Celebrating Women's History Month and the Exponential Growth of Cummins Powers Women
Cummins Inc. has been taking action for gender equality for years. Internally, the company continues working to improve the representation of women at all levels of the company; and is extending that same drive and focus to girls and women in Cummins communities through the global program, Cummins Powers Women.
Since it launched in 2018, this $22 million commitment (to date) has served 26 million women and girls. Through the efforts of Cummins leaders and employees partnering with expert nonprofits around the world, 32 laws and policies have been changed to improve gender equality. More than 5,500 Cummins employees volunteered almost 12,000 hours last year in support of nonprofits working to engineer solutions to gender inequality.
International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month offers an annual opportunity for celebrating the achievements of women around the world. This year’s theme, #BreaktheBias, invites all Cummins employees to understand the impact they have by breaking the gender bias in Cummins communities, schools and workplaces.
The program now has nine nonprofit partners in 17 countries focused on the four key drivers of gender equality:
- Educational attainment: Grants to the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA), Girls Inc. and Camfed help girls finish secondary school and transition to work, further education or entrepreneurship.
- Economic empowerment: Grants to CARE and China Women’s Development Foundation support women’s legal rights and skills building opportunities to increase their daily wages.
- Legal rights: Grants to Rise Up, Global Rights for Women and Rosa Fund support local nonprofit leaders to change laws and policies to protect women and girls.
- Personal safety: Grants to Promundo to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality and preventing violence.
During the week of March 7, Cummins employees and leaders from seven regions hosted virtual and in-person discussions on gender bias. A variety of leaders, spanning the Cummins Leadership Team, country leadership, plant leaders and site leaders from around the world are sharing their volunteerism in support of women and girls. Additionally, an all-male panel is focusing on the important role men and boys play and how everyone can demonstrate their commitment to gender equality.