National Grassroots Organization Contributes its Network to Katrina Victims

National Grassroots Organization Contributes its Network to Katrina Victims
New Partnership Commits Shared Resources to Rebuilding Lives of Women

Dallas, TX, July 18, 2006 – Today Business and Professional Women/USA hosted a press conference in Dallas, TX to announce its national partnership to support and provide outreach to women and families impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Partners including the Institute of Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) spoke at the press event. Impacted BPW Gulf Coast residents, the American Red Cross and BPW/USA members and leaders attended.

“In response to the continuing devastation in the Gulf Coast region, BPW/USA is contributing its national network and grassroots power to assist impacted workingwomen and families,” said Roslyn Ridgeway, BPW/USA national president. “There are many women and families who, a year later, are still trying to piece together a normal life, and this burgeoning partnership and project will prove instrumental.”

BPW/USA’s support and outreach includes establishing partnerships with similar organizations that have resources to aid Gulf Coast residents. The following national partnerships have already been solidified:

• National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO): www.womenbizrelief.com is the NAWBO web site for women business owners impacted by Hurricane Katrina
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR): authored The Women of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast: Multiple Disadvantages and Key Assets for Recovery, a report on the impact of Katrina on women and children
• MyRegistry.com: a company that created a national registry for individuals to sign-up to donate items to impacted families in the Gulf Coast.

Amy Ciazza, director of Democracy and Society Programs for IWPR painted a picture of by providing Gulf Coast socioeconomic statistics of Gulf Coast residents. Ciazza also gave recommendations of focus areas including offering resources to Katrina women; Investment in education and training; lobbying for welfare benefit expansion for the area’s population; involvement of women and residents in the rebuilding and planning of the region.

Marilyn Bushey, Board of Directors member at NAWBO spoke to the plight of women business owners trying to rebuild the businesses which once supported their families. BPW/USA is a coalition partner of Womenbizrelief.com

Elisabeth Gehl director of public policy for BPW/USA gave an overview of the important role that this partnership and BPW/USA and also put a face on the aftermath of the disaster. As a New Orleans native, her family and friends are still rebuilding. “I commend my fellow New Orleanians and Gulf Coast residents who have faced this disaster with dignity and pride. But we still need your help,” explained Gehl.

Resources provided by BPW/USA include free, job board postings and searches through the BPW/USA Career Center; legislative resources including free access to Legislative Hotline, a weekly action alert to BPW/USA members, voteforworkingwomen.com, a web site to make their votes count even as they relocate and access to BPW/USA’s e-advocacy Center, an online portal to directly communicate their priorities to representatives. The organization’s partnership will also continue to leverage their advocacy strength to increase national support for Katrina victims.

“BPW/USA will provide a network of support to empower these women who are rebuilding their lives,” explains Debbie Frett, CEO of BPW/USA. “The power of BPW/USA’s grassroots action can increase attention to the continuing issues such as housing, employment and benefits for impacted women and families.”

Many BPW members have been active assisting impacted families since the disaster. Activities have included dues assistance, identification of impacted women, financial support to attend state conventions and on-location assistance in the Gulf Coast after Katrina. A critical role they will play is performing local needs assessments to direct them to the registry and other available resources.

This press event precedes Embracing New Frontiers, the 2006 BPW/USA National Conference held July 18 – 22 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, 400 N. Olive Street.

BPW/USA, founded in 1919, is a multi-generational, bipartisan membership organization with a mission to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. Established as the first organization to focus on issues of workingwomen, BPW/USA is historically a leader in grassroots activism, policy influence and advocacy for millions of workingwomen. www.bpwusa.org