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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADE
WHEREAS, founded by tradeswomen in 1981, Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) is driven by their mission to ensure that all women who want to work with their hands and earn a good living have equal access to information, training, pay, and employment opportunities in the industry; and
WHEREAS, according to the Pew Research Center, there is still a gap between the earnings of men and women in the United States in the past two decades, with the average woman earning 82 cents for every dollar earned by men; and
WHEREAS, led by tradeswomen, CWIT continues to work toward changing these statistics by providing support and education to tradeswomen; and
WHEREAS, CWIT believes that it is crucial to increase the training for women and girls to enter nontraditional jobs, providing technical assistance to employers, unions, and other tradeswomen groups, documenting trends in the nontraditional workplace; and
WHEREAS, it is also crucial to advocate for improved policies and practices that support women’s access to nontraditional training and jobs as well as success and safety on the job; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that women are qualified for and advance in various occupations, CWIT has partnered with the Jane Addams Resource Corporation to provide women with instructions to prepare them for entry-level manufacturing jobs; and
WHEREAS, the 12 weeks full-time training program also provides successful graduates with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 certifications as well as American Welding Society credentials; and
WHEREAS, CWIT also works to provide a wide range of technical assistance services through their Technical Opportunities Program and resources that support apprenticeship programs, employers, training providers, and the workforce system in setting and meeting gender equality goals; and
WHEREAS, some of the technical assistance includes toolkits, best practice briefs, curriculum, staffing training, replicable program models, and other resource strategies that have proven successful in attracting and retaining women in these fields; and
WHEREAS, CWIT also offers Women Build Illinois (WBI), which is a 10-week training program that includes an expanded focus on basic construction skills, hands-on training, and industry-recognized credentials provided directly by apprenticeship programs, contractors, and tradeswomen; and
WHEREAS, CWIT promotes trade women's self-advocacy to advance policy campaigns and change the industry; and
WHEREAS, CWIT provides education, support groups, and development, mentoring, resources, and guidance in understanding their rights, resolving issues on the job, and advancing into leadership positions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor the 40th Anniversary of Chicago Women in Trade (CWIT); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Chicago Women in Trade (CWIT) in honor of its outstanding achievements and their 40th anniversary.
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