Congratulations Household Management Graduates!

Domestic workers often engage in daily activities, such as running personal errands for their employers, scheduling appointments for family members, and preparing meals for their employers and their employers’ guests, yet are often not able to formally incorporate these responsibilities into their work contacts and agreements. In September, DWU members participated in our Household Management 101 course, and learned how to market their managerial skills, as well as cultivate new ones to help better market themselves as professionals. DWU Household Management 101 and 102 teaches domestic workers the real-life skills needed to secure better employment. Members learned: • Personal presentation: How to look and speak like a professional • How to improve their interviewing techniques • Cultivate interpersonal and communication skills needed to negotiate for higher wages and better work conditions • Learn how to write an excellent resume • Know their rights as employees!

DWU member Ann Marie explains the ways DWU’s professional trainings have been vital to her own personal growth: “DWU trainings teach us our worth as workers, and that if we’re not happy with our current jobs, we can have something better. They give us the skills, the knowledge, and the certification that enables us to be able to go to an interview and say, ‘look, these are my credentials,’ just as you would in any other industry. I can now negotiate fully for what I think I’m worth.” At DWU we are passionate about empowering workers to stand up for their rights, as well as providing courses that can cultivate the confidence and skills needed to professionalize and bring positive change.

Celebrating DWU’s New Office!

On September 20, we were thrilled to celebrate DWU’s new home with our allies, donors, members, and friends at DWU’s fundraiser office warming party. The contributions made, big and small, are vital to our success. The support of our community ensures we have the resources necessary to build people power, and advocate for the rights of domestic workers – whose work makes all other work possible! That night guests saw our office outfitted for a fabulous affair and heard from board members, staff, employers, and children cared for by domestic workers talk about why implementing the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights and continuing the work of raising standards is vital to this industry. DWU sends a heartfelt “thank you” for all who joined us to celebrate our new office. It was wonderful to see everyone’s smiling faces and to join together in good spirit!

To watch a testimonial by DWU Board Member and Ambassador Jennifer Barnard, click here. To watch Donna Schneiderman speak out about the importance of implementing the Bill of Rights, click here. To listen to Abby speak out in support of her nanny and all invisible workers, click here. Lastly, to learn about the next phase of our work, a shared vision between workers and employers for a Code of Care, click here!