Daily Archives: August 28, 2019

A New Year in Funds and Upcoming Funds Luncheon Dates by Kathleen Asay and Merrie McLaughlin

Kathy Asay

Kathy Asay

It’s time once again to think about AAUW Funds, and my new co-director and I have three items of news for you.

First, while this is now my third term as a co-Funds Director, let me introduce Merrie McLaughlin. Merrie comes to us from the Paradise Branch; in fact, she grew up in Paradise and returned there with her family, joining the new Paradise AAUW in 1982. She went on the hold many positions in the branch including membership, programs and president. Grandchildren lured her and her husband to Sacramento in 2015, and she joined both the Sacramento and CHAR branches. She’s an active member of our movie group. Together we will bring you Funds news and hope to expand your knowledge of AAUW’s remarkable program to improve equity for women and girls.

Many of you donated to Funds with your dues. For some perspective, the following comes from Dianne Owens, AAUW-CA Fund Committee Chair:

Merrie McLaughlin

Merrie McLaughlin

“AAUW is excited to announce 259 awards and $4 million in funding for fellows and grantees in the 2019-2020 award year! This exceptional group of recipients will pursue academic work and lead innovative projects to empower women and girls. For 130 years, AAUW has been a leading source of funding for graduate women, providing more than $115 million in fellowships and grants to more than 13,000 women and non-profit organizations in the United States and around the world.”

And, if that’s not enough, we are delighted to report that the recently completed Sacramento Branch 100th Anniversary Research and Projects grant has its first recipient. She’s Yuby Hernandez, an aspiring filmmaker at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Yuby received a Career Development Grant supported by our grant and four others to make for an adequate award. A native New Yorker of Dominican descent, she is dedicated to creating films that highlight women and immigrants. She has already produced two award-winning short documentaries. She seeks an M.A. in Social Documentary. We wish her much success.

AAUW Fund Luncheons

Dianne Owens, Director, AAUW Fund Committee Chair, aauwfund@aauw-ca.org

FANTASTIC SPEAKERS & DELICIOUS LUNCHES!

There are 30 Fellows and Grant recipients studying in California in 2019-2020. We have an opportunity to meet some of these inspiring women at our AAUW Fund Luncheons. All three October luncheons are from noon to 3:00 PM with the check-in at 11:30 AM.

  • Saturday, October 5, 2019
    RSVP: September 20, 2019
    Basque Cultural Center
    599 Railroad Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080
  • Sunday, October 6, 2019
    RSVP: September 20, 2019
    Crow Canyon Country Club
    711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA 94526
  • Sunday, October 27, 2019
    RSVP: October 11, 2019
    Old Ranch Country Club
    3901 Lampson Ave., Seal Beach, CA 90740

The cost is only $45 per person. Register early online through Eventbrite HERE. Or mail check/credit card information to AAUW CA, 1331 Garden Highway, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95833. I look forward to seeing you in October!

Public Policy Updates on the California State Budget by Amy Rose

Greetings and happy summer from Amy Rose, your newly appointed Director of Public Policy. I come to you with several years of public policy research and analysis experience and a passion for increasing the economic well-being of women across the state. I look forward to working with you all and keeping you up to date on public policy happenings around the state.

In June, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $215 billion state budget that included significant investments vital to women’s economic prosperity, including extending paid family leave, continuing to expand health coverage, boosting investments in the K-12 and state higher education systems, and funding for housing affordability. Key highlights include:

  • The California Paid Family Leave (PFL) program allows caregivers to take up to six weeks of paid time off to care for a family member or bond with a newborn. Birth mothers are generally allowed another six weeks to recover from birth, for a total of 12 weeks. The 2019-20 budget agreement extends the duration of the PFL program from six weeks to eight weeks, effective July 1, 2020.
  • Extends, from 60 days to one year, the duration of Medi-Cal eligibility for postpartum care for women who are diagnosed with a mental health condition. A maternal mental health condition occurs during pregnancy or after giving birth and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.
  • Increases Cal Grant awards for students with dependent children. The budget allocates $96.7 million to provide up to $6,000 for UC, CSU, and community college students with dependent children.

 

This month state legislators will return from their summer break, and I will be providing updates on legislative bills and proposals as they move through the policy process.