Young Women Gave Us the Right to Vote

Women's Suffrage Monument in the Rotunda 

Ninety-three years ago today, women in American finally won the right to vote.  On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution became law and declared "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."  To date, the Equal Rights Amendment has not passed, so the Nineteenth Amendment is the only Constitutional protection explicitly including the term "sex."

The fight for women's right to vote began in 1848 when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention.  However, it took 72 years of activism to successfully achieve suffrage.  Young women such as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns carried the torch that Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony first lit.

Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were American students who met in London while protesting with the Pankhursts, Britain's suffrage movement.  They were inspired by the militant tactics of the Pankhursts which included mass public protesting.  Upon returning to the United States, they joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).  NAWSA was using traditional lobbying methods to advocate for suffrage.  Alice and Lucy thought these strategies were ineffective, so split and formed the National Woman's Party (NWP).

If you pass by the White House today, seeing protestors in front of it is a common sight.  However, the first political organization in the United States to picket the White House was the NWP, founded by young Alice Paul.  The NWP still exists today and you can become a member!

The women picketing the White House used nonviolence, and stood for hours in the cold, well dressed, holding banners with political messages.  At first President Wilson tolerated them, but not once the nation moved into World War I. Alice, Lucy, and the young women leaders of the NWP decided to still picket even through the country was at war.  Not much later, the suffragists were arrested on the bogus grounds of obstructing traffic.

The women were sent to the Occoquan Workhouse where they were treated poorly as common criminals.  The prisoners, including Alice and Lucy, went on extended hunger strikes.  They were violently force fed, with tubes painfully shoved down their throats.  Once the public learned of this brutality, Wilson had no choice but to support suffrage.  While not entirely historically accurate, a recommended film to learn more about this is Iron Jawed Angels featuring Hillary Swank.  You can also visit the Sewall-Belmont House & Museum in DC or the Alice Paul Institute in New Jersey to learn more about Alice Paul.

Thanks to the sacrifice of young women activists such as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, YOU can vote! Women in America have only been able to vote for less than 100 years, so use your right and vote in all elections, from municipal to presidential.  Women voters make or break candidates.  In every presidential election since 1980, a gender gap has been apparent.  In 2012, women voters favored the successful candidate Barack Obama ten percentage points over Mitt Romney.  Women in the United States are 51% of the population, 53% of voters, but hold less than 20% of elected offices in America.  Let's change those statistics.

Alice Paul was 35 years old when the Nineteenth Amendment passed.  Alice and Lucy are role models to show us you do not need to wait until you finish school or have decades of experience to start changing your country and the world.  The fight for women's equality is not complete.  What torch will our generation carry?  The movement begins today!

So You Want to Be an Adjunct Professor?

Last year, I had the great honor to become an adjunct professor at American University and Trinity Washington University.  This semester, I am excited to teach "Gender, Power, and Politics" at American University and "Women and Leadership" at Trinity Washington University.  So what exactly is an adjunct professor and how do you become one? 

From an undergraduate student's perspective, they generally don't know the difference between full time or adjunct faculty members.  Basically, an adjunct professor is a part-time professor who is not on the tenure track.  You don't necessarily have to have a PhD. You are hired to teach a certain class for one semester, and are not necessarily guaranteed future employment. You generally do not receive benefits and most adjuncts are paid less than $5,000 per class.  For all the hours you spend teaching, grading, planning, and doing office hours, this is a job you do for the love of it rather than for money.  However, the adjuncts at American University recently unionized, so I am excited to learn more about the potential professional development opportunities and pay increases I can receive.  As universities and colleges nationwide are experiencing budget cuts, more and more school are hiring adjuncts, so more teaching opportunities exist for your taking.

Know What You Want

As with anything in life, I strongly believe in the power of knowing what you want far in advance of it actually happening.  For many of life's great accomplishments, you must dream your dream for many years, and take baby steps along the way to build your path. For example, in graduate school, I always knew I eventually wanted to teach, and participated in my school's Preparing Future Faculty program.

Know the Right People

I knew that many Washington, DC schools had adjunct opportunities, but I just didn't know how to connect to them, and thought I had to wait until I was older with more experience. However, one day I randomly received an email from a friend who used to teach saying her school needed someone last minute.  I asked if you needed a PhD, or just a master's.  She said all you needed was a master's degree.  She recommended me, I quickly interviewed, my experience spoke for itself, and I was hired.

My other teaching opportunity randomly came through LinkedIn.  A professor I did not know invited me to speak to her class.  The students ranked me as their favorite guest speaker that semester.  The professor and I began a professional relationship, and she gave me free executive coaching.  When she was thinking about creating a new class, she invited me to apply to teach it.

