empoWer: Elevating Women in Public Transit

Introduction

Welcome to empoWer, NJ TRANSIT's employee resource group for women. Our mission is to empower women and their allies by advocating for women, connecting them with opportunities, providing mutual support, mentorship, inspiration, and encouragement to excel. Our vision is for NJ TRANSIT to be an organization where women and their allies continue to be supported and connected at all levels to achieve their full potential.
 
We work with and for the benefit of NJ TRANSIT’s employees, customers, and community partners. We foster an inclusive environment that supports the growth, leadership, and advancement of women in all aspects of public transportation. We believe that what benefits women benefits everyone!

What We Do

empoWer is at the forefront of supporting targeted inclusion efforts while fostering a culture of belonging at NJ TRANSIT. Join us in our journey through our various initiatives:

• We serve as a sounding board for NJ TRANSIT’s leadership for employee initiatives to drive change: 
  • Supported property management to ensure that needs of women were incorporated in the new office building design.
  • Collaborate with Human Resources to establish a gender pay gap study and develop a mentorship program at NJ TRANSIT. 
     
• We support initiatives that enhance the customer experience: 
  • Collaborating with the Planning Department on a research study to better understand the riding experience and needs of women in our system.
  • Working with the Communications team to develop a systemwide Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign.
     
• We organize community donation drives and campaigns that strengthen NJ TRANSIT's relationship with the community:
  • Launched “Around the Coffee Table” Series to highlight women across NJ TRANSIT.
  • Hosted networking gatherings.
• We organize community donation drives and campaigns that strengthen NJ TRANSIT’s relationship: 
  • Comfort Drive for cancer patients 
  • HomeFront Drive for families facing homelessness
  • Back to School Drive

• We organize Lunch & Learn sessions and panel discussions to increase employee engagement and raise awareness of internal resources: 
  • Balancing Family and Career
  • The Role of Allyship in Creating an Inclusive Organization

​​​​​​​

• Breast Cancer Awareness

 

Celebrated Women in Public Transportation

At NJ TRANSIT, we stand on the shoulders of giants. Meet some of the pioneering women who have paved the way in public transportation:

• Mary Walton: An advocate for 19th-century New York City public transit improvements, Walton's innovative solutions laid the groundwork for modern urban transit systems.
• Charlotte Collyer: Breaking gender barriers in the early 20th century, Collyer's role as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco showcased women's capabilities in transit roles.
• Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: A fierce labor organizer, Flynn's activism secured better working conditions and fair wages for transit workers, setting a precedent for employee rights.
• Rosa Parks: A symbol of resistance and change, Parks' courageous act on a segregated bus ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott and transformed public transit's role in civil rights.

Connect with us!

Are you looking to work for NJ TRANSIT and would like to learn more about our agency?
Are you a student and would like to learn about career paths for women in public transit? 
Are you a female business owner and would like to compete for a contract with NJ TRANSIT? 
Are you part of an organization that empowers women and would like to connect with us?
Do you have expertise related to our mission and would like to speak at one of our events?

Connect with us

Get involved - NJ TRANSIT Employees!

All NJ TRANSIT non-agreement employees (regardless of sex and gender) are welcome to join empoWer and be part of a community dedicated to advancing women in public transportation. Are you ready to make an impact and drive change? 

Get Involved