she matters

Labor Day and the History of Women's Workforce Activism

Thursday, September 7, 2023

September 4, 2023 marks the 141st anniversary of the first Labor Day, celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City as planned by the Central Labor Union. Since then, it has been celebrated the first Monday of...

Authenticity of Strong Women

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

For a number of reasons, Chrysalis emphasizes the words “strong women.” Women prove every day how strong they are. Excellent examples are the women who worked for 72 years so that women in this country...

Women's Role in Our Independence

Thursday, July 13, 2023

The team at Chrysalis hopes everyone enjoyed the 2023 American Independence Day holiday! We most often credit our “founding fathers” for the origin of our independence,...

Social Media and It's Impact on Girls

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

One in 3 adolescents report using social media until midnight or later. On average (2021), youth in grades 8 and 10 use social media 3.5 hours daily, with 25% online more...

3 Vital Components of Social Connection

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Last week the United States surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, announced a startling new public health advisory, urging officials and health care experts to treat a...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, observed in the United States since 1949. This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is marking the month with a More...

Women and the Judicial System

Monday, May 1, 2023

Over the last few months, Chrysalis staff has met with Chrysalis Community Partner grantees for the 2022 final reporting and, for those funded for 2023, planning for their work this year. It is our...

Women's Alliance and DEI

Monday, May 1, 2023

Our recent work with Women’s Alliance (grantee) partners around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) taught us that the interconnectedness of these concepts is essential in creating...

Unseen Women's History

Monday, March 27, 2023

Women are missing from history textbooks and much public memory, but not because their stories have not been told. In fact, women have endeavored to preserve their history through spoken...

Women's History Month and Feminism

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Women’s History Month is, of course, an important month for Chrysalis. Throughout the month of March, we’ll hear and see stories about remarkable women whose lives have made a difference in their communities,...

Working to Improve Social Determinants of Health

Monday, March 6, 2023

Since the pandemic began, there’s been plenty of buzz about health and well-being, particularly mental health. The news has not been good when learning about the increasing problems...

Women for President

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Monday, February 20, is President’s Day, a federal holiday established in 1862 to boost national morale during the dark days of the Civil War. Originally celebrating...

The Importance of Women Role Models

Thursday, February 9, 2023

We’ve often used the statement “you can’t be what you can’t see” when referencing Chrysalis After-School programs and their involvement of women from a range of professions and...

Eliminating Gangs and Gang Violence

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

It’s easy to be either fearful or judgmental about gangs, particularly youth gangs. With the recent violence in our own community that is attributed to gang involvement, it’s important to...

Understanding Toxic Stress

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Imagine that science discovered a toxic substance that increased the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart, lung, and liver disease for millions. Imagine that this substance also increased a person’s risk for smoking, suicide, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted...

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Monday, January 9, 2023

As you may know, January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and 10 years ago, Chrysalis dedicated a significant amount of time raising awareness, hosting speakers, and...

#MeToo Lives On

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

The #MeToo movement lives on. Earlier this month, actor, and filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom (who is married to California Governor Gavin Newsom) testified as “Jane Doe #4” in the trial...

Defining Power

Monday, November 21, 2022

We’ve likely heard more than enough about the mid-term elections. Although several races are yet to be determined across the country, women still fall short in...

Native American Heritage Month

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

At the beginning of the 20th century, an effort to recognize the significant contributions of the first Americans to the establishment and growth of the United States...

Bullying Doesn't Stop in Childhood

Thursday, October 13, 2022

We all remember who the school bully was, and how we felt when it happened to us. But bullying doesn’t stop in childhood – and often occurs in the workplace. October is...

Iowa Child Care Crisis

Thursday, October 6, 2022

For many working families, decisions about placing their children in childcare is a tough decision and finding options can be a difficult task. One way is to use the Iowa...

Making Women's Leadership a Priority

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Chrysalis has long made women’s leadership a strategic priority in our work. The Girl Scouts Research Institute (GSRI) recently sampled 3,000 girls/young...

Inspired Men Campaign

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

On September 15, Chrysalis held our first event designed to enlist men in the support of Chrysalis while helping them understand the role boys and men play in the success of girls and...

Remembering 9/11

Sunday, September 11, 2022

Today marks the 21st anniversary of the most tragic event in our country’s history. The numbers were staggering: 2,753 persons killed in New York 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23...

Student Loan Forgiveness

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Last week President Biden announced that $20,000 of student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients would be forgiven, $10,000 for many other borrowers, that the federal...

How Chrysalis After-School Helps with Mental Health

Monday, August 1, 2022

Starting Saturday, July 16, a new way to reach out for help became available for anyone struggling with mental health troubles by calling or texting 9-8-8. Similar to 9-1-1, these...

The Start of Chrysalis and the Women’s Funding Movement

Monday, July 11, 2022

There is a rich history that led to the creation of Chrysalis and led the women’s funding movement in the US. Here is a brief overview of the history of the nonprofit sector, women’s...

What is Reproductive Justice?

Monday, July 11, 2022

This past week has been difficult. However you feel about abortion, the Supreme Court decision was a blow to bodily autonomy and ability to make personal health care...

The Importance of DEIA and Intersectionality

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Chrysalis’ current strategic plan includes several efforts toward ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our policies, our training and education activities, and our...

Every Kid Healthy Week

Monday, May 2, 2022

April 25-29, is Every Kid Healthy Week, an observance focusing on raising awareness about the health of children. This recognition was started in 2002 by Action for Healthy...

Building Stronger Connections to Schools

Monday, March 14, 2022

The Iowa Legislature recently announced it was considering a 2.25% increase in its state allocation per pupil in Iowa’s public schools. This year, Iowa allocated $7,048 per...