All of my friends who are adjuncts all knew someone where they applied, and did not apply cold.  The chair of a department generally does the hiring, so they are the right people to know.  If you are not yet connected to an academic community, create those relationships now.  Go to events on campus.  Offer to be a guest speaker.  Meet with professors for informational interviews.  Introduce yourself to department chairs months before the semester starts and suggest classes you can teach.

Also know that many adjunct opportunities arise right before a semester starts.  Look through the schedule of classes.  If a class does not have a professor's name attached to it, they are probably still looking for someone to teach it.

Know Your Stuff

So in addition to knowing what you want and knowing the right people, to be an adjunct, you have to know your stuff!  You really need to be an expert in your field.  You generally have a have a relevant graduate degree.  I have an M.A. in Applied Women's Studies.  Prior teaching experience or working with students is valued.  Publications definitely help.  As academia begins to value scholar practitioners more and more, having significant professional experience and demonstrated leadership in your field is important.

Own your expertise! I became an adjunct professor when I was 28.  You don't have to wait until you have decades of work experience to become an adjunct professor.  While it is a demanding job, teaching is one of the most rewarding professions.  Higher education needs more committed people wanting to teach!

More information about adjunct professors

Follow the adventures of my friend Michael Rodriguez as he follows his passion to teach architecture in Guatemala- Arch Abroad

Adjunct Project 

Adjunct Nation

Adjunct Professor Online

How Do You Decide?

How do you effectively make decisions?  What new approaches are you willing to try to better make decisions?  How has the way you make decisions changed from when you were 21 to 29?  Do you make personal decisions the same way you make professional choices? 
How does Hillary Clinton decide if she wants to run for president?  That's a tough one, good luck Hillary!  I do hope she will run! I do hope you will decide to keep reading please!

I believe one of the most important things to a happy and successful life is to know where you want to be going.  You've got to know what you want, in a clear way you can visualize it so you can then take actions to make that possibility your reality.  So how do you decide what you want?  Below are some strategies I have tried, some more effectively than others.

1) Know your strengths and weaknesses and how they impact your decision making style.

One of my favorite books is Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.  You actually need to buy the book rather than borrow it from a library because you need a special code to take a strengths finders assessment online.  You then read the book based on those test results.  At the end of each chapter, you learn how your different skills manifest in your interactions with others, and how they influence your decision making habits.

2) Seek out the opinions of mentors and your kitchen cabinet of close advisers.

If you are exploring a new path, seek out the advice of those established in those areas.  Go on informational interviews with many different people. Work with a career or life coach.  Also, gauge the opinions of people from different communities in your life such as your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, etc.  However, set a limit for yourself on how many opinions you will consider.  Ultimately, you need to make this decision for yourself and not be too influenced by what others think.

3) Make a list of the pros and cons of not making a certain decision.

My girlfriend who is an architect recently told me a best practice she learned from one of her professors.  Usually when we make a pros and cons list of our potential decision, we generally only list the pros and cons of making that decision.  However, we can also consider the pros and cons of not making that decision.  Her professor taught her that is the best way to prove her design was the most effective choice.  

4) Retreat and reflect.

Spend time alone to sit with and process your thoughts and feelings.  Meditate.  Spend time in nature.  Go on a retreat.  I am really excited to do my first silent retreat next week at the Omega Institute.  I'll let you know what I discover soon! 

5) Find examples of what you definitely do not want.

On the path to figuring out what we really want, learning what you really do not want can help us figure out what it is we really do want.  Even if you have a bad experience, take it as a learning opportunity to clarify what really makes you happy.  

6) Recognize how you are influenced by societal expectations, and choose how much value you place on those.

I'm about to turn 30, so I should be financially stable, have finished my education, be buying a home, be getting married, etc.  Watch for your use of the word "should."  Why do you think you should be at a certain place right now?  Is that coming from what your parents  think you should do?  Is that coming from your religious background?  Is that coming from peer pressure or the need to keep up with your peers?  Reflect on where this influence is coming from and how important that really is to you.

At the end of the day, only you can create your life, and make whatever decision is right for you.  Trust yourself! I support your path of decision making!  Please share your journey with us by commenting below.

So You Want to Be an Executive Director?

When I first came to Washington, DC almost six years ago, my career goal was to become the executive director (ED) of a nonprofit.  At the age of 26 my dream came true, and I became the ED of Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN).  PLEN is a small nonprofit that trains college women for careers in public policy. So if you have career ambitions to become an ED in the future, what can you be doing now?

