WorkLife Law is thrilled to announce the appointment of two new Advisory Board members.
Colleen Coveney is a Partner at Katz Banks Kumin, where she represents workers facing discrimination related to sex, pregnancy, caregiving, and family responsibilities – the very heart of WorkLife Law’s mission. Colleen also brings deep Title IX expertise to the board, core to our work ensuring pregnancy and parenting aren’t barriers to an education. Colleen knows firsthand that legal protections are only as effective as people’s ability to understand and enforce them; she has committed her career to seeking justice for people whose civil rights have been violated.
Colleen, who has been repeatedly recognized as a star in the field by Super Lawyers, litigates cases in federal and state court and before the EEOC and U.S. Department of Labor. She is an active voice on the issues WorkLife Law works on daily.
“Work is foundational to who we are — it supports our families, gives us purpose, and allows us to contribute to our communities. It is also foundational to our collective well-being: our society depends on the contributions of millions of people who show up and do their jobs every day. Caregivers are a vital part of the American workforce, yet they continue to face persistent and often overt discrimination at work. Addressing this problem requires a holistic approach: research to understand its scope, advocacy to strengthen policy, education to change workplace culture, and enforcement to make legal protections meaningful. I’ve been fortunate to spend my career representing caregivers individually and enforcing the laws designed to protect them from workplace discrimination. I’m honored to now have the opportunity to support that mission more broadly as a member of WorkLife Law’s Advisory Board.”
Ryan Yoshimura Shields, MD is an obstetrician-gynecologist and Medical Director of Women’s and Children’s Health at Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital in Waimea, Hawai’i. Ryan practices a holistic model of reproductive health care that incorporates the medical, social, and cultural aspects of every patient’s health.
Ryan has a deep commitment to providing care in underserved communities and has previously worked in clinics and hospitals in Navajo Nation, Uganda, and rural Rwanda. Ryan is also dedicated to tackling the structural factors that drive health disparities. This dedication inspired Ryan to join WorkLife Law’s Board to break down barriers to health and economic security he sees patients face every day.
“I am incredibly honored to join the board of WorkLife Law. I have been deeply impressed with their advocacy and have directly seen how their work impacts our patients’ wellbeing. I have steered many patients to the WorkLife Law hotline; as a clinician, it feels good to know that there are advocates who have our back. I’m looking forward to helping continue this important work.”
Colleen and Ryan bring extraordinary experience, expertise, and wisdom to WorkLife Law’s Advisory Board. Their leadership will be instrumental in advancing our mission of ensuring all people have the freedom to build and maintain economic security through employment and educational opportunities, without having to sacrifice their health or their loved ones’ care. WorkLife Law is fortunate to have Colleen and Ryan’s expert insight informing our research and advocacy.