An answer to the qualified workforce shortage? Support women.

Monday, February 21, 2022

Over 50 years ago, our country had the opportunity to support working women in a significant way. But when then-President Nixon vetoed the Comprehensive Child Development Act – bipartisan...

Continued Stresses for Adolescents During the Pandemic

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

In December 2021, a rare public advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy stated, “the coronavirus pandemic intensified a rise in adolescent depression,...

Social Issues Affecting the Future

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Looking ahead, those “in the know” vary in reporting anticipated trends for the coming year. For example, VISTAGE, a CEO membership and coaching organization, posted a 4-part series on expected trends that...

Women's Role in War

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government pressured manufacturers to increase production of war goods. To help boost worker morale, companies like General Motors produced...

Pandemic Pushing Childcare Collapse

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

The current pandemic has pushed the US childcare system to near-collapse with temporary closures, enrollment declines, and additional precautions for providers in light of the...

Rest in Power, bell hooks

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

We lost an amazing feminist last week. At only 69 years old, bell hooks (yes, this is the way she spelled her pen name, which she drew from her grandmother’s name) was a groundbreaking Black...

Climate Change and Who Can Help

Thursday, December 9, 2021

We’re hearing much discussion lately on the issue of climate change. It’s been in the forefront for several years, but this past year has marked the hottest year in the...

Poverty: A Complex Situation

Monday, December 6, 2021

According to Bloomberg, U.S. household income fell in 2020 and the national poverty rate rose one percentage point from a 60-year low after having dropped for 5 straight years...

Celebrating International Day of the Girl

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

October 11, is the International Day of the Girl – first recognized when the United National General Assembly adopted a platform for action to advance the rights of both girls and women. At the 1995 Fourth...

Developmental Disorders and the Diagnosis Gap

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

One of the most common developmental disorders of childhood is attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder. An estimated 8.4% of children (and 2.5% of...

What does equal rights for women really mean?

Monday, September 13, 2021

The increasingly dangerous evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies has caused our country, once again, to be deeply divided. As well, concern over the Taliban takeover and...

Dove Self-Esteem Project

Monday, August 23, 2021

Many of us grew up using the “beauty bar,” Dove soap (“with cold cream,” according to the advertisements. Over time, the company has become known through its Campaign for Real Beauty, which today is...

June is Pride Month: Focusing on Marginalized Gender/s

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Des Moines is unique in celebrating Pride this year – rather than only a few days, the event spans the 30 days of June. This new way to celebrate involves activities at dozens of venues to allow as...

Trauma, Toxic Stress, and New Interventions

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

By now, many of us are aware of the role of trauma in peoples’ lives. The challenges of toxic stress has been clinically proven to affect brain development in utero and throughout...

The Girl Declaration

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

In 2015, the Nike Foundation asked over 500 girls who were living in poverty what they needed for a chance to reach their greatest potential. With the help of dozens of global organizations working with...

Take Action to Support Sexual Assault Victims

Monday, April 19, 2021

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but that acknowledgement doesn’t mean the prevalence of this problem is understood. In 2020, Iowa’s Crime...

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Monday, April 12, 2021

In the United States, April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Acknowledgement that this occurs, however, doesn’t begin to identify the...

STOP ASIAN HATE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Although we’re just beginning the second quarter of 2021, the amount of hate and violence we’ve witnessed has been appalling. A continuation of the vitriol that has...

Demographic Changes in the Workforce: Future for Women and Girls

Monday, March 29, 2021

The past year has presented unprecedented change, primarily due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The workforce does and will continue to evolve. But changing demographics,...

There Can Be No Gender Justice Without Racial Justice

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

There can not be gender justice until there is racial justice. This is the view of countless women’s and social justice organizations after a 21-year-old white man...

Celebrating Our Founder

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

March 7, 2021 is the 113th anniversary of Louise Noun’s birth. It seems appropriate that today – a day during Women’s History Month and a day preceding International Women’s Day – we take moment to...

The Women of Iowa's History

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

At Chrysalis Foundation, we believe women and girls do remarkable things. Women’s achievements came to the forefront this year as we celebrated the inauguration of our country’s first female...

Wrongful Adultification

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

In June of 2017, the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality released a startling report entitled Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood. Through a quantitative...

Celebrating Black History Month

Friday, February 12, 2021

As we celebrate and recognize Black History month, we have revisited this video. This is 8-year-old Lola, a young girl who dresses as the Black women who...

What Chrysalis is Doing to Prevent Girls and Women from Experiencing Domestic Violence

Monday, February 1, 2021

As you know, Chrysalis believes that personal safety is one of the most critical basic needs of women, and that every woman and girl deserves to feel safe in...

Chrysalis Wants Freedom from Violence for All Girls and Women

Monday, January 25, 2021

Chrysalis prioritizes community investments in safety for all girls and women. Our definition of safety begins with freedom from violence, which is one of the most...

Toxic Masculinity and the US Capitol Attack

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The events of the past week have been traumatizing for all. The mob that ravaged our nation’s Capital horrified and alarmed us, and for many the event was triggering for people who face...

Cultural Changes Expected in 2021

Thursday, January 7, 2021

It’s 2021 and most of us are delighted to close the book on 2020, hoping for better days ahead. A recent article in ForbesWomen pointed out a few positive cultural changes...

Recognizing All of the December Holidays

Saturday, December 12, 2020

According to Diversity Best Practices, an organization of diversity thought leaders (and a division of Working Mother Media), “What were once deemed as primary (race, gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, abilities, age, religion) and secondary (socioeconomic, education, geography, family, job function) dimensions of diversity are now overlapping.” The company scans corporate...

