June 20, 2014

"If women succeed, America succeeds" (When Women Succeed, America Succeeds) was the motto of the economic forum held recently where Congresswoman Dina Titus and Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. They discussed issues such as equal pay in our state, the need for affordable child care and balancing family and work.

The message of this event was that although women have had many accomplishments have broken barriers and schemes still needs to do more to ensure equality. For example, only in Nevada, more than 17 percent of women living in poverty. This puts Nevada at No. 20 in the poverty rate of women in the nation. However, the poverty rate in black women is higher; 28.9 percent of African American women living in poverty.

Our state also has a policy to provide paid leave for family or medical reasons for temporary disability. This makes many women-and men living in the uncertainty of not knowing whether they will continue to have their jobs in case they need to take time off to care for family or medical problems.

Congresswoman Titus and Democratic Leader Pelosi, supported equal pay for women and the increase in the minimum wage. They also discussed the need to balance work with family. "It took over 70 years before women won the right to vote, and that was over 90 years ago. There is still much to be done, "Pelosi said.

Alicia Monte, a mother, participated in the panel and shared his story about all the challenges you have overcome. Monte, having worked for 7 years cleaning rooms in a hotel and casino in our city, has been promoted to supervisor. She is very happy because your employer will pay for a high school diploma (GED) and may help for her to finish a college career. "I was always afraid and I was ashamed to say I was a single mother of 4 children, the fact of always working and not having a college education made me feel I needed to do more. I am very grateful for the benefits that my employer provides and to stay home when my kids are sick, "Monte said.