Women in Philanthropy Launches ‘Breaking Barriers’ Spring Webinar Series

Women in Philanthropy (WIP), the initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation that focuses on empowering and transforming the lives of women, girls, and their families in the Lackawanna County region, announces the launch of a timely series of webinars exploring regional challenges affecting women and girls today.

The webinars focus on topics identified by Women in Philanthropy supporters as key interest areas to explore more in-depth. Each topic relates to women’s issues today post COVID-19 pandemic including civic engagement and advocacy, childcare, and affordable housing, and will seek to identify ways in which Women in Philanthropy can break barriers and provide funding to make an impact in each of these areas.

The Women in Philanthropy ‘Breaking Barriers’ Spring Webinar Series launches during Women’s History Month and during the week of International Women’s Day, at a time when people all across the globe are tuned into fostering a world in which women experience equality, support, and inclusiveness. 

Today, child care challenges are driving many women out of the workforce at an alarming rate. Child care is a pressing economic issue for working families across the country. The high cost of child care has become a burden for parents who need it to support their families.

Today, still under one-third of women hold positions in elective office.

Women in Philanthropy hopes to explore the factors that contribute to these realities on a local scale more thoroughly.

Each webinar in this series will include a panel discussion featuring regional voices offering diverse perspectives. Panelists during the first webinar—which takes place tonight, Thursday, March 11—will include voices from the Scranton School Board, the Community Justice Project, Black Scranton Project, NEPA Rainbow Alliance, and the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County.

The webinar schedule is as follows:

Civic Engagement and Advocacy: Thursday, March 11, 2021, 5:00 p.m.

Affordable Childcare: Thursday, March 25, 2021, 5:00 p.m.

Affordable Housing: Thursday, April 8, 2021, 5:00 p.m.

Civic Engagement and Advocacy, Part 2:  Thursday, April 22, 2021, 4:00 p.m.

Affordable Childcare, Part 2: Thursday, May 6, 2021, 4:00 p.m.

Affordable Housing, Part 2: Thursday, May 20, 2021, 4:00 p.m.

The first sessions will lay the groundwork for future discussions. The follow-up webinars will include examples of solution-focused models to consider as Women in Philanthropy works to address the concerns that were raised in the first sessions, followed by small group discussions. Women in Philanthropy Supporters are invited and encouraged to attend the ‘Breaking Barriers’ Spring Webinar Series. Anyone and all are welcome to become a Women in Philanthropy Supporter. To become a Women in Philanthropy Supporter, simply visit https://supportnepawomen.org/become-a-supporter/ and complete the online form. Once-time donations to Women in Philanthropy are also accepted by making a contribution to The Fund for Women and Girls online at safdn.org. These webinars are open to the public but registration is required. Visit supportnepawomen.org/breakingbarriers to learn more.