ABC Owned Television Stations’ Documentary ‘Our America: Women Forward’ Extends the Conversation to a Virtual Town Hall, ‘Our America: Women Forward in the Workforce,’ On Tuesday, March 16

The Streaming-Only Town Hall Addresses How the Pandemic Has Disproportionately Impacted Women in the Workforce

Viewers Can Stream the Town Hall across ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

ABC Owned Television Stations present a one-hour streaming town hall, “Our America: Women Forward in the Workforce,” Tuesday, March 16 (1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT), to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted women in the workforce. The town hall is an extended conversation of the previously aired ABC Owned Television Stations hourlong documentary, “Our America: Women Forward,” which celebrates women across the country, sharing their stories of perseverance, hope and triumph. *Viewers can stream the town hall via the station group’s connected TV apps and across its websites. ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Sandra Bookman hosts the exclusive stream-only town hall.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 2.1 million women have left the labor market. It was reported that by fall 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic had forced women, particularly women of color, out of the workforce at a rate four times higher than men. In December 2020, the U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs, each one of them held by women. Moreover, at the start of 2021, data showed that employment amongst women has declined while men has stayed flat. Women are making tough choices to leave the workforce to care for their children who are at home and require homeschooling.

Bookman brings together a panel of experts to address growing workforce issues among women and to answer questions about remote working challenges, employment rights, mental health issues, school and childcare challenges for mothers; and they will share resources that can aid women looking for new business opportunities or looking to restart their careers. Viewers are encouraged to submit their questions in advance.

Confirmed panelists include:

Dr. Rachel Busman, senior director Anxiety Disorders Center and director of the Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She will discuss mental health issues women are facing, signs that children are struggling and why self-care is important.
Angela Reddock-Wright, labor and employment attorney, who will discuss legal aspects of employees’ rights during the pandemic and in relation to companies accommodating remote work.
Felicia Davis, CEO and president, Chicago Foundation for Women, will address the importance of equitable pay, government policies that will help women and their families succeed, and resources to support small businesses and women.
Letha Muhammad, director, Education Justice Alliance, who will address inequities in schools, challenges with remote learning and finding childcare.
Beth Finkel, NY State Director for AARP will share resources and provide tips to women in their mid-40s trying to re-enter the workforce.

*Viewers can stream the town hall on ABC Owned Television Stations’ websites and connected TV Apps: ABC7/WABC-TV New York, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles , ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago, 6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia, ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco, ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston, ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno on streaming platforms Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Viewers can also stream the hourlong documentary, “Our America: Women Forward” on the same streaming platforms and on HULU.

About ABC Owned Television Stations
Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 14 million viewers across America through its digital-first national lifestyle brand and broadcast channel, Localish. Most recently, the stations received five Broadcast & Cable awards, including in the 2020 Best in Local TV Awards category as Station Group of the Year for its innovative and next-generation news reporting, and in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.