Renee Stromme Honored as White House Champion of Change

​Renee Stromme, executive director and co-founder of the North Dakota Women's Network, is being recognized by the White House as a "Champion of Change for Working Families" for her work for pay equity and to ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnant women

Renee Stromme Honored as White House “Champion of Change”

April 16th, 2015 — Renee Stromme, executive director and co-founder of the North Dakota Women’s Network, is being recognized by the White House as a "Champion of Change for Working Families" for her work for pay equity and to ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnant women.

On April 16th, Stromme will accept the award in Washington, D.C., for her advocacy for the women and families of North Dakota.   Stromme along with 10 others will be honored for doing ‘extraordinary things to make a difference in their community’. President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend the reception honoring Stromme and fellow ‘Champions of Change’ honorees.
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‘So much is possible if you can change the conversation’ said Stromme of the successful passage of HB 1463. ‘North Dakota law now protects pregnant women from employment discrimination – a significant step forward for the woman and families of our state’.
                                                                                                                            
Stromme says there has been more support for issues that impact women during the 2015 legislative session, and she credits North Dakota voters for this new momentum.  She said, ‘For years, advocacy for women and girls in North Dakota has been on the defense. In each legislative session, bills would be introduced to restrict or roll back women’s rights. Then North Dakota voters soundly rejected Measure 1, the Personhood Amendment, and unseated a few of the champions of this extreme legislation. These decisive election results changed the conversation. Suddenly there was an opening to advance women’s equality, and we took it.’


‘As the 2015 North Dakota legislative session began, women legislators joined together to improve the lives of women and their families. They introduced legislation to move forward policy solutions for working families, including paid family leave, improved access to health care, pay equity, and reasonable accommodations for pregnant women.’


‘The North Dakota Women’s Network was deeply involved in efforts for pay equity and reasonable work accommodations for pregnant women. We shared detailed data and research with the committees considering the bills. At the same time, we shared information with the public, gathered stories, and made the case for passing the legislation.’


‘By providing solid evidence and demonstrating community support, we passed a few key pieces of legislation. We had found a new opportunity to move forward policy solutions for women and working families, and we seized it.’


The North Dakota Women’s Network is a statewide, advocacy organization serving as the catalyst for improving the lives of women through communication, legislation and increased public activism.


To learn more about The North Dakota Women’s Network and the White House Champions of Change program visit www.ndwomen.org  and www.whitehouse.gov/champions.


*Note: Renee Stromme can be made available for telephone interviews. She can be reached at 1-701-226-1116.