MAPP and the National Partnership for Women & Families Hosted an Annual Advocacy Summit Bringing Together Top Chefs, Lawmakers and Advocates Proving how Affordable Child Care & Paid Leave are Crucial for the Economy
Washington D.C. – On September 17, 2024.
On September 17th, MAPP (Mentorship, Advocacy, Purpose, and the Power of Community) hosted a significant reception on Capitol Hill with the National Partnership for Women & Families gathering some of the country’s top chefs, lawmakers, and advocates proving how policies for affordable childcare and a national paid family leave policy boosts the economy and saves small businesses.
High ranking Congressional members attended and spoke, including:
U.S Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT)
U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA)
U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA), founder of the Congressional Dad’s Caucus
U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA)
As Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro highlighted, “Workplaces need to respond to the reality of family life in the 21st century, and allowing employees to have seven sick days a year is a bare minimum, the fact that the United States is one of just a handful of countries that does not require paid family or sick leave is nothing short of shameful.”
This was part of MAPP’s “Chefs Care, Cooking Up Solutions” initiative, designed to address pressing issues and call on legislators, Fortune 500 Companies, organizations and media to recognize women in the hospitality and culinary industry impacting their communities nation-wide on a host of timely topics.
A lineup of esteemed speakers shared their experiences, including:
- Rose Wilde (Chef/Owner, Red Bread LA; Cookbook Author: Bread & Roses)
- Amy Brandwein (Chef/Owner, Centrolina and Piccolina, DC)
- Jamie Leeds (Chef/Owner, Hank’s Oyster Bar)
- Melissa Helfand (General Manager, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, and The Wells, D.C.)
- Daniella Senior (Chef/Owner, Colada Shop, DC & Virginia)
- Rose Previte (Owner, Compass Rose, Maydan, Kirby Club, D.C., Cookbook Author: Maydan)
See FULL SPEAKER REMARKS HERE
The MAPP Coalition Organizations also shared their support:
-Independent Restaurant Coalition, Erika Polmar
-Les Dames d’Escoffier DC, Cary Kelly
-Les Dames d'Escoffier NYC, Barbara Sibley
-Black Women in Food, Nina Oduro
-Regarding Her DC, Diane Gross
-Sisterly Love Collective, Sara Rhodin
The summit served as a powerful platform for advocating policy changes that directly impact women and families and how these same policies would help small businesses like independent restaurants thrive. MAPP continues to champion the voices of women and address the challenges they face in the industry.
“MAPP is committed to ensuring the voices of women in the culinary and hospitality industries are heard, and especially for greater representation in the halls of Congress for policies that affect their businesses and staff,” said Joanna James, the film director and MAPP founder. “This event, in partnership with the National Partnership for Women & Families and the Independent Restaurant Coalition, not only showcases the significant contributions of women running their small businesses that boost local economies but also highlights how two of our caregiving industries—restaurants and childcare—need greater investment, innovation, and immediacy from their local, state, and federal governments.”
Following the event, MAPP’s DC host, Amy Brandwein, continued the conversations around the table at her restaurant Centrolina, engaging with thought leaders including Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families and Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund. The gathering included organization heads, media and top D.C. restaurateurs and chefs, over a delicious three-course meal, while furthering the important discussions initiated at the summit.
“Considering how demanding the restaurant industry is, let alone as a parent, it feels like there are no options when it comes to trying to balance both work and family life. We are simply setting women up for failure.” - Amy Brandwein (Chef/Owner, Centrolina and Piccolina, DC)
“One of the reasons working with the restaurant industry is so important is because it’s where women work, and lots of women have worked there for a long time without the support they need. I often say our economy works on the backs of women and we expect women to do a lot of work that is not compensated” - Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families
In 2023, MAPP and the National Partnership for Women & Families hosted an advocacy summit, bringing nearly 200 chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, Fortune 500 female leaders and key stakeholders together to advocate for women-led policies. This came off the PBS premiere of the award winning film A Fine Line directed and produced by Joanna James, rallying a movement for greater representation in the culinary and hospitality industries and the building blocks to what MAPP is today.
Thank you to our event partners. Without their support this wouldn't have been possible:
The National Partnership for Women & Families is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policies and initiatives that advance gender equity and support women and families in the workplace and beyond. They are champions for paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, and other critical issues that impact the well-being of women and families across the United States. Through their research, advocacy, and public education efforts, they work tirelessly to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
Our non-profit is committed to ensuring women’s voices are prioritized in our policy making and partnered with the National Partnership for Women and Families and the Independent Restaurant Coalition to do that on Capitol Hill. MAPP is grateful for the continuous support and remarks from longtime partners & sponsors Dough Vineyards and Markham Vineyards, and PepsiCo. Stay tuned to learn more about our advocacy events and how you can get active in your own community.
If you're eager to get involved, whether it's hosting a mentorship meal at your restaurant, becoming a mentor, or sponsoring an event to further the cause of women in food and hospitality leadership, please reach out to us at hello@mappimpact.org.
To receive invitations to events like these, become a MAPP CHANGEMAKER member.
Together, we're cultivating a brighter future for women chefs and professionals in the industry.
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