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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 - Womens Commission - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins Women’s Commission 2017 Annual Report The City of Fort Collins Women’s Commission promotes decisions and actions that address the needs and positive impacts of women in our community. We do this by listening to the voice of women, advising city council, promoting community events, and educating ourselves and others about safety, health and poverty. Women’s Commission members in 2017 were Molly Alderton, Liz Donovan, Ginny Carroll, Emily Gorgol, Kori Wilford, Huston Morse, Stacia Ryder, Hannah Little, Hailey Atkinson and Dru Van Doren In 2017, the Women’s Commission (WC) accomplished the following: • January was proclaimed Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by the Mayor, as the WC partnered with the Child Advocacy Center Voices Carry and A Face to Reframe. Additionally, the WC supported efforts to send a volunteer associated with A Face to Frame to attend a national training on the issue of Human Trafficking. • The WC held the seventh annual retreat on February 11, 2017, to discuss, review and plan the following: 1. Election of officers 2. Review 2007 bylaws, voted to update roles and responsibilities of leadership positions 3. Action items for 2017 (Focus topics, partnerships, proclamations) 4. Review of B&C Changes 5. Review of Work Plan 6. Review of Council’s Strategic Plan 7. Strategic Planning for Upcoming Year to align with Council’s strategic plan 8. Discussed the role of activism in the Women’s Commissions roles and responsibilities • The WC aligned their 2017 Work Plan with the City of Fort Collins seven Key Strategic Outcomes. • Huston Morse, Molly Alderton, Stacia Ryder and Ginny Carroll attended the Women’s rights rally in Old Town Square on 2/11/17. • Representatives from the Grand Family Coalition discussed challenges that grandparents face raising grand children in Fort Collins. • During the February meeting, the WC formed the “Women in Politics” subcommittee with the intention of networking with current women on elected boards and positions, and with women who were in elected positions, and potentially create or plan a support group, panel discussion, events, potentially creating a program for women to participate in in order to get more women involved in running for office. • Huston Morse presented at the February Caring and Sharing Event about the AAUW Start Smart program. Kori Wilford attended the event. • In March, the WC moved to amend the 2007 bylaws to reflect accurate and up to date roles and responsibilities for the Leadership roles within the commission. The members also began planning for the Annual Boards and Commissions breakfast, scheduled for May 9. • The Women’s Commission partnered with the Women’s Foundation to host a panel discussion on women and girls in STEM programs. Huston Morse, Kori Wilford, Ginny Carroll, and Hannah Little attended the event. The panel included a current CSU STEM student, a recent CSU STEM graduate, a CSU STEM educator and a STEM working professional. • Members of the Women’s Commission volunteered on March 24 at the Larimer County Food Bank. Members who participated: Liz Donovan, Hannah Little, Molly Alderton, Huston Morse, Stacia Ryder, and Ginny Carroll. • In April, the WC coordinated and hosted a panel discussion on LBGTQ+ issues and concerns in the community. Panel members provided insights into their experiences in our community. A common theme is the lack of community ties for teens, transgender individuals, and seniors. • On April 18, the WC partnered with SAVE for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, to helped ensure that all SAVA’s planned events for the month of April were added to the Community Calendar. • The WC continued the dialogue with other Boards and Commissions by hosting a sixth annual breakfast mixer on May 9. B and C representatives shared 2017-18 goals and major projects. • In April, the WC invited SAVA staff to the May meeting to provide an “It’s on Us” update. The program is surviving, but looking for assistance and sponsorship to continue to grow and thrive within Fort Collins. • On May 19, Molly Alderton attended the Pinked (Planned Parenthood fundraiser at the Artery). • Ted Shephard attended the June WC meeting, where he presented and engaged the WC in assisting with, the City of Fort Collins Street Naming project. The goal is to add not only more names to the approved list of potential street names, but to add women of Fort Collins influence and history to the list, as there is currently a large disparity in the type of names on the list (heavily male). • On August 16, staff from the City’s Finance Department provided an update on the City’s 2017 Rebate program, the application procedure, the time frame for the program and the amounts available. • On September 20, staff from the City’s Social Sustainability Services Department provided an overview of the Community Trust Initiative. The Women’s Commission provided a letter of support for the Initiative to City Council. • Also in September, a representative from Zonta International provided an overview of Zonta, and an update on the HerStory Project, a legacy mural project honoring women with specific ties to Fort Collins. • On September 28, Huston Morse, Hailey Atkinson, Kori Wilford and Stacia Ryder attended the Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s annual Luncheon, guest speaker was Octavia Spencer. • At the October 18 City Council meeting the WC accepted two proclamations: Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Community partners included Crossroads Safehouse and HopeLives! • At the November 7 City Council meeting, the WC accepted a proclamation on Hunger and Homelessness. Partners included The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope and the Food Bank of Larimer County. • Throughout the year, the WC continued conversations with WomenGive about continuing partnership for the Marcile N Wood award presentation. • The WC was a presence at City Council meetings in 2017, with a Commission member attending almost each meeting. • The WC continued our membership with the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW). Guests to meetings included: Director of A Face to Reframe (Human Trafficking) Executive Director of Voices Carry, Child Advocacy Center Grand Family Coalition LGBTQ+ Panel Members SAVA City of Fort Collins City Clerk’s Office City of Fort Collins Advanced Planning City of Fort Collins Finance Department City of Fort Collins Social Sustainability Department Zonta WomenGive The Women’s Commission continues to work toward better communication with City Council, collaboration with Boards and Commissions, and community relationships. The The Women’s Commission views proclamations as one of many ways to continue to bring forward women’s issues and concerns and appreciates the continued partnerships with SAVA, Crossroads Safehouse, The Food Bank of Larimer County, The Murphy Center, HopeLives, Planned Parenthood and Fort Collins Police Services. The Commission continues to look for a 2017 partner for the annual Marcile N. Wood award. As well, the Commission is exploring new and different relationships with varying entities focused on issues and concerns of women in our community. To accomplish the goals set by the Women’s Commission, members attended and participated in numerous community events surrounding women’s issues. The Women’s Commission looks forward to supporting their work in 2018.