Gender equality in the workplace has seen impactful changes throughout the years, with industries paying meticulous attention to prioritizing it. Numerous companies and entities started initiatives that helped women enter fields traditionally dominated by men. There were also efforts to demolish wage gaps, improve policies for parental leave, and advocate for accessible childcare to support working mothers. The Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) is one of the many organizations that contributed to gender equality. It commits to leveraging education and workforce development to alleviate economic disparities.
With the proven economic and social benefits reaped from exemplifying gender equality, it’s hardly surprising that the call for it has become louder. Organizations with teams that are more gender-diverse have a higher chance (21%) of outperforming companies that are less diverse. Given this fact, the question is this: why are women still underrepresented in many, if not most, high-paying leadership roles?
There are various reasons, but societal expectations, limited access to resources, and barriers like lack of affordable childcare are on top of the list. VIDA has observed women—especially single mothers—find it extremely difficult to balance education, work, and caregiving. This prompted the nonprofit to create opportunities for them to succeed in their preferred industries, even the most competitive ones.
VIDA highly values education and training because it believes that an educated and well-trained population is the driving force behind a thriving community. Therefore, when the nonprofit was established in 1995, it concentrated its efforts on helping the workforce of tomorrow develop the necessary skills to secure and, most importantly, retain high-paying jobs. This process would inevitably help them achieve their goals of living prosperously, healthily, and fulfillingly.
Many workforce development programs focus on helping participants immediately acquire a job. VIDA is different. The forward-thinking organization promotes job retention by employing a more holistic approach, and this is part of its primary goal of developing citizens who are self-sufficient and contribute to the economy’s growth. All of these have resulted in VIDA developing more initiatives empowering women.
VIDA indirectly contributes to gender equality advancement by connecting women to high-paying and high-demand careers. In the United States, with only 28% of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), VIDA’s impact is immense. It’s worth emphasizing that VIDA, in fact, focuses on these industries and shifts the participants of its programs away from industries that typically offer lower wages. “We help women learn new skills and sharpen skills they already have so they can get high-paying jobs and retain them. You can say this is how we challenge career norms that no longer serve society,” VIDA’s President and CEO, Felida Villarreal, states.
In 2023, the nonprofit impacted nearly 750 students. Sixty-seven percent of them were women who struggled to overcome barriers, may they be in education or employment—single mothers who can’t access childcare, first-generation college students whose families can’t support them, and more. VIDA offers assistance in all these, from childcare and financial aid to career counseling and skills training.
Villareal shares, “VIDA has monthly case management sessions. These basically help our participants stay on track in their education by helping them solve whatever problem they have, which can be emotional, financial, or family-related.” These sessions also entail the VIDA team helping individuals to prepare for the career they chose by teaching them skills in managing finances, building resumes, and preparing for job interviews. All these help VIDA graduates increase their chances of joining the workforce and sustaining them.
Villareal has a noteworthy influence on VIDA’s efforts to promote gender equality. The CEO herself is a product of its impact. Before leading the nonprofit, she already established her name in finance—a field primarily dominated by men—as a certified public accountant (CPA). This is a great feat, a milestone that would make many wonder why Villareal chose to transition to the nonprofit sector.
“Creating opportunities for people, especially women like me, is how I want to create an impact,” Villareal shares. “Is it time to challenge the status quo and make sure more women can have high-paying jobs and assume leadership roles? Definitely. We at VIDA believe that, and our projects prove it.”
The Ascendium Education Group awarded VIDA an $800,000 grant to join a national randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aims to determine how effective VIDA is in delivering wraparound support services (i.e., soft skills training for underserved populations, academic and career counseling, and financial assistance.
Valuable data will be drawn from this trial, which is expected to help discern the impact of VIDA’s unique approach to education and workforce readiness. The nonprofit promises to continue empowering more women, especially those who experience setbacks. More importantly, the findings that will be obtained from the RCT will be beneficial in enabling not only VIDA but also other like-minded entities to determine which resources will be most effective in achieving maximum impact.
VIDA demonstrates that education and workforce development can indeed help in making gender equality the norm and not a mere goal for workplaces. It promises to dismantle systemic barriers and foster a more inclusive workforce by connecting women with high-paying careers and reliable support systems.
