When: Tuesday, March 2, 2010
8 am – 8 pm

Where: AARP Brickfield Center
601 E Street NW, Washington, DC

Questions? Please contact BPW Foundation at 202-777-8920 or email to policy@bpwfoundation.org.

On March 2, BPW Foundation leaders and working women advocates from around the country attended BPW Foundation’s Policy & Action Day 2010 in Washington, DC to lobby for policies that support working women and their families. The advocates heard sobering statistics from economist and co-editor of the Shriver Report, Heather Boushey. Heather reported that dual earner households are the new normal and over 63% of mothers are the sole breadwinner or co-breadwinners. We need workplace policies the reflect the changed workforce and the fact that everyone has caregiving responsiblities.

Advocates also got the inside scoop from a panel of experts on issues vital to working women including pay equity, paid sick days, paid parental leave, retirement security and women in the green economy. Attendees learned lobbying basics and insider tips before heading to the Hill. After a successful day working the Hill everyone attended a packed Congressional reception attended by Congressional staff and Members of Congress including Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL-13), Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC-6), Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC-2), Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-H1-2) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3).  Check out the videos of Rep. DeLauro and Rep. Hirono thanking everyone for their hard work.

While advocates were meeting with Members of Congress here in DC, BPW Foundation supporters unable to get to Washington DC were not idle. They sent more than 200 letters to Congress using the BPW Foundation Advocacy Center as part of the second annual Working Women Day of Action. Thank you for making March 2nd a truly national day of action!

Check out the photos from BPW Foundation’s Policy & Action Day 2010. Please post your own pictures on the Young Women Misbehavin’ Flickr Group and videos on the BPW Foundation YouTube Channel. We want to show off BPW Foundation’s prowess on the Hill.

All the Policy & Action Day materials and the Congressional Meeting Report Form are available on the BPW Foundation website. Everyone who attended, please return the form to policy@bpwfoundation.org as soon as possible.

Thank you to all the Policy & Action Day 2010 attendees and all who participated from their home states!