(Canton, OH) October 16, 2018 – October 5, 130+ middle school academy school girls attended the first Girl UP event of the school season. United Way of Greater Stark County’s Women United, Canton City Schools, Beaver Excavating and TimkenSteel partnered together to introduce the girls to the non-traditional careers available to women. The girls met female professionals working in the industry and participated in hands-on activities at stations representative of the work done in that career like welding, engineering and building trades. The stations aligned with programs available to the girls in high school through the district’s Career Tech Department.
Women United, in partnership with the Career Technical Education department, spearheads Girl UP and assists with activity coordination and securing volunteers and professional contacts. There will be five events this season for the young ladies that are involved in the program.
According to the United States Department of Labor, women make up 47% of the workforce and more than 75% of single mothers are the sole provider for their family. This statistic helps put into perspective the need for educational attainment, higher earnings, greater occupational diversity and a larger presence in leadership positions and entrepreneurial fields.
A nontraditional occupation (NTO) for women is one in which jobs have been traditionally filled by men, and women comprise 25 percent or less of total employment. NTOs span all major occupational groups and provide many employment options for women, with many careers offering higher entry-level wages and a career ladder with pay between $20 and $30 per hour. Some examples of NTOs for women include cement masons, oil, gas, mining, crane operator, roofers, heavy vehicle technicians, brick mason, heating and refrigeration mechanics and installers, farmers, press machine setter, metal worker, engineer, and detective.
“A. Morris Consulting conducted a study that revealed that women in nontraditional jobs typically earn 20%-30% more than if they worked in a traditional job field. Over a lifetime, this income translates to 150% more than a traditional occupation.” United Way of Greater Stark County’s Vice President of Resource Development, Angela Perisic says, “It is our responsibility to give our youth the opportunity to participate in exploratory programs that are in an environment free from stereotypes and help shed light on the nontraditional careers available to them locally. This awareness may lead to a career which increases their financial stability in the community and helps them better balance work and life.”
Women United seeks to lift women out of poverty by giving them the opportunity to achieve greater job advancement and economic stability. They achieve this goal by committing to advocacy trainings, initiating the Girl UP program and rewarding local companies with Family-Friendly Workplace Awards.
October is Family-Friendly Workplace Month and Women United, in partnership with the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Stark Economic Development Board, celebrated with the Family-Family Workplace Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, October 10th at Kent State University at Stark Conference Center. More than 100 people attended and Women United presented three awards to Stark County companies currently implementing family-friendly workplace policies. Employers Health, Schauer Group, Inc, and TimkenSteel were honored with leading the way for their best practices of implementing policies that make it easier to balance family and work. Learn more about their practices at uwstark.org/family-friendly-workplace-award-winners-2018/
About Women United
In each community they serve, Women United tackles the issues that matter most to the people who call it home. They are a community of like-minded women who contribute their personal passions, inspired ideas, and unique strengths to the mission of building stronger communities. There create opportunities to network and collaborate with key business and community leaders at exclusive events. Learn more about the key issues impacting our community, advocate at the local and state level and become part of meaningful, global progress with Women United. Advocate for key community issues at the local and state level. More information is available at uwstark.org/get-involved/donor-networks/women-united
About United Way of Greater Stark County
United Way of Greater Stark County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We win by living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. By mobilizing the best resources. And by inspiring individuals to join the fight against their community’s most daunting social crisis. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities in Greater Stark County. In order to live better, we must live United. For more information about United Way of Greater Stark County visit www.uwstark.org. Offices are at 401 Market Avenue North, Suite 300, Canton, Ohio 44702. (330) 491-0445.