A Woman Coined the Term Thanksgiving

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

As with so many pieces of our history, the true story of Thanksgiving is credited to the efforts of a woman – a 19th century writer: Sarah Josepha Buell Hale. Although she is more...

Many Women and Mothers Let Go During to the Pandemic

Monday, November 30, 2020

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing women out of the workforce at an alarming rate. In September, for example, about 617,000 women left the workforce, compared to...

Women in Politics and the Glass Ceilings We Are Still Breaking

Monday, November 9, 2020

The daughter of immigrant parents, she was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She was the first Black American and first woman to launch a campaign for the presidency...

Chrysalis Priority: Economic Empowerment and Wage Equity

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Chrysalis includes economic empowerment as a core priority in our work. Among the issues involved in economic empowerment is the persistent gender pay gap; across the...

Caregiving and the Policy Changes Needed

Monday, November 2, 2020

November is National Family Caregivers Month, honoring millions of caregivers across the country taking care of aging parents, children, and ill or disabled family...

Women Face Devastating Problems During the Pandemic

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

In our current pandemic, it is sometimes hard to see beyond its effects on each of our current situations. As Chrysalis has shared before, women experience more...

Women's Impact on Counterterrorism

Monday, September 28, 2020

On Friday, September 11, 2020, we marked the 19th anniversary of the most tragic and painful event in our history – the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. As you may...

Chrysalis Honors United States Supreme Court Justice and Advocate for Women, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Monday, September 28, 2020

This weekend, the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg marked a watershed moment in the history of the Court. Established by the U.S. Constitution, the court of six members...

21-Day Equity Challenge

Friday, September 4, 2020

United Way of Central Iowa has extended an invitation to Chrysalis and other organizations to join the 21-Day Equity Challenge, a 3-week learning opportunity...

Childcare Expansion Would Help the Economy

Monday, August 10, 2020

As you know, Chrysalis brings the gender focus on all issues of Iowa workers looking for employment, and one in particular is the single greatest challenge to working...

Poverty and the Income Gap

Monday, August 3, 2020

Last week, Terry Hernandez and Brooke Findley from Chrysalis were asked to join a task force of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. In the effort to plan for the state’s...

Black Girl MATHgic

Monday, August 3, 2020

We’ve long known that girls lose confidence in their science and mathematics abilities in their adolescent years. Not only does this leave a gap in the classroom, but the trend for women in STEM...

Women's Experience with Sexual Harassment in the Military

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Several years ago, Chrysalis held a luncheon event on Veterans Day to honor women in the military. Although we were joined by a few local women veterans, the one we selected for the keynote address was Miyoko Hikiji, who...

Microaggressions and an Update to the Definition of Racism

Monday, July 13, 2020

This spring, Kennedy Mitchum graduated from Drake University with a double major in public relations and law, politics, and society. She can be proud of her college involvement in politics, the...

Teaching Children About Racial Justice

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Without some guidance, children may develop racial bias from exposure to negative stereotypes, media misrepresentation, and racial disparities. It takes just a bit of attention to help...

Women in Law Enforcement

Monday, June 29, 2020

Police officers and departments have occupied front page news over the last several weeks. Calls for defunding departments, changes in training, and outlawing dangerous tactics are among myriad options...

Women in the Military

Monday, June 29, 2020

On June 12, 1948, President Harry Truman signed into law the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, acknowledging the contributions women have made to the military and allowing women...

Memorial Day and Women's Involvement in War

Friday, June 12, 2020

Memorial Day: a day to honor the brave women and men who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Over 1,340,000 Americans have died in conflict, ranging from...

Using a Gender Lens with the Black Lives Matter Movement

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Mourners recently paid respects to George Floyd, killed by police last week, during a memorial service amid rising tension about racial injustice, police brutality, and the centuries-long...

Women Leadership

Friday, June 5, 2020

In a New York Times interview, former United Nations Ambassador Samantha Powers (pictured) was asked to comment on women’s leadership, how it has excelled in this time of crisis, and what...

Memorial Day and Women's Military Involvement

Thursday, May 28, 2020

On Monday we celebrated Memorial Day, a day to honor the brave women and men who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Over 1,340,000 Americans have died...

Moms During Covid-19

Thursday, May 21, 2020

NowThis, an online video news site, provides information and updates on current events. It posted this entertaining video on Mother’s Day to recognize how moms...

Mental Health Awareness Month

Thursday, May 14, 2020

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, recognized each year to combat the stigma, educate the public, and provide support to persons struggling with mental illness and their families. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one...

Signal for Help Campaign

Monday, May 11, 2020

As we know, April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and 2020 raised concern for potential uptick in incidents of sexual and domestic assault due to home confinement caused by COVID-19. Living with an abusive partner...

Women and Their Accomplishments

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Earlier this month a new miniseries entitled “Mrs. America” debuted, recounting the story of Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist who led a fight against passage of the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s. This...

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Monday, April 20, 2020

Every 73 seconds, a person in the United States is sexually assaulted. Every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. These startling statistics calls attention to...

Women's History Month

Thursday, March 26, 2020

As you know, March is Women’s History Month, and Sunday, March 8, was International Women’s Day. In our newsletter, Chrysalis Connection, you learned that this year’s theme for International Women’s Day...

The Chrysalis Foundation's Response to COVID-19

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

With rapidly-changing warnings about the effect of the coronavirus (which causes the respiratory illness Covid-19), we’re all tuned in to the CDC and public health...

