June 3, 2014 was a very humbling and new experience for Job Corps young women. As a group of young ladies, students and staff, went to the Women’s Rally, “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds” at the SEIU Local 1199 building in downtown Cleveland, they were privileged to mingle, line dance and then getting down to business with Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge along with some of her colleagues, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Rosa Delora of Connecticut, Joyce Bailey and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The message was to inform women of our communities that we are among the minority. Joyce Bailey stated a few facts to bring to our attention what the reality is when it comes to women in the workplace.
-Caucasian women make 77 cents on the dollar to a man’s 1 dollar.
-African American women make 64 cents to a man’s 1 dollar.
-Latina women make 54 cents to a man’s 1 dollar.

A young lady from Cleveland by the name of Jasmine Howard shared her story with the audience. Ms. Howard is a single mother struggling to make ends meet. She works two jobs and cannot afford child care. She receives no benefits from her places of employment. Jasmine made a powerful statement as she wrapped up, “We need to take care of the women who are taking care of America.”

Another mother followed Ms. Howard. She is a mother of two small children struggling to support her family on 15 hours a week, minimum wage. Her husband works 30 hours a week, but does half the labor that Judith does at her workplace.

Nancy Pelosi closed up the event by summing up that America needs to make a more sincere effort on pay equity, childcare assistance, raise minimum wage, lessen and eliminate discrimination towards women in small businesses, give more opportunity for paid family medical leave, expand child tax credit,

Women are a major part of the driving force in this country but receive little to no credit for everything that they put effort and dedication into. “LET women succeed in the workplace. Help everyone, not just the privileged few.”