When Women Lead: Reflections from Groundwork Ohio’s Women’s Coalition Kick-off Breakfast
- Groundwork Ohio
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Vanessa Butler, Senior Director of Community Relations & Special Projects
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On May 8, 2025, Groundwork Ohio gathered with an extraordinary group of women leaders, advocates, and community champions for the first time in its organizational history. A long-held vision by leadership, the Women’s Coalition kick-off was more than an event – it was a call to action, a celebration of collective strength, and moment to acknowledge the long road of work ahead of us.
We were honored to be joined by a dynamic group of panelists and speakers:
Councilwoman Vanice Williams, Toledo City Council
Commissioner Julie Ehemann, Shelby County Board of Commissioners
Liz Keating, Vice President of Government Affairs, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Kimberly Lee Minor, President & CEO, Women of Color Retail Alliance
Elizabeth Brown, President & CEO, YWCA Columbus
Each woman brought her own unique perspective, representing public service, business leadership, retail, and community advocacy. And, one truth was undeniable – economic mobility for all women cannot be achieved without addressing the child care crisis at a systems-level.
The Economic Realities for Women in Ohio
Today, female-headed households are more than three times as likely as all Ohio households to live in poverty. Having children in the household increases the likelihood of living in poverty by four-fold. We also know that 61% of mothers working part-time would return to work full-time if they had access to quality, affordable child care. These realities, among so many more, are sobering. But, we must not lose hope.
This isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s an economic issue. It’s a workforce issue. And as our speakers called out - it’s a community and humanity issue.
Key Insights
Councilwoman Vanice Williams reminded us of the human side of policy. Reflecting on her faith-led convictions into her lived experiences as a small business owner and public servant, she sees firsthand how lack of child care access disrupts families and the local Toledo community. Her call for holistic, community-rooted solutions resonated for all in attendance.
Commissioner Julie Ehemann highlighted the unique challenges rural counties face. She spoke candidly about the hardships she witnessed as a retail pharmacist and the necessity of county-level leadership in driving tangible change, particularly where child care deserts exist.
From the business sector, Liz Keating shared a data-driven perspective on how workforce participation is directly shared a data-driven perspective on how workforce participation is directly tied to child care availability. Her focus was clear: investments in child care are investments in Ohio’s economy.
Kimberly Lee Minor brought such a rich and invaluable intersectional lens, calling attention to the woefully low wages earned by women working in retail, and emphasizing how women of color are disproportionately impacted by these barriers. Her challenge to us was to ensure that every woman be treated as a whole person, instead of implementing policies in silos.
Elizabeth Brown powerfully connected the dots between women’s economic stability and public health, safety, and overall community well-being. As she noted, when we support women and support policies such as a refundable child tax credit, entire communities thrive.
What’s Next for the Women’s Coalition
The Kick-off Breakfast is only the beginning. We are building a movement of women across Ohio committed to advancing policies that uplift families, create economic opportunities, and remove barriers to success.
Our coalition continues to grow, and so does our impact. From ongoing advocacy efforts to amplifying lived experiences, the Women’s Coalition is a space where women’s voices shape real policy change.
If you haven’t yet, I invite you to join nearly 650 women, advocates, and 15 women-serving organizations and sign our Women’s Coalition Sign-On Letter. This letter urges members of the Ohio Legislature to prioritize support of the child care and Child Tax Credit investments in Governor DeWine’s Executive Budget Proposal.
Please also consider joining our Women’s Coalition quarterly calls.
👉 REGISTER NOW for June 20 | 1:00 pm
👉 REGISTER NOW for September 19 | 1:00 pm
👉 REGISTER NOW for December 12 | 1:00 pm
Together, we can create an Ohio where every woman and every family has the opportunity to thrive.
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