Issues Bring Women Together
Front Row (l-r): Ruth Margolin, Jarene Stanford, Virginia Freeman, Sandy Martin, Mini Kaur and Cathy Breidenthal. Back Row (l-r): Laurel Green, Ellen D'Amato, Jane Wood, Jan Anderson Talley and Barbara Wiman. Not Pictured: Barb Friedmann, Ann Ropp, Barbara Hillmer, Sue Mosby, Jeanne Guillot, Sandra Willsie, Paulette Riley and Jill Dunlap.
Women form a collective group to advocate and act more powerfully together as one voice in The Women's Assembly of Kansas & Missouri
There are so many issues and challenges that impact women and children's lives that have yet been attended to in terms in making a life not just better but livable for many women and their children.
Many organizations carry different perspectives on what needs to be done to help inform people. It seems everyone has bits and pieces of information but by coming together to be educated and informed on all sides of an issue is what better prepares others to work toward change, modification of a system or elimination.
This is what The Women's Assembly of Kansas & Missouri, Inc. is about--they are a growing group of 60 high-powered business and organizational women with a mission to build a collective force to identify and lead specific action on women's issues.
Organizations have their own agendas and most organizations are part of a national group and so the national agenda has been to incorporate in the local agenda. But, there is yet to be a group that has addressed the local issues where women can develop meaningful approaches.
"Sometimes it would involve some political activities, influence women and men about voting issues and when we took a poll of The Assembly the issue of, 'No Child Left Behind,' was the number one issue because there are so many organizations that are frustrated. No one is saying that no child should not be educated, but the issue is causing more havoc then help," said Ruth Margolin, board member for The Assembly. "Until we understand the issues, we can't talk about it."
The Assembly is gathering information about the 'No Child Left Behind Act', by answering the questions of 'Where did the act come from?' 'Who developed it?' 'Who brought educational theory?' and then, 'How is it promoted and described to people?'
"We've come to understand that many Congress members voted on the bill and didn't understand all the modalities," she said. "What we hope to accomplish is to help spur some changes in the act and law and help in making that happen to make it more compatible in what we have in our educational system today."
There are seven focus areas assigned with the task of forming action items. They include: leadership, diversity, communication, technology, health, education and economy. Some women are conducting research projects; others are writing and forming speaker's bureaus.
The next meeting of The Assembly will be held Wed- nesday, January 21, 2004 at the Kauffman Foundation. The group has held two sessions: one in June and another in September 2003.
It emerged from a need for a collective voice, an informed alliance to advocate fully and to act more powerfully together, to make positive changes and progress on issues that concern women and children.
The Assembly was formed by members of the Coalition for Community Collaboration and the Central Exchange. The Assembly is open to nonprofit and for-profit businesses that are local, regional, national and/or inter-national in scope. The only stipulation is there must be a local office or presence in either Kansas or Missouri.
Each member organization is allowed two delegate positions and one alternate to cast two votes on each issue. Staff and employees of member companies are also invited to participate in the Assembly process through input, research, expertise, technical assistance, testimony and opinion. Membership is available to individuals as non- voting members.
There are "3 Little Rules" that govern the body: Turf issues are left at the door; no hidden agendas; and if a member comes to that table they better be willing to share.
Additional issues will be voted on by the assembly. There will be one issue per year. To get involved please all 816.235.5428 or check out the website at www.womensassembly.org