Cassandra Welchlin, director of the Mississippi Women’s Economic Security Initiative (MWESI), has been named the new co-convener and lead organizer of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable.
In her new role, Welchlin will become part of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s network of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR). The BWR is the women and girls’ empowerment arm of the organization and is at the forefront of championing just and equitable public policy on behalf of black women and girls that ensure stable families, a prepared workforce for today and tomorrow, and to build power.
Welchlin has been with the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative for 10 years. In 2014, she and MLICCI Executive Director Carol Burnett co-founded the MWESI project as a tool for the statewide nonprofit to promote policies to improve the economic well being of women in Mississippi and their families. Welchlin served as MWESI’s director and worked to promote alliance building with social justice organizations and grassroots leaders across the state. She also forged relationships with legislators and policymakers who were tasked with supporting MWESI’s agendas.
As part of Welchlin’s transition, she will continue the leadership and important movement-building work of MWESI as leader of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable.
“I am excited about this new opportunity to continue advancing women’s economic security and build a leadership infrastructure for movement building to win change lead by women,” Welchlin said. “The fact that African-American women make 60 cents per each dollar made by white men leads to a dismal reality not only for the women but also for her entire family and community. Continuing to lead the MWESI work and building the Black Women’s Roundtable allows us to focus on racial and gender justice perspectives to articulate the value and impact of intersectional, long-term approaches to social change.”
MLICCI Executive Director Carol Burnett said she looks forward to continuing to work with Welchlin as the two organizations collaborate to expand the social justice advocacy network in Mississippi and support a focused and informed policy agenda that is at the intersection of race and gender.
MLICCI will continue its work on women’s economic security through policy reform in child care, workforce and safety net issues.
“We are excited for Cassandra and the opportunity this transition will provide to expand on our social justice work for low-wage women of color in the state of Mississippi,” Burnett said. “We know that in order for our state to move forward we will need more, not less, strong and capable organizations standing with us and doing the work. Cassandra’s new role is a testament to essential impact MLICCI has made over the past 20 years and to the important economic security work that remains to be done by us all.”