On April 23th the Empowering Women Club took a field trip to the Roosevelt Institute in New York City to learn about the economy and opportunities for minorities.
On the trip students were able to learn how to recognize a problem in their personal community that required assistance and through activities, develop a plan to solve it.
“The Roosevelt Institute is part of an economic policy think tank that looks at laws and rules and how they favor certain groups,” said Rakeen Mabud, fellow at the Roosevelt Institute
The Roosevelt Institute is very hands on and even conducts chapters on college campuses. In these chapters, students identify problems on their campus, such as workers being paid unfairly. Through the help of the Institute they get assistance from Roosevelt staff with problems that face their campus.
The Institute also values Roosevelt’s belief system and bases many of their decisions on Roosevelt’s New Deal. The institute recognizes how unions have been attacked in the past and undertakes social projects much like FDR to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for everyday citizens.
The Roosevelt Institute honors Franklin and Eleanor and strives to carry on their legacy by looking at power dynamics within the workforce. Employees also examine personal economic incentive and how the economy influences social roles in society.
Empowering Women Club Founder, junior Arushi Parkeh, founded the club because she realized there was a lack of awareness surrounding female inequality in the workforce.
After the Field Trip, Parekh said, “The field trip only strengthened my belief of the extent of oppression and inequalities faced by women, especially women of color. The statistics shared in the presentation showed how dire the situation surrounding the treatment of women in the workforce actually was.”
Junior Callie Crespo, a club participant, said, “The trip was very inspiring and encouraged me to think about the role of women in the workforce.”
