VCW launched a series of podcast conversations in 2021, continuing our decades-long practice of drawing Vermonter’s attention to the gender wage gap by marking Equal Pay Day.
Our plans expanded beyond exclusively highlighting “all women’s” Equal Pay Day and we focused on multiple widely recognized Equal Pay Days throughout the year.
Our (Un)Equal Pay Day podcast series examined the ways sexism, racism, homophobia, and ableism intersect, creating much larger wage gaps for women of color, women living with disabilities, and members of our LGBTQ+ community. Another goal of this project was to listen to Vermonters about their experiences with pay inequity, how it impacts them, and what they think could help.
These lively conversations were hosted by our Commissioners and partners who generously gave of their time and talents to foster rich dialogue about pay equity. We were incredibly fortunate to be joined by guests who approached this subject personally and professionally and with heart and soul:
Episode 5, Latina (Un)Equal Pay Day featured Marita Canedo, the Milk with Dignity Program Coordinator at Migrant Justice; Amanda Garcés, the Director of Policy, Education and Outreach at Vermont Human Rights Commission; and Drea Tremols, business owner of Soul Vibration Massage Therapy. Latina (Un)Equal Pay was moderated by VCW Co-chair, Commissioner Lisa Senecal.
Episode 4, Women Living with Disabilities (Un)Equal Pay Day featured Deborah Lisi-Baker, who served in leadership at UVM’s Center for Disability and Community Inclusion and as Executive Director for the Vermont Center for Independent Living; Winnie Looby, Ph.D., a UVM faculty member at the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion in the College of Education and Social Services; Cara Sachs, a Vermont Center for Independent Living Americans with Disabilities Act Advocate and a personal life coach; and Laura Siegel, the Vermont State Director of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Services. The Women Living with Disabilities (Un)Equal Pay podcast was moderated by Sarah Launderville, Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Independent Living.
Episode 3, LGBTQ + community (Un)Equal Pay Day featured HB Lozito, the Executive Director of Out in the Open, and Representative Taylor Small, the Pride Center of Vermont’s Director of Health and Wellness. LGBTQ + community (Un)Equal Pay Day was moderated by Commissioner Sarah Mell.
Episode 2, Women (and Mom) (Un)Equal Pay Day featured educator Lara Scott, the Director of Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts at Saint Michael’s College, and Sarah MacDonald, Assistant Director and a classroom educator at Colchester’s Early Learning Center. The conversation was moderated by VCW Commissioner Kellie B. Campbell (EdD).
Episode 1, Asian American and Pacific Islander Women (Un)Equal Pay Day featured Bor Yang, director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission and Senator Kesha Ram. The conversation was moderated by VCW Co-chair, Commissioner Lisa Senecal.
Each episode is introduced by VCW Executive Director Cary Brown who sets the context and provides guest introductions. Find our (Un)Equal Pay Day podcast series on VCW’s channels on YouTube, Spotify, Google Podcast, or Apple Podcast.