Category: COVID-19

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, News

FDA Medication Abortion Change – What it Means for South Carolina.

by Ashley Crary Lidow on Dec 21, 2021

Quick Background on Medication Abortion AKA the “abortion pill”:  “Abortion pill” is the common name for using two different medicines to end a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol.  First, you take a pill called mifepristone. Pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone to grow normally. Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing.  Then

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Gender Justice

Paid Leave Must Be Gender Inclusive

by Ashley Crary Lidow, MPH on Oct 19, 2021

Recently, stigma around paid parental leave and men taking paid leave has come in to mainstream conversations after some individuals mocked Pete Buttigieg for taking time to care for his children. The unfortunate stigma around men taking parental leave continues to harm family health and workplace equality. Men most often forgo parental leave or take

COVID-19, Health and Education

State Superintendent of Education, Top Epidemiologist, and Pediatricians host press conference on COVID-19

by WREN Staff on Aug 17, 2021

In response to school reopening, the state Superintendent of Education, Molly Spearman and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Linda Bell hosted a press conference.  They were joined by representatives from the S.C. chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to discuss the safe return to schools. Spearman, Bell, and the pediatricians all recommended masking and vaccinations as

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, News

Working Women at Higher Risk in School Reopening  

by WREN Staff on Aug 9, 2021

Columbia, SC- Today, Governor Henry McMaster held a press conference on COVID-19 and school reopening. Despite overwhelming evidence that masks are the most effective tool we have to curtail the surge in Covid infections among children, the Governor has refused to take decisive action. Unfortunately, his wishful thinking about “personal responsibility” will hurt children and

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, News, Policy Updates

The Fight for Paid Leave Continues in 2021

by WREN Staff on Jan 5, 2021

As of January 1st, while still in the middle of a public health emergency, Congress decided that emergency paid leave is no longer mandatory in the United States. 87 million workers have lost their guaranteed emergency leave amidst the worsening public health crisis and continued school closures.  Rather than extending the requirement for employers to

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Freedom from Violence, Health and Education, Leadership and Civic Engagement, News, Policy Updates

WREN’s Gender Justice* Policy Agenda

Dec 11, 2020

WREN’s policy agenda framework is rooted in the principles of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness, so that all women, girls, and gender expansive** people —of every race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, family status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression – can prosper and thrive. It reflects the importance of policy that serves

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, Policy Updates

Federal pandemic relief is ending soon, the Senate must act now! 

by WREN Staff on Nov 20, 2020

Millions of people across the country are struggling to get by, including kids who aren’t getting enough to eat because their parents don’t have enough money for groceries and families that are behind on rent and could lose their homes.    Programs intended to aid Americans struggling financially due to the ongoing coronavirus will expire at

COVID-19, News

Advocates Urge Governor McMaster to Increase Protections for People Living and Working in Long-Term Care Facilities

by ACLU, Able SC, P&A, AARP, YWCA of Greater Charleston, WREN on Oct 19, 2020

COLUMBIA – South Carolina disability rights, gender justice, and racial justice advocates today joined forces to urge Governor McMaster to implement protections during COVID-19 and beyond for residents of congregate facilities for seniors and people with disabilities and those who care for them. AARP South Carolina (AARP), Able South Carolina (Able SC), the American Civil Liberties

Advocate Stories, COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, News

SC Connected in Crisis

by Deitra Matthews, Conservation Voters of S.C. on Oct 12, 2020

The phrase “energy poverty” may sound strange, but it’s a vivid reality for far too many here in South Carolina. Energy poverty is reached when a household can no longer afford to pay the full cost of its utility bills and is instead forced to make difficult and often unhealthy decisions.  In our efforts with