While nonprofits will definitely hire EDs who come from the private sector or government, a past history of working for nonprofits demonstrates your commitment to the sector.  It would also be helpful if you currently or previously served on a nonprofit board, so you can bring multiple models and past experiences to your new job.  An ED is expected to be an expert in whatever cause your nonprofit serves, so you will also need to demonstrate a track record of knowledge and experience in your area.  For example, since PLEN worked with women and public policy, my past experiences working for my sorority, Congress, a campaign, the United Nations, and the women's suffrage museum definitely helped my candidacy.

Develop Your Skills

An ED needs to have a variety of skills, including budgeting and financial management, marketing, public relations, and communications, volunteer management, human resources, business administration, and managing board relations.  The number one skill set an ED should have is fundraising, which is particularly true for smaller nonprofits.  If your current job does not allow you to grow in these areas, volunteer for an organization.  For example, I learned grant writing by volunteering for my local United Nations Association, and I later served on the board of that organization. 

Develop Your Network

Ideally, as with any job, you should not be a stranger to the organization. Start developing relationships now with organizations you are interested in possibly serving as ED.  Subscribe to their newsletter and interact with them on social media. Volunteer at their events.  Even if it is a small amount, donate regularly so you build up for your donor history with the organization. Get to know current staff and board members.  For PLEN, I randomly wrote about them in 2008 when I wrote a chapter about internships for UChic: The College Girl's Guide to Everything. Two years later when I was interviewing for the ED position, that book was on the shelf in their office because they knew I mentioned them!

Serving as an ED is extraordinarily challenging but rewarding.  Below are more articles about my career path as well as free nonprofit resources you can subscribe too.  You can be a great ED and you can start creating that path today!

Articles about my path to ED

From Dead-End to Dream Job: Taking Control of Your Career

How She Got There: Pamela O’Leary, Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network

Great Newsletters and Resources for Nonprofit Careers (I was subscribed to all of the listings below!)

Fundraising

http://stepbystepfundraising.com/

http://www.fundraising123.org/

http://www.fundraisingideas.org/

www.wealthengine.com

http://capaciteria.org/

http://catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org/

http://www.gailperry.com/

http://fundamentals.convio.com/?elqPURLPage=347

http://www.givinginstitute.org/resourcelibrary/

Webinars (some are free)

http://nonprofitwebinars.com/

http://www.nonprofit101.org/

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/training/webinars/

http://www.wealthengine.com/pub/workshopArchives.jsp

http://www.humanics.org/site/c.omL2KiN4LvH/b.1098773/k.BE7C/Home.htm

http://www.naccouncil.org/

Trainings

http://ynpn.org/

http://www.theopedproject.org/

http://nonprofitroundtable.org/what-we-do/a-strong-sector/future-eds

http://www.compasspoint.org/

http://www.progressiveleaders.org/leadershipprograms/executive.html

http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/

Nonprofit trends and best practices

http://philanthropy.com/section/Home/172

http://www.blueavocado.org/

http://www.boardsource.org/

http://www.independentsector.org/

http://www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/

http://www.rosettathurman.com/

http://managementcenter.org/resource-library

http://vivanista.com/resource-library

http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/resources

http://managementhelp.org/boards/boards.htm

http://www.grassroots.org/services

http://simonejoyaux.com/download.php

http://www.aherncomm.com/news.php

http://www.sofii.org/

Get Bossed Up!

This weekend, I had the fun opportunity to present a resume writing workshop for Bossed Up's first Bootcamp in Washington, DC.  Bossed Up is an inspiring women's leadership development organization recently founded by two young women on top, Emilie Aries and Simone Petrella.  The two founders met at a yoga tweet-up and then cultivated a friendship that led them to create Bossed Up. The mission of Bossed Up is to "to unlock 100% of our human capacity by empowering women to craft healthy, happy, sustainable careers – for life!" Bossed Up Bootcamps are geared for women ages 25 to 35.

I love Bossed Up's holistic approach to women's leadership. Their program agenda includes a love coach, a nutritionist, a head shot session, a stylist, yoga and dance classes, among other more traditional workshops such as networking and salary negotiation. I don't know of any other truly comprehensive women's leadership development model. Most other programs just include professional skills, but avoid topics such as romance, nutrition, or fashion.  However, if a young woman truly wants to be successful and happy, she has to address all aspects of her life and not solely career advancement. If your romantic life or nutritional needs are off balance, your career will also suffer!

I'm really excited to watch how Emilie and Simone continue to build Bossed Up. I hope more women's organizations will incorporate Bossed Up's holistic approach into their trainings. So readers, as you reflect on your own professional development, consider how you can be more holistic in opportunities you seek. Can you take a healthy cooking class? Maybe try out a new exercise routine? Determine your own path to being "Bossed Up!"

Want some quick advice on resume and cover letter writing? Check out my slides from the Bossed Up presentation.

