ODWLC hosts virtual Women's Lobby Day to empower, engage constituents

COLUMBUS—Today, the Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus (ODWLC) hosted their virtual Women’s Lobby Day. The virtual event gathered participants from across the state to discuss policy solutions to the challenges Ohio women and families face.

This year’s theme was Women Still Rising. The annual event featured guest speakers, policy briefings from women legislators and video messages from elected officials. The group focused its efforts on equal pay, paid family leave, access to comprehensive healthcare and affordable childcare, infant mortality and commonsense gun safety. 

“Women in Ohio continue to rise above the challenges they face each and every day, despite a state legislature that frequently creates obstacles that make it harder for women to succeed in Ohio,” said ODWLC chair Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo). “Women’s Lobby Day acknowledges the reality of the challenges women still face, while focusing our collective efforts on how we can best champion important issues to make Ohio a more welcoming place for women.”

The event follows a year in which the pandemic has amplified existing gender inequalities, causing COVID-19 to have a disproportionate impact on women. Between February 2020 and January 2021, 2.5 million women left the workforce.  Female dominated industries like hospitality have struggled during the pandemic, forcing many women out of work, and others have quit due to a lack of child care options or workplace flexibility.

The mission of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus is to develop and pass policies and legislation that improve the lives of Ohio women and their families; to identify and support emerging women leaders by serving as mentors; to educate and empower women and increase women's involvement in public life and in the Ohio General Assembly.