The inaugural 14-week program, completed in early February, provided women transitioning out of the military, tools and resources to manage and grow their small businesses in government contracting.

Training modules and small group discussions were hosted by successful women mentors from the government and commercial sector. The initiative works to bridge the gap between economic disparities by providing disadvantaged populations equal access to contracts

President of WJM Professional Services LLC Veronica Lane, was one of 20 women Veterans who participated in the sessions.

“I am grateful for completing this program and the opportunity to meet with motivated women Veterans,” said Lane. “My goals were to ramp up and receive four contract awards and apply for an increased line of credit from my business banker — and I was able to accomplish both!”

VA Chief of Staff Tanya Bradsher attended the ceremony. “The graduation marks a step toward fulfilling President Biden’s Executive Order  Advancing Racial Equity in Underserved Communities,” Bradsher said. “What better way to answer the call than a program that brings results for our women Veterans, who in turn can use these tools to become successful business contractors, bringing opportunities back to those in their communities.”

The EO aims to identify and remove barriers in the federal government that impact the ability of individuals within underserved socioeconomic categories to seek viable economic opportunities.

According to the Small Business Administration, only 15% out of 2.5 million Veteran-owned business are owned by women Veterans. The Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative, part of VA’s  Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization,  is focused on using VetBizLadyStart to increase awareness of opportunities for women-owned small businesses to increase these numbers.

VetBizLadyStart is a federally funded program and collaborates with the Women’s Business Centers of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Entrepreneurship programs are offered through each organization to assist women in preparing for procurement.

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Despite a full-time job, a mother of three named Janet has been responsible for all the pandemic parenting, helping her remote-schooling kids and watching a toddler all while working at home as a grant administrator.

Even on the days her husband pitched in, “it was total chaos,” with his impatience and frustration making things worse, said Prof. Jessica Calarco, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University Bloomington who shared the experiences of Janet and other research study participants during the Center for Health Journalism’s recent “Covering Coronavirus: Women in Crisis” webinar.

Amid the stressors, Janet started drinking more heavily, gained 40 pounds and sunk into a deep depression. She lost her patience and yelled at her kids more, according to Calarco.

Her story is not unusual as women throughout the country disproportionately shoulder the burden of child care and remote schooling while working at home. At the same time, the pandemic has forced many women to leave the labor force in unprecedented numbers.

“Like Janet, many mothers have found themselves as the only parent in the household who is able to work from home, which has left them as the only one available to manage the added parenting responsibility when schools and childcares closed,” said Calarco. “That’s taking a significant toll on mothers’ well-being.”

Calarco joined C. Nicole Mason, president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and Maria Aspan, senior writer at Fortune, to discuss why these trends, the long-term consequences and how reporters can cover this crisis.  

Mothers doing more

Before the pandemic, Calcarco and her team surveyed 250 Indiana moms to better understand the gaps between the expectations and reality of motherhood. When the pandemic began, the team expanded their research pool to explore its tremendous impact on mothers.

They found mothers, on average, were doing a disproportionate share of the pandemic parenting even when they were also working for pay. Many experienced worsening mental health outcomes as they stayed up to midnight or awoke at dawn to complete work. They were more tired than before, had less energy and many participants reported increased anxiety and depression.

Researchers wanted to understand why so many mothers were taking on more parenting responsibilities — at the expense of their careers and well-being — even when fathers were also working from home. Calarco’s team believes it’s deeply related to the “gendered structures of paid work,” such as pay inequality and entrenched policies that have pushed women to lower paid or part-time work.

During the pandemic, these preexisting inequalities became more apparent. For example, often the father was a higher earner, so protecting his job became the family’s priority, leaving mom to pick up the added burden. 

Will policymakers respond?

Early last year, women’s policy expert Mason and her colleagues were celebrating an important milestone: Women made up 50% of the U.S. workforce.

“Just about two months later, when the pandemic hit, we saw all of the economic cleavages that were underneath those gains laid bare for us,” she said.

Stay-at-home orders devasted the service and leisure industries, which disproportionately employ women. Meanwhile, school closures forced women to make tough choices about their jobs and caretaking responsibilities. Women of color were especially impacted.

Future policy solutions need to focus on those most impacted by the pandemic: women, women of color and low-wage workers, Mason said. The women her organization surveyed said their most pressing needs were economic relief and health care measures – like access to affordable health insurance and paid sick leave. Advocates are also focusing on more long-term policy changes such as fixing a broken child care system and boosting the minimum wage.

Mason suggested that journalists explore how private employers are developing flexible workplace policies — or not. Journalists should also track what happens when women’s lost jobs aren’t restored, or when some women enter new fields altogether.  

Other important questions Mason flagged: Who are the experts developing these policies? What’s the resistance to creating new policies? What will the new normal look like for women post-pandemic?

