News / Events
/ 03.15.26 /
Head Above Water Premieres March 25 at Luminary
Join Working for Women and Luminary for the premiere of Head Above Water, a powerful new animated short film that brings to life the hidden financial pressures millions of working women face every day.
📍 Luminary, New York City
📅 March 25, 2026
⏰ Doors open 8:30 AM | Program begins 9:00 AM
Through striking visual storytelling, Head Above Water reveals the reality many women quietly navigate every day — rising costs, constant tradeoffs, and the growing gap between working hard and staying financially stable.
Because for millions of women across the United States, the challenge isn’t a lack of effort.
It’s the math.
The Hidden Struggle of Working Women
Every morning, millions of women begin the same balancing act.
They prepare children for school.
They head to work.
They care for aging parents.
They stretch paychecks across groceries, transportation, childcare, and healthcare.
They are working hard.
They are doing everything right.
And yet, financial stability remains just out of reach.
Across the country, many of these women live in households known as ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
Research from United For ALICE shows that while these households earn above the federal poverty line, they still cannot afford the true cost of living in their communities.
These are not isolated stories.
They are teachers.
Healthcare workers.
Service professionals.
Caregivers.
Office staff.
Women whose work keeps businesses running and communities functioning.
Women who are essential to our economy.
And yet too many are barely staying above water.
Head Above Water translates this economic reality into a deeply human story — one that reveals what millions of women carry beneath the surface every day.
From Awareness to Action
To mark the film’s premiere, Working for Women will host a special launch event and live conversation exploring what these realities mean not only for women and families, but for the future of our workforce and economy.
The conversation will be moderated by Lisha Bell, Founder of Sisters with Ventures, and will bring together leaders across sectors to examine the structural challenges facing working women and the solutions already taking root.
Panelists include:
- Beth Bengtson, Founder & CEO, Working for Women
- Stephanie Berman, Global Chief Creative Officer, The Bloc
- Nuri Montilla-Rivas, Strategic Partnerships Executive, CareerCircle
- Leidy Johanna Ortiz Arias, Program Participant, Working for Women
Together, they will explore the widening gap between effort and stability — and what employers, nonprofits, and communities can do to help close it.
Event Experience
The morning will include:
🎬 Exclusive premiere screening of the animated film Head Above Water
🎤 Moderated panel discussion
💬 Audience Q&A
🤝 Networking reception
Hosted in partnership with Luminary, the event will convene leaders from business, media, workforce development, and community organizations who are committed to expanding economic mobility and financial stability for women.
Why This Conversation Matters
When women struggle to make ends meet despite working hard, the impact extends far beyond individual households.
Employers face workforce instability.
Families face impossible financial tradeoffs.
Communities lose the full potential of the people who keep them running.
Ensuring that more women can achieve financial stability isn’t just a social issue.
It’s an economic one.
Head Above Water invites us to make what is often invisible visible — and to come together around solutions that allow more women, families, and communities to truly stay above water.
Register to Attend the Premiere
Join us for the premiere screening and conversation.