Part of the Problem: Redlining

Monday, March 16, 2020

Much like the rest of our country, racism and racist practices were prevalent in law and social code in Iowa long before Iowa became a state. In 1838, Iowa adopted the...

The Escalating Problem of Child Sex Abuse Imagery

Friday, February 28, 2020

Last fall, The New York Times issued a series of articles about the rapidly-escalating evil of child sex abuse imagery across the internet. “The images are horrific. Children, some just 3...

Human Trafficking: It's Right Here

Monday, February 10, 2020

It’s challenging to find reliable data around the issue of human trafficking. Although this type of human slavery has existed for longer than we can document, it’s risen...

Dangers for Children Online

Monday, February 10, 2020

In our educational activities, we often share the perils the internet poses for children, particularly for girls, as they may easily become victims of online predators and...

Racism and It's Impact on Women

Friday, January 24, 2020

Monday, January 20 marked Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday recognizing the birthday of a man renowned for his nonviolent activism during the civil rights...

Tech is Now the Norm.. and Other Findings of 2019

Thursday, January 23, 2020

At the end of every year, the Pew Research Center publishes fascinating lists of is most noteworthy findings, and 2019 was no different. Ranging from demographics to...

Living in Danger

Friday, January 10, 2020

In 2019, the Thomson Reuters Foundation released a list of the top 10 most dangerous countries for women. Using a survey of over 550 experts on women’s issues, India was...

For Chrysalis, Safety is THE Priority

Thursday, December 19, 2019

As we end our 30th year, we celebrate the progress Chrysalis has made. However, data and recent events show us that we have much more work to do. This week’s murder of a young Barnard College woman in...

Chrysalis After-School, the Chrysalis Foundation’s Investment in Central Iowa’s Future

Sunday, December 15, 2019

School-age kids spend 80% of their waking hours outside of school, according to Afterschool Alliance, a national think tank that provides research, advocacy, and...

Reflecting on Mentoring Myths

Monday, November 18, 2019

This week, Chrysalis Executive Director, Terry Hernandez, was part of an event presented by Business Publications that recognized women and the messages they would convey to their younger selves. As...

Honoring Our Veterans, Highlighting Women’s Military Service

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Monday, November 11, was the 100th anniversary of “Armistice Day,” now known as Veterans Day, which in 1919 marked the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for the annual observance honoring Veterans of all wars, and beginning in 1938, Veterans Day became a national...

Resilience: An Antidote to Oppression in Adolescence

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and its partners recently supported a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled The Promise of Adolescence:...

Mental Illness and the Stigma

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 5 children living in our country show signs or symptoms of a mental health disorder. ...

evaluating personal change

Monday, October 21, 2019

During a recent meeting with one of our grant partners, we learned (among other things) about a new tool mental health and substance abuse practitioners can use to measure how well...

International Day of the Girl

Monday, October 14, 2019

October 11 was International Day of the Girl, commemorated by this video from UN Women, a United Nations entity working toward equality and empowerment for women and girls worldwide....

be aware of domestic violence

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, first recognized in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a day to connect advocates...

Priorities to Aid Women and the Economy Overall

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Women’s earnings and economic security are central to the health and well-being of all households and the overall economy. Here are a few policy priorities that will improve the economy for everyone: 1. Cut poverty in half by ensuring...

DOLORES

Monday, September 16, 2019

Thank you to those who joined us this week to view DOLORES, the documentary about our INSPIRED speaker Dolores Huerta. Thanks, as well, to Drake student and Chrysalis intern Jocelyn Rimes for planning and implementing this...

We Can Do It- Overcoming Barriers

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

A 2017 study from the National Women’s Law Center looked into the challenges that face girls of color in achieving their education. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 girls...

Project Achieve

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

We’ve always assumed that high school graduation is an opening to college and career. But new research has shown that fewer than half of students graduating from high school...

Protecting Girls Mental Health

Friday, August 30, 2019

We’ve long known that it’s tough to be a teenager. It’s one of the major reasons we started Chrysalis After-School programs in 1998 – adolescence brings on such...

Hidden Women in Science

Friday, August 30, 2019

There is a phenomenon known as the Matilda Effect that hurts many women in STEM fields. It is defined as the refusal to acknowledge scientific discoveries made by female...

Giving Women More Business Power

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Working Mother Research Institute recently reported that although women hold 25% of executive suite positions at the 1,000 largest U.S. corporations, only 6% were CEOs – the others were as...

Women's Fight for Equal Rights

Monday, August 26, 2019

August 26 is the day of the year that is designated as Women’s Equality Day in the United States. First established by Congressional Representative Bella Abzug in 1971, it...

Fort Des Moines

Thursday, July 11, 2019

When the US entered World War 1 in 1917, training had just begun for new recruits. Although thousands of black Americans enlisted, the federal government attempted to limit the...

Chrysalis Receives Support From Hy-Vee

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chrysalis Foundation Awarded $5,000 by Hy-Vee, Inc. donation will provide support and services for women and girls in Central...

Chrysalis: not your typical funder

Thursday, March 28, 2019

One of the key priorities we identify in our mission statement is “security” – for Chrysalis, this means physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. This may seem like a simple...

A Closer Look at PTSD

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Chrysalis Foundation staff had the remarkable opportunity to attend the 2019 Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium: Move Passion to Progress. We ran out of paper for note-taking, as every workshop and...

Media Savvy in the age of "Fake News"

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Nearly every day we hear the term “fake news” whether used in the political context, or increasingly, through social media platforms. Whether you find this disturbing or...