Exploring story ideas

The story of women leaving the labor force over the past year is incredibly complex, said journalist Maria Aspan, who has been covering the topic for Fortune.

“There’s not only one cause, which is part of what makes it such a rich and urgent story for journalists of all backgrounds and all beats to cover,” she said.

One way to approach the story is through policy angle, looking into how President Biden’s COVID-19 relief package would address the crisis and what it has abandoned — such as an increase in federal minimum wage.

There’s also the question of workplace safety: When will vaccinations allow women to safely return to work, especially in service jobs? And, there’s the business lens: What are big and small employers doing to address topics such as child care support, paid leave, and more flexible hours?

Another interesting topic is the role of child care centers, which not only help women with care needs but also employ women – and have been extraordinarily hard hit during the pandemic. The pending federal relief plan includes funding to prop up those centers.

Through her reporting, Aspan has interviewed many business executives who acknowledge the struggles their female employees face and show “a genuine desire to work on this.”

Mason, the policy expert, said the pandemic could spur deeper reform in the public sectors as well, creating the momentum for big changes such as universal affordable government subsidized childcare.

“This is the moment for us to really push, and go big and be innovative,” she said.

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They are recognized for guiding, mentoring and driving their industry through impactful leadership.

These women are integral to the successes in all facets of the many programs and operations benefitting the health and wellbeing of America’s Veterans.

They have been and will continue to be a force in effectively communicating and implementing VA’s mission while at the helm in their positions.

“VA supports women and women Veterans serving at all levels in the department,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke. “Women employees at VA are positively impacting the care and services Veterans receive each day in such areas as benefits, customer experience, health, innovation, technology and small business.”

Under the leadership of women at VA these are among some of the notable achievements that have been realized:

Benefits – The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) gives Veterans choice, clarity and control of their appeals and claims. The AMA is the first major reform to the VA appeals system in at least three decades.

Recognizing a gap in service regarding Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) hearings, the Board’s collaboration across the enterprise leveraged existing technologies to create virtual tele-hearings. This led to President Trump signing the Virtual Tele-Hearing Modernization Act — making virtual tele-hearings a permanent option for Veterans.

Customer Service – The Veterans Experience Office (VEO) understands the journey of Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors, and VEO staff recognizes the specialized needs and experiences of these customers when they interact with VA in person, by phone or online. VEO has the ability to translate those insights into tangible tools and products to empower employees at all levels to deliver the best customer experiences possible.

Health – The MISSION Act is a permanent program allowing Veterans to get their health care in the community. Women VA leaders played a prominent role ensuring best practices were shared on how VA had to adjust to implement the new law. They created training protocols to make sure VA staff were ready to help deliver this new health benefit to Veterans.

The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) highlights suicide prevention training with specific sessions on PTSD and how-to tailor decisions for a Veteran or family member who may be grieving. A main program developed under PREVENTS is the REACH campaign which strives to reduce Veteran suicide.

Innovation – Innovations in 3D printing across VA have led to advancements in surgery, prosthetics and the treatment of chronic illnesses. 3D printing enables VA’s medical providers to customize and tailor solutions specifically meeting individual patient needs, putting the Veteran at the center of their treatment plan. VA is the first integrated health care system in the country to establish a national 3D Printing network allowing its health care staff to share ideas, resources and best practices to deliver quality care to patients throughout its enterprise. In March, VA activated its 3D printing network to test 3D designs of medical equipment used by the nation’s health care providers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Messaging – VA’s national media relations team ensures the focus of all messaging clearly reflects how the department’s programs and operations benefit and definitively impact the lives of the Veterans it serves. When preparing items for publication as news releases, internal and external stories, event campaigns, communications plans and opinion-editorials — the team ensures they are Veteran centric — aligned with the core of the department’s motto. 

Technology – VA’s information technology and digital modernization project has resulted in successful service-delivery to 12 million Veterans and family members who depend on VA for health care and benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic — timely, clear, strategic communication and providing additional equipment to those serving Veterans, their families and their caregivers — has resulted in the seamless transition of more than 300,000 VA workers and contractors to remote telework status so they can continue working on behalf of Veterans regardless of location.

The creation of a Cyber Training Academy keeps VA employees apprised of the latest technology for protecting Veterans’ private and sensitive information.

VA telehealth technologies make it easier for Veterans to connect with their VA care team. VA Telehealth Services is transforming how Veterans access care, whether from their home, a clinic or the hospital — enabling them to access care when and where they need it.

Strategic partnering with the Department of Defense on the enterprise-wide adoption of the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support application and the Defense Logistics Agency’s Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program is modernizing VA’s supply chain and enables the department’s contracting and logistician workforce to acquire products for the clinicians who care for Veterans’ health and well-being.

VA’s enterprise integration has been instrumental in developing the electronic health record modernization, along with financial management and business transformation.

