By Safiya Simmons This week, I joined my colleagues in our first virtual lobby days. It was intense for me, a lobbying rookie, but it was also fun and informative. Our team of 24 was broken down into small groups. Each small group held virtual visits with 2–3 different members…

By: Rachel Mannino My six year old son was in pain, bent over, clutching his stomach and crying. He’d been sent home from school with a fever. Like any momma who has been faced with this situation, I acted quickly. I poured out the last few drops of Motrin we…

Lessons from a first-time candidate — About the writer: Tony Iovieno serves as the new Individual Giving Manager for Family Values @ Work. He ran for elected office for the first time in 2022 within his adopted hometown of Battle Creek, MI. American by birth, Tony grew up in Europe — returning to the USA for…

For many states, this election was a referendum on a woman’s right to choose. Whether abortion access was on the ballot explicitly, or indirectly through the candidates, many voters had to make a decision: should women have access to the life-saving service, or should that decision be left up to…

Caregivers are exhausted, fed up, and angry. But all of us, everyone, should be frustrated by the nationwide failure to support caregivers. “Caregiver” is the fastest-growing workplace identity, but employers and the US government still don’t support us. The limited supports we do have are tenuous and are made of…

by MaKeda Scott Family Values @ Work and our state partners are happy to celebrate National Family Day today. Family is not always who you’re born to, but those you choose to share your life with; our children, partners and friends. Families take many forms, including blended families, single-parent families…

by Staci Lowry No recognition, awards, or accolades exist for those who birth a child. In the United States, most mothers would probably agree that they hope to have a safe and trauma-free pregnancy, birth, and healthy baby. Unfortunately, it is not often the case for many black women like…

By Josephine Kalipeni I haven’t set a great example for my team. Nine months into becoming the executive director of, but almost two years with, Family Values at Work, I’m just now taking a vacation where my fullest intentions are to unplug. Despite my own personal commitments, I work 6.8…

By Josie Kalipeni On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies that would become the first states declared independence from Great Britain. Members of the Continental Congress accepted and signed a document outlining the colonies’ grievances with the crown. The distant, out-of-touch monarchy, who taxed but hardly executed the best interests…