US Department of Labor awards more than $1.5M in grants to prevent, respond to workplace gender-based violence, harassment

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $1.5 million in grants to support efforts by five community organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment against underserved and marginalized women workers.

Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, the Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will help survivors and women at high risk for violence and harassment in the workplace.

“Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment wherever it exists is an administration priority, including in and around the workplace,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The grants we’ve announced today reflect the Department of Labor’s commitment and strategy to ensure workers are safe and respected in their workplaces.”   

The FARE grant program supports community organizations’ projects to address gender-based violence and harassment. Workplace violence and harassment harms women from underserved and historically marginalized communities disproportionately. These communities include women of color, people who identify as LGBTQI+, women with disabilities and women affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

The grants announced today will have wide-reaching impact by supporting programs that — while based in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas — will serve workers in those states as well as California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. 

Grant recipients will provide the following types of support:

• Develop and distribute worker and survivor-centered materials to raise awareness.
• Design programs to prevent workplace gender-based violence and harassment.
• Connect working women to services, benefits and legal assistance.
• Encourage working women and survivors to become focal points in their communities and provide ways to expand their effectiveness through train-the-trainer programs, guided conversations, leadership circles or other activities.

“The Women’s Bureau exists to ensure equity for women in the workplace. We cannot achieve this goal until gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace ends. The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will provide vital support to organizations dedicated to disrupting harmful norms and helping survivors find safety and security in the workplace,” explained Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon.

The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants recipients are as follows: