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Welcome from our president
Welcome to Bellevue Business Professional Women! My name is Estrella Chan, and I'm serving as president.
Business Professional Women (BPW) was founded in 1919, one year before women got the rights to vote in the United States. It is one of the organizations responsible for achieving this.
Our founding mothers were progressive thinking women who recognized that with women helping each other to develop our
strengths as an individual, as a professional in whatever work we are doing, and as a contributor to building our community through
our political actions, that we would live a more fulfilling life and create a stronger society.
Today it is almost impossible for us to imagine the days when we could not vote because we are women, or
that there were no such thing as minimum wage, or sick leave, or maternity leave. These are some of the changes that
BPW helped to bring about over the years, along with other organizations with similar visions.
Although we have come a long way in pay equity, the national average indicates there is
still a discrepancy of approximately 77 cents to a dollar. Over the course of a working life,
that could translate to a quarter of a million dollars or more. That means a house or 2, 3 college education.
Picture the difference that makes to a family, especially to a single mother having to work 2 or 3 jobs to raise her children.
At Bellevue BPW, our goal is to support women wherever they are in their career. Some of our members are well-established in
their career, some are looking for employment, some are starting or building their businesses, some are exploring what paths are meaningful
for them now. We celebrate their successes and we are there to support when someone needs encouragement.
You are cordially invited to visit us at one of our events.
On the 1st Wednesday of each month,we hold a free Tea Time networking at Tully's on Main Streeet and 108th NE, Bellevue, from 5-7 pm.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month, we have a luncheon with guest speakers at Red Lion Hotel Bellevue from 11-1.
On our Education page, we research local workshops that may be of interest to your career.
It is regularly updated. We also post updates 2 times a day on our Facebook page (bpwbellevue).
Come visit us sometime. We are interested in connecting with you, find out how we can support one another, and together, make our lives even better.
To your increasing well-being,
Estrella Chan
President, Bellevue BPW
2011-2013.
What Is BPW?
Founded in 1919, Business and Professional Women (BPW) promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. With 1,500 local chapters nationwide and members in every congressional district, BPW is the leading advocate for millions of working women on work-life balance and workplace equity issues.
We provide members with professional development programs, networking, participation in grassroots activism, opportunities to support scholarships for disadvantaged women and ways to support our community.
BPW Foundation Initiatives
Watch Dr. Melody Ivory perform her powerful and moving poem "For the Women" presented at our April luncheon: Watch "For the Women"
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