Throughout history and worldwide, countless women have championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), making significant contributions to creating a more just and equitable society. In closing out the 2024 celebration of National Women’s History Month, which honors women who advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, meet the following individuals of Federally Employed Women (FEW) who promote DEIA every day. They are: Lauren Golubski, M.Ed., FEW Vice President for Diversity and Special Assistant to the President for People with Disabilities Lisa Keakalaulono Zimmerman ..read more

President’s Message This is FEW: Women Who Advocate For Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion! “We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” (William Shakespeare) “We are the champions, my friends…” (Queen) If you are familiar with the 2024 theme for National Women’s History Month, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”, you’ll understand why FEW and its efforts belong at center stage. Since 1968, FEW has been instrumental in moving the needle toward equity for women and marginalized groups in federal work. Our tagline, “working for the advancement of women in the government” only ..read more

“Like Independence Day, Presidents’ Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance.” (History: A & E Television Network) As we celebrate the Presidents of the United States of America, FEW also applauds the leader in each of you. You operate with integrity and excellence, considering not just yourselves but your broader community. You curiously try new things and do not allow yourself to become discouraged when you fail. You have a vision for your future and are creating plans to accomplish them. Take some time to learn about the Presidents in our histo ..read more

Self-love plays a significant role in career growth, acting as a powerful engine fueling your professional journey. A self-love mindset empowers you to navigate career growth challenges with confidence, resilience and a focus on well-being—which can lead to tremendous career success and fulfillment. In celebration of International Day of Self-Love, Victoria Icenhower, a self-love scientist, women’s empowerment coach and nationwide speaker, explores how a lack of self-love can stunt your career growth and how to overcome self-love challenges to foster personal career growth. Role of Self ..read more

Every year, changes to federal and retirement benefits impact federally employed women. Examples can include Social Security amounts and cost of living (COLA) rates, to name a few. In 2024, there are specific modifications that present unique opportunities and challenges for women working for the government. Staying informed on these changes is crucial to making informed decisions, protecting your financial well-being, navigating your career and contributing to the government workforce. Nicole Sherwood at United Benefits provides pertinent information you need to know about federal and retirem ..read more

When I attended my second FEW National Training Program (NTP) during the summer of 2023, I did not anticipate connecting with a community of professional women who would be genuinely interested in uplifting me as I sought to further my career. I have enjoyed several conferences in the past hosted by various organizations, however I never felt impacted by my attendance. I typically walked away with great refreshers of information that were not new to me, or best practices that did not necessarily fit my organization’s way of doing business. As the Acting Senior Advisor of Recruitment and outre ..read more

Dear FEW Members, “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde Federally Employed Women: May our actions and words honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and every day. Happy Birthday, Dr. King! Ways to promote equity and peace In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Learn more about the history of non-violence. Join a conflict resolution or mediation program. Host a book club or discussion group in honor of Dr. King. Participate in a community outreach service project. Attend a poetry, music, art, or per ..read more

With the upcoming surge of potential Senior Executive Service (SES) retirements, qualified federal employees will likely have more opportunities to advance to the SES. Recent statistics show that 62% of the senior executives on board in 2020 will be eligible to retire by 2025 and 79.8% by the end of fiscal 2030. To make the SES more accessible to a broader selection of candidates, the federal government has implemented several initiatives, including SES Candidate Development Programs (CDP) and other development and mentorship programs. These initiatives can be inspiring for employees who ..read more

(FEW offices will reopen tomorrow, January 3, 2023) Unleash Your Full Potential in 2024! We resolve in 2024 to embrace our personal and professional best. We will UNLEASH our full potential by participating in life-giving and life-enhancing activities—whether we choose to volunteer in the community, create space for self-care, nominate ourselves for leadership roles, sign-up career development opportunities (such as the FEW Mentoring Program), register and attend the 55th National Training Program in Chicago, tune-into a FEW webinar or podcast, or care for fa ..read more

(FEW offices are closed until January 3, 2024) The post From our FAMILY to yours… Happy Holidays!!! appeared first on Federally Employed Women ..read more