From March 19-24, 2018, Chicago Foundation for Women is hosting its third annual “Talk it Out” series, a week of in-person and online conversations about gender bias and solutions. The focus this year is on the #MeToo movement and developing strategies for ending sexual harassment.
“#MeToo has forced a national reckoning with the prevalence of sexual harassment,” said CFW President/CEO K. Sujata in a release. “Now, we need to expand the conversation to include men and boys and to begin developing strategies to end harassment.”
“Sexual harassment objectifies and dehumanizes women, limits their economic opportunities and infringes on their right to move about the world freely and without fear,” Sujata said.
More than 120 individuals and organizations are hosting “Talk it Out” conversations over the course of the week, including 1871, Chicago Women’s Health Center, Colvin House, Mikva Challenge, Olive-Harvey College, Schiff Hardin LLP and Women Employed.
Folks can sign up to host a conversation by registering at cfw.org/talkitout. CFW says that hosts will receive a toolkit with questions to start the conversation, along with tips for how to create a welcoming and respectful environment.
Community members are also invited to join the conversation online using the hashtag #TalkItOut. There’s a structured Twitter Chat on Wednesday, March 21 at 12 p.m. There’s also a form at cfw.org/talkitout to submit solutions for eliminating gender bias.
Talk It Out was launched in 2016 as part of CFW’s 100% Project, an effort to increase women’s economic security and to end gender bias in the metropolitan Chicago area.
Chicago Foundation for Women invests in women and girls as catalysts, building strong communities for all. CFW funds organizations working to solve the biggest problems facing women and girls: economic insecurity, violence, and access to health care and information. In addition to grantmaking, CFW invests in developing women leaders and advocates, and brings together diverse coalitions to collaborate, share resources and develop solutions. To learn more, visit www.cfw.org
Photo courtesy of CFW.