Category: News

COVID-19, News

WREN Statement on Paid Leave and School Reopening

by WREN Staff on Jul 15, 2020

This morning Governor Henry McMaster convened a press conference with leaders from the South Carolina General Assembly to address school reopening in the Fall.  The Governor and others emphasized the importance of choice in deciding whether students have in-person instruction or continue virtual learning.  However, without guaranteed paid leave from their jobs, parents do not

News, Policy Updates, Research

Our Voice 2020

Jun 15, 2020

On behalf of WREN and in partnership with the National Women’s Law Center, Change Research surveyed 1,450 South Carolina women of various sexual orientations and LGBTQ people representing a range of gender identities who are likely to vote in the 2020 election. The purpose of this survey was to understand the lives, issues, and policy

Advocate Stories, News

A Message of Solidarity With Our Network

by WREN Staff on Jun 2, 2020

WREN joins with people across this state and country who demand justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other victims of state-sanctioned terror and racism. For far too long, too many have denied or made excuses for the harm that White supremacy and police brutality have caused to Black and Brown people,

News, Policy Updates

Press Release: South Carolina Legislature Passes Bill to Stop Shackling Pregnant People Who Are Incarcerated

by Ali Titus, ACLU Policy and Communications Director on May 12, 2020

Criminal Justice and Reproductive Health Advocates Celebrate Expanded Protections for Parents and Families FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2020 CONTACT: Ali Titus, ACLU of South Carolina, atitus @aclusc.org, 803-318-2500 The South Carolina House of Representatives passed legislation today that will limit the types of restraints used on pregnant people who are incarcerated and virtually abolish

News, Special Events

#WRENThisTogether: Building a Movement…and a Mullet.

by Kate Mayer on May 5, 2020

  Whew, WHAT. A. DAY. Midlands Gives 2020 has been one for the books—we were bestowed the magical unicorn known as a “Cheerful Giver” matching gift, donor outreach nearly screeched to a halt when our database crashed, and we pulled it all together while sitting at our makeshift desks working from home. And thanks to

News, Special Events

Countdown to Midlands Gives

by WREN Staff on Apr 29, 2020

Midlands Gives is just around the corner! Midlands Gives brings the region together as one community, raising money and awareness for local nonprofits in 11 Midlands counties. In addition to being a year-round resource for donors across the Midlands, the initiative amplifies donations during an 18-hour online giving challenge the first Tuesday of May. Since

City of Women, News

Celebrating Women’s History Month

by WREN Staff on Mar 31, 2020

SCETV Highlights Columbia City of Women City of Women is a project by Historic Columbia and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network.  This project connects Columbians to the legacies of our all-too-often undersung women leaders, whose contributions are woven into the fabric of this city.  In celebration of Women’s History Month, SCETV featured Columbia City

COVID-19, News

WREN’s Statement on COVID-19

by Ann Warner on Mar 20, 2020

We are #WRENthistogether! WREN launched in 2016 with a mission to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of the women, girls, and families of South Carolina. With you, we have expanded access to healthcare; we have increased protections for parents in the workplace; we have fought for pay equity and expanded access to paid leave;

News, Policy Updates

Legislative Update

by WREN Staff on Mar 12, 2020

Priority Legislation:   Paid leave (S. 997 & H. 5137)  These bills would provide state employees with 12 weeks of paid family leave. Paid leave has many public health benefits, including decreased infant mortality and improved physical and mental health of new parents. This policy will also improve employee retention, productivity, and morale. A recent

City of Women, Leadership and Civic Engagement, News

 Opinion: Putting Greenville Women on the Map

by Dr. Courtney Tollison on Mar 9, 2020

  On November 2nd of 1920, white women in Greenville went to the polls for the first time. After an approximately 80-year battle to gain the right to vote, one can only imagine the excitement and optimism that filled the air of polling stations across the nation. However, on this momentous occasion, the front page of the Greenville News simply read, “Women’s Votes to Make Counters’ Task Greater.”   One