Women and The Vote

Monday, November 5, 2018

By Wednesday, we should have a good idea of the gains women made in the history of American politics – it’s the day after the 2018 mid-term elections. Some of us recall when 1992 was termed “The...

Women at Ground Zero: Honoring the Women Heroes of 9/11, A Reflection

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Twelve years ago today (September 11, 2006), Chrysalis marked the 5th anniversary of one of the most horrific days our country had experienced: 9/11. For any American, these...

Women's Equality Day

Monday, August 27, 2018

Yesterday marked the 98th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, which is the celebration of women winning the right to vote. 2018 is projected to be a significant year for...

Review: The Great American Lie

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

As we gear up for a remarkable presentation from Tiffany Shlain, our 2018 INSPIRED Event speaker, we are learning how important film can be in shifting our awareness of the world around us...

Culture Shift: Dealing with Toxic Masculinity

Monday, July 30, 2018

The world bombards us with destructive and confusing messages about how we should behave, what we should look like, and what emotions we are allowed to have. More often than not, these...

Compassion: Antidote to Toxic Stress

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Watching or listening to the news has become more difficult lately, particularly as we see friends, family, or even strangers suffer. This likely has implications for...

Preventing Suicidal Ideation and Attempt through Chrysalis After-School

Monday, June 18, 2018

A report released in May reported a significant rise in the number of school-age children and teens thinking of, or actually attempting suicide. An estimated...

As Housing Costs Rise, Women Face Increased Barriers to Obtaining Home Ownership

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Recent information from the Pew Charitable Trusts confirm what we are hearing from the nonprofit sector: the high cost of home rental leaves most families out of...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Monday, April 16, 2018

Although our attention has been focused on the alarm of recent news, worries about income taxes, and threats of international conflict, it is still important not to...

Each Day in America

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The Children’s Defense Fund is an over-40-year-old nonprofit organization advocating for children throughout the country, particularly poor children, children of...

A Report on Gender Diversity

Monday, March 19, 2018

Last fall, McKinsey & Company released a report providing a look-back at 10 years of increasing gender diversity in the workplace and its contribution to the global economy. Women...

Women's History Month: Nevertheless, She Persisted

Thursday, March 8, 2018

March 1 marks the annual recognition of Women’s History Month, celebrating the courage and contributions of women throughout our history and today. First launched by the Education Task Force of Sonoma County...

Toxic Masculinity

Monday, February 19, 2018

Can masculinity be toxic? The concept of toxic masculinity is used by psychologists to describe certain traditional norms of behavior that are associated harm – to society and to men themselves. At some point in our lives we have all been told to...

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Monday, February 5, 2018

Chrysalis has long invested in a variety of violence prevention and awareness efforts and the organizations that deliver these services in Greater Des Moines....

Gender Roles and Holiday Stress

Thursday, December 21, 2017

The American Psychological Association reports that only 25% of women admit to relaxing during the holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 44% of...

Marketing Trends for 2018

Monday, December 11, 2017

Closing in on the end of the year, Chrysalis looks ahead for what are predicted to be marketing trends coming in the next year. Walter Thompson...

Intersectionality of Gender and Race in US Health Outcomes

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

CNN recently released a report on childbirth that presented a shocking statistic: between 700 and 1,200 women each year die from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the United...

Understanding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Recently, a day doesn’t go by without learning about another high-profile case of sexual harassment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has defined sexual harassment in its...

Teens and Media: The Research Continues

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

This week I had the opportunity to speak to a class taught by board member Preston Daniels. Discrimination and Diversity is a popular course at Des Moines Area Community...

From Executive Director, Terry Hernandez, Revisiting Iowa View (2007)

Monday, October 23, 2017

Key to our work is understanding that we may not be able to change the way society views and treats women; rather, we work to build the resilience, self-confidence, and “grit” that girls and women need to face any...

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

For over 35 years, we have recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month every October. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the term includes physical violence, sexual violence,...

A Labor Day Message

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Labor Day is here: an occasion to honor working people throughout America, a long weekend marking the unofficial end of summer, a time with family and/or...

Meet Bonnie St. John

Monday, August 28, 2017

There’s less than one month until our 2017 INSPIRED Event on Thursday, September 21! Chrysalis chooses speakers for our events that align with or core values, along...

Let Her Learn

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Across the country, girls are being pushed out of school. So says a campaign by the National Women’s Law Center entitled Let Her Learn. Often, the problems begin with school suspension for what...

Depictions, Perceptions, and Harm In Advertising

Monday, July 31, 2017

England’s watchdog for “truth in advertising” came out this week with strict new standards prohibiting ads that portray “potentially harmful” gender stereotypes. The Advertising...

Cyberbullying: A Gender Issue

Monday, July 17, 2017

We all remember the campaign speech last fall, when future First Lady Melania Trump announced she would adopt a key issue after the election: combatting cyber-bullying. Although the speech was met with a hearty...

Who Knew That a Small Girl Could Face Down Wall Street... and Win.

Monday, July 10, 2017

“Refusing to quit” is the term used by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to describe the statue’s symbolism as he explained his decision to leave the “Fearless Girl” statue in place well beyond...

Child Abuse Resources

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

With the recent tragic deaths of 2 young women in foster care, we can wonder where in the “system” were the failures that led to these tragedies. Data published by the...

The Cliff Effect

Monday, May 22, 2017

In corporate America, women fall behind early and continue to lose ground with every step. This is an overarching theme in a new study by LeanIn.org...

First Annual 50/50 Day May 10th

Monday, May 8, 2017

Chrysalis is joining groups around the world to mark the first annual 50/50 Day next Wednesday, May 10. Spearheaded by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Tiffany Shlain,...

