Founded in the summer of 1999, the WIA Women's Coaltion is an informal coalition comprised of individuals and organizations working in the fields of public policy, training and education, legal services, and women's employment. The Coalition shares a common interest in the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, including:

*Opportunities to participate in state and local WIA planning and implementaion and;

*How WIA will meet the training and education needs of Michigan's women.

Activities Undertaken by the MI WIA Women's Coalition include:

*In January 2000, the WIA Women's Coalition presented a workshop entitled "Advocacy for Women under the Workforce Investment Act: Strategies for Including Women in the New Workforce System." Representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Michigan DCD made presentation regarding the implementation of the WIA in Michigan. The workshp provided different perspectives about the implications of WIA for women in Michigan.

*The Coalition recently submitted a response to Michgian's Five-Year Strategic Plan for the implementation of WIA addressing how it could more adquately speak to the needs of women in the workforce.

*Coalition members continue to work with local advocates interested in WIA and/or policies impacting women in the workplace.

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Mary Schuring
Planning/Research Associate
Michigan League for Human Services
300 North Washington Square, Suite 401
Lansing, MI 48933

mschuring@mlan.net
Ph. (517) 487-5436
Fax (517) 371-4546