. Read the full article here.
CWTA's 2023 Women's Mayoral Forum
CFW co-sponsored the 2023 Mayoral Forum at the Chicago Temple on January 14th. Mayoral candidates spoke about the issues women care about. Watch the full forum here.
The screening of "The Janes" presented by YWCA, CFW, and CSRPC
CFW co-sponsored the sold out screening of “The Janes” documentary presented by YWCA Chicago and CSRPC at the University of Chicago: Max Palevsky Cinema at Ida Noyes Hall on January 26th.
CAAIP at the Chicago Cultural Center for Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited
Kick off Black History Month with CAAIP at the Chicago Cultural Center for Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited. Get more information to plan your visit at TSOPChicago.org. Check out events here.
Cook County Reentry Initiative
The Cook County Justice Advisory Council has announced a new $8 million funding opportunity for organizations providing eligible services to returning residents in Chicago and Suburban Cook County. To learn more visit here!
Nonprofit Capacity Building Program Phase 1
Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has launched its Nonprofit Capacity Building program today with the Chicago Mayor’s Office, which will offer coaching and assistance to nonprofits interested in applying for Chicago Recovery Plan opportunities. Apply today here.
Black Founder Startup Grant
SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, Walmart.org’s Center for Racial Equity and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. To apply visit here.
City of Evanston Entrepreneurship Support Grant
The program is intended to assist in the growth of jobs in Evanston through entrepreneurship, helping residents and local business owners to create jobs by starting and retaining sustainable small businesses. Funds can be used to cover operating expenses, equipment, licensing fees, and other eligible expenses. Learn more about eligibility here.
The City of Chicago Law Department is hiring!
The City of Chicago Law Department is hiring for entry, mid, and supervisor level attorneys. View the open positions and job descriptions here.