Small Business – To improve Women-Owned Small Businesses participation and procurement opportunities, the Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiatives, a new program and first of its kind in the federal government was established in support of women Veteran entrepreneurs in the federal and commercial marketplace. The initiative enables access to economic and procurement learning opportunities, offers chances to increase business sustainability and hosts events throughout the year preparing women Veteran business owners to become procurement ready.

Women Veterans – The Center for Women Veterans has successfully built upon its partnerships particularly the creation of #BringWomenVeteransHome2VA aimed at reaching the most remote women Veterans. It has helped them learn about and connect with VA services such as Telehealth, the Women Veterans Call Center and Veterans Crisis Hotline, and how to enroll in VA to get assistance on Military Sexual Trauma care.

As VA works to improve the care and services for all Veterans, the VA women receiving the 2020 G2Xchange Leading for Impact, Women in Leadership Award highlights the importance of their leading the way in the workplace and demonstrating what women, VA women and women Veterans can and do bring to the work arena.

To see the entire list of winners click here.

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When I was a child and for a long time thereafter, it was always, “Wait till your father gets home.” That was usually a sign of some punishment mothers were shoving off on the falters. Over the years, that practice has declined. With the banishment of corporal punishment boys, especially have no longer seen their fathers as the guy with the belt.

When women began to be a big part of the workforce during and after World War II, more responsibility for child-rearing moved over to the fathers. Slow at first, but gradually increased.

It was not until the ten or fifteen years that I became aware of the shift. It dawned on me when I began to notice more and more men bringing their small children with them to the grocery store, but more so in the coffee shops, I hound in the mornings.

It was osmosis that had to happen with mothers busy at jobs, which often brought higher wages than their spouses. So more and more fathers have become more homebodies than ever before. Apparently, they have accepted the shift with more ease than fathers of previous times, some of whom would almost die at the idea of becoming what was always considered to be a mother’s role in their lives. I can well recall when the hand rocking the cradle was always the mother who took care of the moral and religious aspects of child-rearing.

Something took place in the family that was an astonishment, whether we liked it or not. Whoever heard of a house husband until the women’s rights movement moved into high gear, to some, it was a bitter change. To others, it was a welcome change, especially by mothers who more than appreciated their husbands sharing the everyday duties of child-raising. One noticeable change is that more and more fathers are beginning to show up at PTA meetings than ever before.

One study cites the changes thusly: Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved falters – especially biological fathers – bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. They provide protection and economic support and male role models. They have a parenting style that is significantly different from that of a mother and that difference is important in healthy child development. – David Popenoe (NY Free Press 1996)

It is said that fathers encourage competition, engendering. Mothers promote equity, creating a sense of security. Dads emphasize conceptual communication. Moms major in sympathy, care and help, all of which emphasize the importance of relationships.

One either agrees or disagrees with these concepts. Still, most of the theorists on the subject believe it is a beautiful attitude that enhances a child’s chances of growing into more solid adulthood. Most mothers I’ve spoken to about the subject have the attitude of “it’s about time.” and see, there you have it. Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

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“Peddlers Bazaar,” showcasing local small businesses

The rooms of Hemet’s Center for Spiritual Living were at full capacity this Saturday for the Peddlers Bazaar, a monthly event hosted by the Inspired Women Business Alliance (IWBA), a non-profit organization that supports women in business and the community.

The free event was an opportune time for women with small businesses to set up shop and offer their products to the Hemet/San Jacinto community; network with one another, and offer an eclectic variety of goods and services.

“Our goal is to strengthen women in business; to strengthen our families and our community,” says president of IWBA, Miranda Owens, who expressed her joy in witnessing the non-profit growth since its establishment in 2016. The program offers a range of services to help women succeed; there are business, computer and craft classes and extensive outreach efforts to lower income women. Success is in the numbers as Owens explains, “our first event, we had 15 vendors, and now we are upwards of 35.”

Many locals were inspired by the talent-laced ideas these biz savvy women brought to the tables. A local who simply goes by Connie, wove her creativity into her small business, Roses by Connie, and sells beautifully fashioned flowers . . . flowers fashioned from plain, mundane coffee filters into colorfully detailed works of art.

Some, like Debbie Mummert, took a sweeter approach to their start-up.  Mummert, owner and pastry chef of “Hers truly, Debs Delicate Pastries” handed out bite size samples of to-die-for toffee, chocolate treats, cinnamon buns and other delectable goods to satisfy the everyone’s sweet tooth.

Dr. Jeanne Hounshell, a local life coach and author of “This Precious Love,” offered her services in helping others. Potential customers were invited to attend seminars where the doctor applies her knowledge of spiritual healing therapies, to live their most healthy, vibrant life possible.

The Peddlers Bazaar will continue on the third Saturday of each month at the Center for Spiritual Living: 40450 E. Stetson Ave. in Hemet.

For more information on the Inspired Women Business Alliance and upcoming events, visit www.inspiredwomenbusinessalliance.org

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