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'When women succeed, America will succeed' | Roundtable highlights upward mobility for women in Charlotte

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su visited the Queen City to discuss the importance of ensuring women are able to grow in their careers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Thursday, the United States Acting Secretary of Labor was in Charlotte for a visit. 

Julie Su was joined by Rep. Alma Adams, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and other women to highlight the Biden administration's pledge to boosting good jobs for women this Women’s History Month. Their message was on the importance of building a stronger economy for women. 

“We still face too much inequity in terms of who gets good jobs and who continues to do the jobs that power our economy but aren’t valued the way they should be,"  Su said.

The roundtable happened at She Built This City, a nonprofit helping women get jobs in the trade industry. 

“It’s an opportunity for women to grow, to learn, to have a stepping stone and a community in the field of construction, but just in general a sisterhood," Alayne Huges Sheppard, an instructor at She Built This City, said. 

The non-profit also provides child care.

RELATED: Charlotte nonprofit offering pathways for women to learn trades

“Not only are they taken care of, they're fed, they’re supported, and they’re also exposed to the trades so we can ensure it’s a two-generation approach to upward mobility," said LaToya Faustin, the Executive Director of She Built This City.

Secretary Su said child care needs improvement, workers need to make more money, and families shouldn't be burdened by the cost.

“The President is deeply committed to making sure that we create an economy where no one gets left behind and that’s about making sure there’s real access to the good jobs we're creating," Su said. 

She also said the Biden administration has helped create millions of jobs over the last year by expanding pathways to rebuild American infrastructure. She says women have been critical. 

“Women have really powered this economic recovery," Su said.

The city of Charlotte has also made several investments into training programs, particularly for women, people of color, and underrepresented communities.

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“When you have an equitable system for employment, the entire city gains from that," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, said.

Mayor Lyles said all women should push boundaries and share in prosperity.

“A lot of people may say 'that’s a man’s job', well no more can we say that because we have the opportunities to train and develop," Lyles said. 

Still, many people say there's room for improvement and policy change.

“We’ve got to do better across this country, we should have equal pay for equal work," Rep. Adams, said. “When women succeed, America will succeed.”

Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookX and Instagram.

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