Author: Teresa Chaurand
About four years ago I was asked to serve as a national advisor for the United WE Appointments Project – I’m so glad I said yes. I’ve spent the better part of my career ensuring that marginalized and underrepresented communities are at the center of critical conversations. Ensuring that voices are heard, examining best practices and moving towards progress - even when it’s uncomfortable and hard.
I’ve had the distinct honor of serving at the federal level, as Special Assistant to President Obama in the office of presidential personnel where I led the outreach and recruitment team, and where equity and representation were a priority. Since that time, my commitment to equity and representation has not wavered. I have, however, made an intentional commitment to focus on the local level for commissions and appointed boards. I was pleased to be asked to contribute to the KC Transformation Journey Groups as I believe civic participation is essential; I would argue that local contributions can have a bigger impact and you can see your work and progress in motion. The KC Transformation Journey Groups have created a unique opportunity for women to connect with other professionals who share similar values and aspirations, while honing their skills and developing new strategies and techniques. I lead the Latina Journey Group and it’s been great to hear the enthusiasm they bring and the desire they have to serve. But I’ve also heard of roadblocks, lack of opportunities and not knowing how and where to identify opportunities.
According to a state-level study commissioned by United WE, women in Kansas are a minority on 4 of 6 common boards and in Missouri, women make up 37% of all boards. Unacceptable statistics considering women make up over 50% of the population. Furthermore, women and women of color serving on municipal boards in the Kansas City metro area, while improving, are still too low. And, access to local and regional data on Latinas, Black and Asian women separately; not combined, is next to impossible to find. The goal of the Journey Groups is to change the narrative and prepare participants for opportunities on a broad range of boards, not just boards where women over index. The challenge continues to be that people serving on boards still reach primarily for people in their own network. In order for initiatives like the United WE Appointments Project and the Journey Groups to succeed, influencers who have access to board opportunities need to move out of their comfort zones and reach deeper and further. This phenomenon is not unique to the Kansas City metro, or appointed boards; however now that we can match a need with a talented bench of women, underrepresentation should start to be a side note, not a headline.
So why should civic engagement and representation matter to you? Well, we all want to see our communities thrive. To see support for our families and children, businesses small and large. Support for those in need, the unsheltered, road improvements, green spaces, clean water and opportunities to celebrate the arts. Have you ever met a person who is omniscient about all of these issues, has a profound knowledge of every aspect of our city and community? Can speak to the Latino, Black, or Asian experiences, generational differences, the needs of women and men or sexual orientation and gender identity? The answer is no. That is precisely why civic engagement matters. And why representation is without a doubt necessary.
The KC Journey Groups’ purpose is impact. I know that matching talent with intention will yield stronger outcomes. We have the opportunity to change the narrative and there’s no reason we cannot. Look for more great news to follow these participants as they continue their journey towards board service and civic engagement.
Sources:
United WE Research on Representation
Banwart, Mary, and Emily Vietti. “Kansas Municipalities and Gender Balance: The Status of Boards and Commissions 2021.” United WE, 2021.
Jonason, Amy, Tim Green, Parker Kinard, Victoria Cruz-Solano & Shruti Rathnavel. “Out of Balance: A National Assessment of Women’s Representation on Local Appointed Boards.” Report by Openfields (www.openfields.com) for United WE of Kansas City, MO, 2024.
Manion, Anita, Jake Shaw, Sapna Varkey, and David Kimball. “Gender Parity on Civic Boards & Commissions in Missouri,” United WE, June 2023.