White House Honors Andrea Paluso of Family Forward Oregon as Working Families Champion of Change
Working Families Champions of Change event highlights importance of paid sick days and paid family leave policies
The White House today (April 16, 2015) honored Andrea Paluso, Family Forward Oregon Co-founder and Executive Director as part of its Working Families Champions of Change event. Andrea was recognized for her work to improve the lives of working families in Oregon. Valerie Jarret, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, wrote this great post on the White House blog.
In Andrea’s words:
The true gift of this award is the sign from the highest office that women’s economic security – especially for mothers and women of color who most lack a fair shot at getting ahead – is valued. Thanks to the hard work of our many partners and the city councils of Oregon’s two largest cities – Portland and Eugene, hundreds of thousands of Oregonians can now take a paid sick day to go to the doctor, recover at home from the flu, or care for a sick child. That is what progress looks like. And I believe it’s a sign of things to come. Onward!
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. The event will be live streamed on the White House website. You can watch the President’s remarks at the White House event here. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions. Follow the conversation at #WorkingFamilyChamps.
Oregon’s Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum shared a few words about Andrea and her work:
Our work as lawmakers and representatives of the people has the best results when we get to work with thoughtful partners like Andrea Paluso and Family Forward Oregon, who are working for what’s right based on data, ethics, and a strategic vision for our whole state. Women and working families in Oregon — and across the nation — have been waiting a long time for public policies that are standard in other advanced nations. And I am proud that states, like Oregon, are leading the way. Congratulations, Andrea!
Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, also weighed in:
Our work at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon on behalf of Oregon women’s health and economic security is more powerful with partners like Andrea Paluso and Family Forward Oregon who are successfully moving Oregon forward for women. Andrea’s bold vision, drive, and strategic thinking aren’t the garden variety; she is a dynamic leader and I have no doubt that because of her work Oregon women and the families who depend on them will be better off in short order. In fact, they already are.
In 2013 the Portland City Council unanimously voted for a strong paid sick time policy that has been in effect for over a year, and in the summer of 2014 the City of Eugene, the second largest city in Oregon, passed the strongest paid sick time policy in the nation — because it applied to all employers, regardless of size. These wins come on the heels of President Obama’s call in the State of the Union address for the U.S. to catch up with the 21st century and other world leaders on paid leave. These issues are also being addressed by presidential hopefuls as the 2016 campaigns get underway.
Ellen Bravo, Executive Director of Family Values @ Work:
Andrea Paluso is a true leader in the fight for paid sick days and paid family policies and has taken great strides to move these policies forward in Oregon. We’re proud of Andrea for this well-deserved honor, paving the way for national standards, until no one has to choose between providing and caring for their families.
Read about Andrea’s award in The Oregonian and download our press release here.
Here are President Obama’s remarks at the awards ceremony: