Hi everyone,
As most of you know, one of the issues I am most passionate about is gender equality. While you usually hear from me in an international capacity, I am SO glad to be a part of the Women Build Project through Habitat for Humanity this year thanks to my friend Jess. This project directly helps and empowers local women in Chicago who are in need of a hand, or more specifically, a house.

Homeownership is one of the most dynamic tools a person can use to build a strong and stable future. However, it is a tool that far too many women are unjustly denied access. From the gender pay gap and its impact on credit profiles, to uneven child care responsibilities that consume time and financial resources, to higher rates of mortgage denials despite superior payment performance, the hurdles keeping women from homeownership are high.

This October, I'm grabbing my hammer, strapping on my tool belt, and joining Habitat Chicago's Women Build alongside 450 determined women to knock these barriers down. Together, we will help our fellow women become homeowners with Habitat Chicago, a nonprofit committed to building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. 

How can you help? My team is fundraising to provide us the materials we need to build a house and we need contributions from our family and friends! I am seeking to raise at least $500 to my team so we can change the lives of these women forever and prove that there's nothing a group of committed women can't do.

Change happens one person at a time. I appreciate any support you can give - big, small, or somewhere in between.

Thank you all so much for your continued support.
Marley