Employment and Housing Discrimination against Domestic Violence Victims

By Aisha Springer
 

Anyone with experience or knowledge of domestic violence knows how isolating it can be for the victim, whether it is physical isolation imposed by the abuser or the victim’s personal feelings of shame and embarrassment. The often traumatizing response of law enforcement coupled with insufficient or harmful laws serve as verification to many victims that they are, in fact, alone. In 44 states, an employee can be fired for being a victim of domestic violence. This is what happened to Carie Charlesworth, a California teacher. She had placed a restraining order against her abusive husband and informed her school’s principal. Still, her husband showed up in the school parking lot, causing a school lockdown and was arrested. Instead of receiving support, Charlesworth was fired and her children were no longer allowed to attend the school. With her husband set to be released at the end of June and no income of her own, she is left in a situation that forces many abuse victims to remain in an increasingly dangerous relationship. Employment discrimination against abuse victims is legal in most states with the exception of six; Hawaii, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island. This is extremely inadequate given that three fourths of abuse victims have been harassed by their abusers while at work.

Domestic abuse victims can also be evicted under municipal ordinances for disrupting the order. The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lakisha Briggs of Norristown, PA to challenge a “disorderly behavior ordinance.” The ordinance states that landlords and tenants can be penalized if police respond to three instances of “disorderly behavior” within four months. Domestic disturbances are explicitly included in this definition. After Briggs’ first strike, she did not call the police out of fear of eviction. However, neighbors called police when Briggs’ boyfriend attacked her with a brick and again when he stabbed her in the neck. When he was finally arrested, a police officer warned Briggs that she was on her third strike and threatened to have her landlord evict her. The city pressured the landlord to evict, but a housing court refused to order an eviction. The city then stated plans to condemn the property and forcibly remove Briggs. At this time, the ACLU took up the case and the city ceased its eviction efforts. Shortly after, however, Norristown passed an ordinance that would impose fines on landlords who refused to evict tenants who call for police assistance.

This is not a situation isolated to Norristown. Cities across the country have “nuisance ordinances” or “crime-free ordinances” that classify being a victim of domestic abuse as an offense deserving of eviction. In a study published in the American Sociological Review, researchers found that domestic violence was the third most common reason that Milwaukee police issued a nuisance citation. They also found that enforcement of the ordinance is disproportionately targeted at African-American neighborhoods. Domestic violence crimes are already underreported and these ordinances further discourage victims from reporting and possibly escaping their abusers. If they do report the crime, they may become one of the 20% of homeless in Norristown who are domestic violence victims. Discriminatory laws such as these demonstrate the ignorance of lawmakers, law enforcers, and society in general when it comes to domestic violence. Though the law and its enforcers are meant to protect citizens, in reality they often contribute to a continuing cycle of domestic violence. Until laws and attitudes catch up to the reality of these crimes, major roadblocks will remain in the fight against domestic violence.

In All But Six States, You Can Be Fired For Being A Victim Of Domestic Violence

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/20/2190691/domestic-violence-employment-discrimination/?mobile=nc

Shut Up or Get Out: PA City Punishes Domestic Violence Victims Who Call the Police

http://www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights-lgbt-rights-racial-justice-criminal-law-reform/shut-or-get-out-pa-city-punishes

Your Romantic Partner and Your Career Success

Last Friday, I listened to a very interesting video panel "Does Your Choice Of Husband Determine Your Career Success?" hosted by InPower Women.  Panelists included Amye Lee Rheault, Conor Williams, Dana Theus, and Marcia Reynolds.  I really appreciated that InPower Women brought attention to this important topic.  I feel that not enough women's leadership development programs and organizations overtly discuss the issue of how your personal life decisions impact your professional career.

I feel that many ambitious young career women, including myself, put finding a partner as a goal to be crossed off of a checklist of our life plans.  However, finding a partner does not necessarily equal success.  As an individual you determine and define your own success.

It's OK to be a strong career oriented women and care about finding a partner.   So often, we silo our professional identity from our personal identity, which often causes imbalances in both identities.  A very successful, single young woman currently working in the White House once told me something along the lines of, "It's OK and we need to put as much energy into finding a partner and having a personal life as we dedicate to advancing our careers."  I need not feel less of a feminist for wanting a partner and children as much as I want to climb the career ladder.

I gained much insight from InPower Women's diverse panel of speakers.  Their advice included to think of an equal partnership as more than just splitting household and childcare tasks.  One needs to think about a partnership also in terms of emotional support for each other. Both partners need to give and take as the dynamics of each person's lives evolve.  Who is good at what tasks?  Who prefers to do the different things?  Above all, their advice is to find a partner that you will continually be able to openly communicate and negotiate with about work-life balance challenges.