December 9, 2016, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Slater Mill Museum

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island

a gathering of advocates, researchers, legislators, and interested others to share information and resources, network together, and discuss the status and the promotion of paid family leave across New England.

Agenda

 

9:00 – 9:15    Registration, eat and greet 

9:15 – 9:45    Welcome 

• Testimonial:  Jed Thorp, new father
• Scott Jensen, Director, Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training
• Barb Silver, Research Professor, University of Rhode Island Schmidt Labor Research Center

9:45 – 10:50   Research Panel:  How Research Can Support Equitable Leave Policies 

• Gayle Goldin, Rhode Island State Senator (Facilitator)
• Randy Albelda, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Boston Albelda ppt
• Kristin Smith, Research Associate Professor of Sociology, University of New Hampshire  Smith ppt
• Lindsay DesLauriers, Executive Director, Main Street Alliance DesLauriers ppt

10:50 – 11:00   Break

 

11:00 – 12:15   Plenary:  Conducting Effective Advocacy  

• Ellen Bravo, Co-Director, Family Values @ Work (Facilitator)
• Vasu Reddy, Policy Counsel, National Partnership for Women & Families
• Julia Watts, Associate Director, American Sustainable Business Council
• Debra Fastino, Executive Director, Coalition for Social Justice

12:15 – 1:00   Lunch & Discussion 

• Testimonials:  Deirdre Fitzgerald, W.S. Badger Co.; Kaitlyn Roberts, Easy Entertaining, Inc.
• Barb Silver, Research Professor, University of Rhode Island Schmidt Labor Research Center: Silver ppt

1:00 – 1:30    Inside Rhode Island’s Paid Leave Program:  Nuts and Bolts  

• Matthew Weldon, Assistant Director, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Casimiro ppt
• Fernanda Casimiro, Administrator, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Temporary Disability and Temporary Caregiver Insurance Programs

1:30 – 2:30    Breakout sessions

       1. Implementation and Technology Issues 

• Sarah Jane Glynn, Senior Policy Analyst (Facilitator)
• Jeffrey Hayes, Program Director, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
• Jessie Posilkin, Innovation Specialist, 18F

      2. 360° Marketing & Outreach 

• Helen Mederer, Professor of Sociology and Labor Studies, University of Rhode Island (Facilitator)
• Sherry Leiwant, Co-President, A Better Balance  Leiwant ppt
• Jim Pontarelli, President, RDW Group  RDW ppt
• Linda Katz, Co-Founder, Rhode Island Economic Progress Institute  Katz ppt

2:30 – 3:00    Wrap Up:  How CAN We Get There from Here?

• Pronita Gupta, Deputy Director, US DOL Women’s Bureau

3:15 – 4:00   Slater Mill Museum Tour (sign up at lunch)