April is the Month to Recognize and Prevent Sexual Assault

Monday, April 24, 2017

As you know, April is the month to recognize and prevent sexual assault. According to the Iowa Department of Human Rights, an American is sexually assaulted every 98...

Reviewing Iowa's Current Mental Health Support System for Children

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Last year, a Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being Workgroup was created in response to direction from the Iowa Legislature – its purpose was to review and make recommendations on...

Family Attitudes Change as Moves Toward Gender Equality Slows in US

Friday, April 7, 2017

There’s a new attitude in town, and it may not be what we expect. Drawing data from nearly 40 years of surveys taken by high school seniors, sociologists found that millennials (born between 1982...

Another Approach to Promoting Pay Equity in Business

Monday, March 27, 2017

Bonnie St. John, Chrysalis Inspired 2017 keynote speaker recently penned an editorial printed by The Huffington Post: We Already Know How to Close the Gender Pay Gap, earlier this month. Quoting St....

Proposed Trump Budget through A Gender Lens

Monday, March 20, 2017

Our work at Chrysalis involves helping decision-makers take into account how their decisions may disproportionately affect girls and women. In this light, I’d like to...

Louise Rosenfield Noun, March 7, 1908-August 23, 2002

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Happy Birthday Louise! I never had the chance to thank you. In 1997, you hired me as the first executive director for Chrysalis, and I am grateful to you every day. You were the first person to ask me if...

Dolls Are Not Just for Girls

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Some of us have never heard of an “American Girl” doll. Those who have, know that Mattel, an age-old toymaker familiar for its Barbie and Ken dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Matchbox cars, also know that the American Girl doll...

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention

Friday, February 24, 2017

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month – which emphasizes the importance of Chrysalis’ partnership with Mercy Medical Center to...

"This Is What It Feels Like"

Monday, February 13, 2017

Catcalling is something girls and women have long endured. But in a new art exhibit, “This Is What It Feels Like” (its opening panel appears to the left) has received a powerful response from...

"A Typical American Girl" Today

Thursday, January 26, 2017

When Chrysalis shares information with others about what it’s like to be a “typical American girl” today, here are some of the sobering statistics given: WE ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD THAT TO BE...

Women's Rights Are Human Rights

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Several significant events are approaching, including the commemoration of the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States,...

2016: A Reflection

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

As we approach year-end, you may not realize that this year we will experience a “leap second,” when an extra second will be added to world clocks in adjustment to the earth’s rotation relative to the sun. Believe it or...

Work Scheduling Issues and Unintended Consequences

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

We’ve long known that the majority of low-wage workers are women (paying less than $10.50/hour). Roughly 2/3 of all low-wage workers are women, most who are challenged by work scheduling or...

What Sustains Us

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

What sustains us. So much to think about as 2016 comes to an end. We can expect many changes over the coming months and years, but one thing is certain: the answer to all...

What is Wealth: A Gender Perspective

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

So much recent discussion –on both local and national levels- has been about the challenge of income and wealth gaps. But those looking for solutions most often focus on income –...

Chrysalis' Work in Responding To and Preventing Youth Violence

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Youth violence is the 3rd leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. The CDC defines youth violence as the “intentional use of physical force or power by a...

Women and Heroin Addiction

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Earlier this month, we heard from Chrysalis grantees that the newest and most difficult problem they face in the women and girls they serve is addiction to heroin. Heroin is in a...

Critical Mental Health Concerns for College Students

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

It’s tough to keep a focus today. This is especially true for college students and young people, who are new to the “real-world” experience and face stress, fatigue, overwork, or...

How Prevalent is Domestic Violence? Too Prevalent!

Thursday, August 25, 2016

As you may know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, created by the National Coalition of Domestic Violence after the Day of Unity (held in 1981) became an...

Race and Gender, Class and Culture - All Intersect

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

The events of this week have made our hearts heavy. It’s impossible to turn away from screens and social media – so many senseless murders. In Baton Rouge, 37-year-old Anton Sterling was...

When Marketing is Detrimental to Women and Girls

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

We often look critically at marketing that objectifies or stereotypes women and girls. It’s tough to keep helping girls and women “unlearn” all that the marketing industry teaches...

Each Day in America...

Friday, August 5, 2016

Each year, the Children's Defense Fund puts out a number of reports on the status of children in America. CDF is a nonprofit advocacy organization...

Pornography is a Public Health Crisis

Monday, August 1, 2016

Kudos to the state of Utah! Last month, Utah officially declared that pornography is a public health crisis. Signing an official resolution stating the pornography is a “public health hazard”...

Voting is Powerful

Monday, April 11, 2016

Did you know that women – particularly single and unmarried women – have become the most powerful voting block for the upcoming Presidential election? Termed part of the “Rising American...

Gender Pay Gap Still Wide

Friday, April 8, 2016

While the gender pay gap has been closing, it still remains wide. It may simply be this: work done by women isn’t as valued as that done by men. This fact was documented by a recently-released study from...

Celebrating Working Women

Thursday, April 7, 2016

“Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity… If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior… If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with women…” ...

New Census Data Sobering

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

New data from the US Census Bureau has some sobering information: The poverty level among America's children remained the same - 21% - or 1 in 5...

More Women In Power

Monday, November 30, 2015

Continuing our quest to share how companies may be approaching the issue of better representation of women in the media, we'd like to point out United...

INSPIRED 2016 Featuring Dr. Angela Y. Davis

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

We are excited to announce Dr. Angela Y Davis will be the keynote speaker at our INSPIRED 2016 event to be held September 29, 2016. Known...

