MEDB’s Women in Technology receives top geospatial technology award

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SAN DIEGO, CA. – Women in Technology (WIT), a statewide initiative of the Maui Economic Development Board, received a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego, California on July 10, 2013. Each year, the international SAG award acknowledges vision, leadership, hard work and innovative use of Esri’s GIS technology.

“The SAG Awards identify the organizations and people that are using the power of geography to improve our world and drive change,” says Esri president Jack Dangermond. “They deserve recognition for both solving their communities’ greatest challenges and for their invaluable contributions to the continued evolution of geographic science.”

Chosen from thousands of organizations worldwide, WIT — a leading STEM advocate in Hawaii — was recognized for successfully pioneering GIS initiatives across the islands.  Partnering with Esri and the Hawaii DOE, WIT created GeoTech for Hawaii Schools, a statewide program to integrate the use of geospatial technology into local K-12 schools.

The program encourages hands-on learning and real-world application of the latest geographic information systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and remote-sensing technologies.

WIT also launched and presently manages the Hawaii K-12 GIS Distribution Center that provides free GIS software and training to all K-12 public, private, and charter school teachers and students.

According to Isla Young, WIT Director of K12 STEM education, over 215 Hawaii schools now receive valuable geospatial technology training and software from the GeoTech program.

“Our strategy of introducing and utilizing advanced technologies like GIS in the classroom will definitely help strengthen Hawaii’s education to workforce pipeline,” Young said.  “Bottom line?  A skilled homegrown workforce and more high-paying jobs for our local people.”

Job Growth Remains Steady for Both Women and Men

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Washington, DC– IWPR’s analysis of the July employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that job growth for both women and men continued to improve in June compared to the previous month. Of the 195,000 total jobs added to nonfarm payrolls, women gained 113,000 jobs (58 percent) while men gained 82,000 jobs (42 percent).

Women’s employment growth in June was aided by growth in Leisure and hospitality (44,000 jobs added for women), Professional and business services (32,000 jobs added for women), Retail trade (22,100 jobs added for women), and Education and health services (18,000 jobs added for women).

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As of June, women have regained 92 percent (2.5 million) of the total jobs they lost in the recession from December 2007 to the trough for women’s employment in September 2010 (2.7 million). Men have regained over 68 percent (4.1 million) of the jobs they lost between December 2007 and the trough for men’s employment in February 2010 (6 million). In the year from June 2012 to June 2013, of the 2.3 million jobs added to payrolls, half went to women and half went to men: 1.2 million or 50.2 percent were filled by women, and 1.1 million or 49.8 percent were filled by men. The gap between women’s and men’s employment is 1.7 million jobs in June, which is half of the gap that existed at the start of the recession (3.4 million jobs in December 2007).

According to the household survey data reported by the BLS, while the overall unemployment rate remained steady at 7.6 percent, the unemployment rate for women aged 16 and older increased slightly to 7.3 percent in June from 7.1 percent in May. The unemployment rate for men aged 16 and older dropped slightly from 7.9 percent in May to 7.8 percent in June. The unemployment rate for single mothers rose to 10.7 percent in June. As of June, 11.8 million workers remain unemployed.

There has been improvement over the past year in the average (mean) number of weeks spent unemployed and looking for work from 39.7 weeks in June 2012 to 35.6 weeks in June 2013. (The median number of weeks declined from 19.4 weeks in June 2012 to 16.3 weeks in June 2013.) While the number of long-term unemployed has remained the same (about 4.3 million), the number of those employed part-time for economic reasons has increased by 322,000 since May 2013 to 8.2 million.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies. The Institute works with policymakers, scholars, and public interest groups to design, execute, and disseminate research that illuminates economic and social policy issues affecting women and their families, and to build a network of individuals and organizations that conduct and use women-oriented policy research. IWPR’s work is supported by foundation grants, government grants and contracts, donations from individuals, and contributions from organizations and corporations. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that also works in affiliation with the women’s studies and public policy and public administration programs at The George Washington University.

Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership (MCBL) Training & Events Open to All

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The mission of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership at the YWCA of O’ahu (MCBL) is to promote the economic and leadership advancement of women entrepreneurs and women at all levels and stages in their careers.

MCBL welcomes you to workshops and events with our partners and subject matter experts who are dedicated professionals, speakers, trainers and coaches. We invite you to network, lead, and succeed with our community of women business owners and leaders.

Please visit www.mcbl-hawaii.org for upcoming events, workshops, networking opportunities, and more!

R.E.A.C.H Out to Raise Funding for Middle School After-School Programs

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Honolulu, HI – The Honolulu Professionals Foundation (HPF) is coordinating a fundraiser for Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui’s R.E.A.C.H. initiative on Sunday, June 30, 2013, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Pagoda Restaurant.  The event includes outstanding musical acts Hoʻaikane, Anuhea, Weldon Kekauoha, Micah G, MânoaDNA, Jon Yamasato, Funkshun, RKSB, and Kama Kakaio. The nearly 2,000-person event will feature a variety of food and alcohol vendors.

R.E.A.C.H.’s (Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health) mission is to keep middle school students on the right path to graduation by engaging them in a broad base of programs and activities outside of regular instructional hours.  R.E.A.C.H., an after-school program, will include areas of academic enrichment, arts and culture, and athletics. Through these programs, students will be better prepared for high school, college, the workforce, and beyond.

“Middle and Intermediate school students have been left out of organized after-school programs for a long time.  R.E.A.C.H. has been created to fill that void by enriching our children’s lives in a supervised safe, educational and fun environment.  I hope everyone comes to support this worthy program,” said Lt. Governor Tsutsui.

The State has long focused on providing after-school programs to elementary and high school students, but programs for middle/intermediate school students have been sporadic and decentralized.  Studies have shown that effective after-school programs provide not only an educational benefit to students, but also a social value to the community by reducing juvenile crime.

“Our organization believes in the mission of R.E.A.C.H. and its intent to engage students in activities that will keep them on track to a successful future.  We wanted to support an initiative that is aimed at shaping the lives of Hawaii’s children in a positive environment,” said HPF President Ross Shinyama.

Tickets are $75 prior to June 20 ($90 after).  Go to REACHOUTHAWAII.org for more information.

Excite Camp

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4-Day Summer Event
June 25-28
Tuesday thru Friday
Maui Research & Technology Park

  • Learn about Astronomy, Space, and Science from a Hawaiian Cultural perspective

  • Investigate and analyze Hawaiian culture past & present

  • Explore a future career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, & math)

  • Engage in fun exciting hands-on engineering activities

  • Tour one of the DOD telescopes and see the stars from Haleakala

Application due: June 14, 2013

Click here to download application

SPACE IS LIMITED!

  • Participant selection is NOT based on a first come first serve basis

  • Must be entering 7th or 8th grade in

  • Fall 2013 & able to attend all 4 days to participate.

  • For more information, please visit www.womenintech.com or contact Mapu at mapu@medb.org

50th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act

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June 10, 2013, marks 50 years since President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act.  According to research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), pay parity is not expected to be achieved until 2057, 45 years from now, if the rate of progress since 1960 continues.

IWPR President Dr. Heidi Hartmann has issued a statement on this significant anniversary, available at the link below:

https://iwpr.org/statement-from-iwpr-president-dr-heidi-hartmann-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-equal-pay-act/