Join us for a dynamic virtual event exploring the findings of IWPR’s latest report on the impact of D.C.’s paid leave policies on workers and families. This discussion will feature leading researchers, policymakers, and advocates who will share key insights on how paid leave policies improve economic security, workplace equity, and family well-being.  

Speakers:

Dr. Jennifer Turner (facilitator) 

Dr. Jennifer Turner is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), where she focuses on breaking down barriers to education for student parents and fostering equitable work environments for Black women. She leads projects such as a qualitative study on improving academic outcomes for Black single mother students and an initiative supporting Black women social workers. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Sociology and director of the Sociology program at Hollins University. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Virginia Tech, and her research has been published in leading journals. Committed to making her work accessible, she engages policymakers and practitioners to drive systemic change. 

Dr. Afet Dundar (presenter) 

Afet Dundar, PhD is Senior Research Director at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR).  She leads IWPR’s research on issues of education and career advancement, student parent success, two-generation economic security strategies, and work family supports. Since joining IWPR in fall 2022, Dr. Dundar contributed to numerous publications on student success outcomes, student debt, paid leave and other issues contributing to gender equity. Prior to joining IWPR, she was Director, Research and Data Analytics at the National Student Clearinghouse where she led the development and production of the national reports on student outcomes, and the education metrics development for the Clearinghouse products, designed for high schools, colleges and universities. She has a Ph.D. in education policy studies from Indiana University Bloomington. 

Councilmember Christina Henderson (panelist)  

Christina Henderson is an At-Large member of the Council of the District of Columbia and currently serves as the chair of the Council’s Committee on Health. Throughout her career, Councilmember Henderson has always been a tireless advocate for workers and families and is best known for her commonsense approach to policy, collaborative working style, and centering equity in her work.  

Councilmember Henderson received her BA in Political Science from Furman University in Greenville, SC and her master’s in public affairs degree from Princeton University. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a proud co-founder of the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance. 

Molly Weston Williamson (panelist) 

Molly Weston Williamson is a senior fellow with Center for American Progress and a nationally recognized expert on paid leave policy. Previously, she was the director of paid leave and future of work at A Better Balance, where she led A Better Balance’s advocacy around paid leave laws across the country and directed A Better Balance’s efforts to address the needs of all workers in a changing workforce. She was appointed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT) as an inaugural member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority; she has served on the board since 2019 and chairs the Outreach and Engagement Committee. She has been quoted in such publications as The New York Times, Slate, and Consumer Reports. Her academic work has appeared in top law journals. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors from Swarthmore College and received her J.D. from Yale Law School.  

Lelaine Bigelow (panelist) 

Lelaine Bigelow is the Executive Director of the Georgetown Center for Poverty and Inequality. She leads work to expand economic security and opportunity and advance racial and gender equity for everyone in the U.S. through engagement, research, analysis, and ambitious policy ideas. 

Previously, Lelaine was the vice president for social impact and congressional relations at the National Partnership for Women & Families, where she was responsible for creating and executing strategies to turn policy work into social change. Her accomplishments include passing the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). She ran a major national campaign for paid family and medical leave that included a broad coalition of workers, business and bipartisan leaders across the country.  

Lelaine graduated from the University of Florida and the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University.