Speakers and panelists at a Sept. 22 Equity in Focus Summit considered the significance of gender and racial equity in policymaking and workforce development.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau co-hosted the summit with Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, according to a Sept. 23 news release.
“Working women deserve good jobs, a prosperous career and the ability to support and care for their families,” Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su said in the release. "When women are given a chance – including to do work traditionally occupied by men – it is not only good for women, it is good for everyone. Rquity and excellence go hand in hand."
Su, Director of the department's Women's Bureau Wendy Chun-Hoon, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff all spoke at the event, the release reported.
Policies and programs in use at local, state and national levels were discussed by participants comprised of representatives from local government, unions, the private sector and other stakeholders, the release said.
High-quality union jobs will be created through the historic investments in the nation’s roads, bridges, broadband and clean energy, Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon said, the release reported.
“We must seize this moment to use these investments to create greater gender and racial equity for all of our nation’s workers,” she said, according to the release.