Mattel's Barbie Focuses on Careers

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

You Can Be Anything is an ingenious way for Mattel to promote the ‘new’ Barbie. Let’s face it; girls still love to play with Barbie dolls or dolls similar to the...

Happy Anniversary Ladies

Monday, August 24, 2015

This week, we mark another anniversary for the day in 1920 when the 19th amendment was certified into law – allowing women the right to vote. In 1971, Congress declared this date –...

Focus on Purple Policies For All Our Children

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Caring for all children is good for our economy according to Robert Putnam, a political scientist and Harvard University professor. “Over the course of the last four decades, our sense of ‘we’ has shriveled,” Putnam...

Did You Know? Psychiatric Anxiety Disorders Affect 74M USA Children

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

If you knew that more children in the United States are affected by one disease, would you want something done about it? Of the over 74 million children in the United...

Gloria's Activism Still Going Strong!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

However you may feel about her, the fact that Gloria Steinem turned 82 years old this year is astounding. Even more remarkable is that she’s been a social and political activist – recognized as a leader and spokeswoman...

First Ever Fritter Friday

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Thank you to all who attended the inaugural Fritter Friday event held at the wonderful Maharry household and photography studio on May 29th. We are so...

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recommendations

Sunday, May 31, 2015

In May 2015, the United Way of Central Iowa, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines released results of a study of how the...

It Was Never a Dress

Thursday, May 7, 2015

A brilliant new social media campaign has been launched to change the stereotypes about females in the workforce: #ItWasNeverADress Released this week at a Girls in Tech event,...

The Back of the Pack

Thursday, May 7, 2015

If you missed April’s Chrysalis Conversations luncheon, you didn’t have the opportunity to be both entertained and inspired…at the same time. Jenne Fromm’s life has been one of...

Every Mother Matters

Monday, May 4, 2015

As you celebrate Mother’s Day, please take a moment to think of: the mother leaving a violent home to protect her children the mother struggling...

It's about boys and men too

Sunday, January 4, 2015

A new film by MissRepresentation director Jennifer Siebel Newsom will debut at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in January that asks the question: as a society, how are we failing our...

Feminist Ads of the Year

Monday, December 29, 2014

We’ve been watching some of these entertaining videos from Ms. blog, published online by Ms. Magazine. The videos came from an article posted revealing The 10 Most Feminist...

2015 Community Grant Partners

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

On Monday, December 8th, Chrysalis Foundation awarded its annual Community Partner grants to Greater Des Moines based agencies that have a mission to improve the lives...

Disparities faced by girls and women of color

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Last month, the White House Council on Women and Girls released a report entitled Women and Girls of Color: Addressing Challenges and Expanding Opportunity. Although the...

Ignoring your child can be a form of abuse

Saturday, November 29, 2014

How does it affect children when parents and adults ignore them? “Ignoring” too much is a form of emotional abuse that can have lasting effects on a child. Emotional...

Who is Sarah Josepha Hale?

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Did you know that Thanksgiving is a national holiday because of the tireless work of one woman – Sarah Josepha Hale – who spent 17 years writing to 5 United States...

You can't be, what you can't see

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

We’ve often used the statement “you can’t be what you can’t see” when talking about the importance of girls in Chrysalis After-School meeting women in various careers. In...

Thank a Veteran

Monday, November 10, 2014

Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11, a day to mark the remarkable service of America’s military women and men, whose distinguished service and sacrifice for our freedom has been...

International Day of the Girl

Friday, October 17, 2014

Two years ago, the United Nations declared October 11 as the “International Day of the Girl,” to raise awareness about the issues of gender inequality worldwide. This...

Juggling College and Child Care

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A recent article from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) delivered an eye-opening reality about another issue facing student parents – the cost of child care. The article profiled a...

Violence in Schools and Work

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Last week, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announced an effort to mentor Iowa’s girls going into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers,...

The issue of violence continues

Monday, September 15, 2014

With the release of second video showing professional football player Ray Rice attacking his girlfriend viciously and knocking her unconscious, much...

Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math/Medicine (STEM)

Monday, August 18, 2014

The newest toys and games for children are making an effort to avoid gender stereotype. They specifically intended to teach girls about careers and new concepts in what we...

When was it excusable to punch a woman in the face?

Sunday, August 3, 2014

As you’ve heard, NFL player Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens was suspended from 2 games for literally knocking out his then-girlfriend (now wife) Janay and dragging her unconscious body out of the...

Financial Literacy is Key

Saturday, July 26, 2014

A recent study by Rutgers University proved, yet again, that financial literacy is key to economic stability and quality of life – particularly a violence-free life. Victims of...

Priorities: Education, Income, and Health

Friday, July 11, 2014

In 2008, United Way agencies across the globe initiated a 10-year program to achieve the following goals by 2018: IMPROVE EDUCATION – cut the number of high school dropouts...

Metro Arts Alliance presents "Leading Ladies of Jazz"

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Chrysalis is partnering with Metro Arts Alliance to present the new series “Leading Ladies of Jazz” – our first concert will be this Saturday evening, 6:30-8 pm at Evelyn Davis Park. Attached is the complete...

1 is 2 many

Friday, June 20, 2014

1 is 2 many. This is the title of a new White House initiative about how we must reduce violence against women. According to the latest statistics, 1 in...

What do you think is "normal?"

Friday, June 13, 2014

What do you think is “normal?” Today, many of us leave it up to media to show and tell us what is “normal” or “average,” most often when compared with what is deemed “beauty.” And recently, Miss Indiana’s size...

