The 2024 Community Justice Challenge Week Two Recap: Financial Empowerment

Week Two of the 2024 Community Justice Challenge empowered our community with unique learning experiences regarding finances. As prevailing challenges to equality for generations of women, financial control, education and freedom are nonnegotiable stepping stones to realizing a just world. Here's how you can support the work of local South Florida organizations working hard to address these issues:

• Leap for Ladies in Miami focuses on women in prison using a holistic entrepreneurship model. The organization connects women in prison with a mentor as they transition back to society. Contact them to learn more about how you can support their work.

• Learn more about the history of OneUnited Bank, the only Black bank in Florida and the nation's largest Black-owned bank. The bank, which maintains a branch in Miami, views its services through a social justice lens and offers financial literacy education and support.

• YWCA South Florida's Women's Entrepreneurship 360 program is designed to help women of color overcome barriers to starting, growing, and sustaining businesses while providing them with educational tools to increase their knowledge and confidence as entrepreneurs. The Level Up! Pitch Competition on June 1, in collaboration with Procter & Gamble, Co., YWCA USA and partners across the country, offers a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and compete for valuable prizes. Connect with us to learn more about how you can support this important work. 

• The Center for Black Innovation in Miami works to increase the number of Black-owned businesses through business infrastructure education, access to capital, mentorship, and more. Learn more about their work and contact them to ask how you can help.

• Watch our Take Action Tuesday with Michael J. Langley of Florida Justice Institute. We discussed the financial impact of incarceration on both individuals and employers, along with fair chance/second chance employment.  Learn more about how Florida is one of the states most impacted by this and how you can get involved.

Thank you to all who participated this week. We shared important discussions, took action and sparked realizations that will help us all move forward.

Day One: History

Week two began with an exploration across time and cultures. While women today largely enjoy more control over their finances than ever before, there is still a long way to go. We traced the timeline of women’s fight for financial rights, educated ourselves on Madam C.J. Walker (the first self-made female millionaire) and more. Understanding the challenges and triumphs of the past helps us to strategize for the future, and we’re confident these success stories and recounts have something everyone can learn from.

History Resources:

• A Timeline of Women’s Fight for Financial Rights in The U.S. (Article)

• Tour self-made millionaire Madam CJ Walker's historic mansion in Irvington (Video)

• Married Women’s Property Rights and Enslavement in the Pre–Civil War South (Article)

• How Native American Women Inspired the Women’s Rights Movement (Article)

Day Two: Pay Gap and Unpaid Labor

On day seven, we watched, read, listened and learned of the ongoing undervaluing of women in the workforce. From the gender pay gap, which has gone widely unchanged since the early 2000s, to the unequal distribution and underappreciation of caregiving responsibilities, women, particularly those of color and mothers, have faced unfair and unrealistic expectations regarding their contributions to society. Our resources today give a greater understanding of the challenges we still face.

Pay Gap and Unpaid Labor Resources:

• Caregiving Is Real Work — Let’s Treat It That Way | The Way We Work, a TED series (Video)

• Latino caregivers face higher financial strain. Here’s how to prepare to help family members (Article)

• Equal Pay Day: Single moms are hit the hardest by the gender pay gap — and custody arrangements can matter (Video)

• What's the wage gap in the states? (Article/Interactive)

Day Three: Entrepreneurship

According to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, 42% of American businesses are women-owned. Even still, this growing demographic faces significant barriers compared to their male counterparts. We read of historic figures in the fight for entrepreneurial equity, like Mellissa Bradley. We studied data on the growing population (and challenges) of Latino entrepreneurs. Finally, we explored how we can set future entrepreneurs up for success.

Entrepreneurship Resources:

• Melissa Bradley: Black female entrepreneurs lack access to capital despite creating most new jobs (Video)

• Latino Entrepreneurs Are Thriving, but Access to Contracts and Capital Remains Challenging (Article)

• Women in Business Statistics: The Ultimate List of 2023 Trends (Blog)

• Demand among Black, Latino students fuels college entrepreneurship programs (Article)

Day Four: Financial Abuse

TRIGGER WARNING: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Financial abuse is a pervasive form of domestic violence, impacting millions of Americans every year. This issue, which disproportionately affects women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, those living with disabilities and indigenous people, can look different from person to person. From reports on its greater effects to true, impactful stories of women right here in Broward County, day nine of the Community Justice Challenge opened our eyes to the severity of this issue and how we can help/find the help we need.

If you are experiencing domestic/intimate partner violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Financial Abuse Resources:

• The True Cost of Financial Abuse | Advertiser content from The Allstate Foundation (Video)

• Financial Abuse Is Domestic Violence (Article)

• Women, African-Americans (Podcast)

Day Five: Financial Literacy

For much of history, women have been led to believe that financials are a man’s business. This stunted way of thinking has led to a financial literacy gap that leaves women at a drastic disadvantage across all facets of life. We combatted this mindset on our final day of week two with a powerful article by Paula Polito, Vice Chairwoman of Global Wealth Management at UBS, a preview of an upcoming documentary on challenging these issues, and an expiration on the benefits of financial literacy on the individual and society.

Financial Literacy Resources:

• A Woman with Purpose: Paula Polito (Article)

• $avvy by Robin Hauser | SBIFF 2021 (Video)

• The Racial Gap in Financial Literacy (Article)

Week Three Preview: Gun Violence

Are you enjoying the challenge so far? Help us spread the word to those in our community and encourage them to register before next week's conversations begin. Join us next week to explore the history of gun ownership in America and how it has impacted the lives of marginalized people.