The Hawn Foundation

Friday, June 6, 2014

If, like me, you were introduced to Goldie Hawn through “Laugh-In,” a television comedy show featuring continuous jokes, gags, skits, and Hawn as the “sock-it-to-me” girl, you may not know of her...

What is misogyny?

Friday, May 30, 2014

The stories that have dominated our news over the past week are deeply disturbing. If it’s not time to talk about misogyny now, I don’t know when. As you know, a 22 –year-old man wrote a manifesto (and...

Refugees in Iowa

Friday, May 23, 2014

Over the past 5 years, nearly 3,000 refugees have resettled in Iowa, a number that increased by 500% when a secondary migration (refugees initially...

We've all been told to "toughen up"

Friday, May 16, 2014

Whether female or male, at some point in our lives we have all been told to “man up,” toughen up,” “don’t be a softie,” or “win at all costs.” These terms have created an unofficial measure by which we are judged – beginning in the...

Is Mother's Day too commercialized?

Friday, May 9, 2014

According to the National Retail Federation, Mother's Day is a $19.9 billion holiday. This is the amount of total spending anticipated for the holiday...

Tina Frundt - Human Trafficking Events Recap

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Last week was a powerful week sharing the expertise of Tina Frundt with our community. Here are the numbers of attendees: Luncheon event -...

Sex Trafficking in Iowa

Friday, April 25, 2014

The sex trafficking of girls and women is a pervasive and systemic problem happening throughout Iowa and our nation. Fueled by poverty and violence,...

Negative Body Image

Friday, April 18, 2014

If cyberbullying and "revenge porn" don't already do enough to damage the psyche of females, a new survey of nearly 900 female college students...

Females in the workforce

Friday, April 11, 2014

A new report from the Pew Foundation (a nonpartisan research organization that conducts public polling, demographic research, media analysis, and social...

Gender at Work

Saturday, April 5, 2014

At this year's United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, there is a new perspective on how better to achieve gender equality. The most...

Successful Girls Empower the World

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Nike Foundation, known for its focus specifically on supporting education and success of adolescent girls released The Girl Declaration as a call...

Hidden Rules of Poverty

Monday, March 24, 2014

We know that our economic situation has great influence on how we see our world and our future. And studies have created framework for what is...

Woman are Heroes

Friday, March 14, 2014

Women are heroes. This is a project of French street artist and photographer, JR, who believes that art can change the world. His photo project,...

Media influence is one of the most powerful economic and cultural forces today.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Although we know that the media continues to over sexualize and under-intellectualize girls and women, we may think that finally, women and media are...

Media Myths affecting young girls

Friday, February 28, 2014

In 1981, Rachel Giordano was a red-headed 4-year-old child model with pigtails and baggy jeans, starring in a LEGO ad. This was a time when toys...

topics

Labor Day and the History of Women's Workforce Activism

Authenticity of Strong Women

Women's Role in Our Independence

Social Media and It's Impact on Girls

3 Vital Components of Social Connection

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Women and the Judicial System

Women's Alliance and DEI

Unseen Women's History

Women's History Month and Feminism

Working to Improve Social Determinants of Health

Women for President

The Importance of Women Role Models

Eliminating Gangs and Gang Violence

Understanding Toxic Stress

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

#MeToo Lives On

Defining Power

Native American Heritage Month

Bullying Doesn't Stop in Childhood

Iowa Child Care Crisis

Making Women's Leadership a Priority

Inspired Men Campaign

Remembering 9/11

Student Loan Forgiveness

How Chrysalis After-School Helps with Mental Health

The Start of Chrysalis and the Women’s Funding Movement

What is Reproductive Justice?

The Importance of DEIA and Intersectionality

Every Kid Healthy Week

Building Stronger Connections to Schools

An answer to the qualified workforce shortage? Support women.

Continued Stresses for Adolescents During the Pandemic

Social Issues Affecting the Future

Women's Role in War

Pandemic Pushing Childcare Collapse

Rest in Power, bell hooks

Climate Change and Who Can Help

Poverty: A Complex Situation

Celebrating International Day of the Girl

Developmental Disorders and the Diagnosis Gap

What does equal rights for women really mean?

Dove Self-Esteem Project

June is Pride Month: Focusing on Marginalized Gender/s

Trauma, Toxic Stress, and New Interventions

The Girl Declaration

Take Action to Support Sexual Assault Victims

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

STOP ASIAN HATE

Demographic Changes in the Workforce: Future for Women and Girls

There Can Be No Gender Justice Without Racial Justice

Celebrating Our Founder

The Women of Iowa's History

Wrongful Adultification

Celebrating Black History Month

What Chrysalis is Doing to Prevent Girls and Women from Experiencing Domestic Violence

Chrysalis Wants Freedom from Violence for All Girls and Women

Toxic Masculinity and the US Capitol Attack

Cultural Changes Expected in 2021

Recognizing All of the December Holidays

A Woman Coined the Term Thanksgiving

Many Women and Mothers Let Go During to the Pandemic

Women in Politics and the Glass Ceilings We Are Still Breaking

Chrysalis Priority: Economic Empowerment and Wage Equity

Caregiving and the Policy Changes Needed

Women Face Devastating Problems During the Pandemic

Women's Impact on Counterterrorism

Chrysalis Honors United States Supreme Court Justice and Advocate for Women, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

21-Day Equity Challenge

Childcare Expansion Would Help the Economy

Poverty and the Income Gap

Black Girl MATHgic

Women's Experience with Sexual Harassment in the Military

Microaggressions and an Update to the Definition of Racism

Teaching Children About Racial Justice

Women in Law Enforcement

Women in the Military

Memorial Day and Women's Involvement in War