Today, the City of St. Louis announced its launch of a new online boards and commissions application portal. The new online portal will increase transparency by allowing residents to view current board members and board vacancies with ease. With this system update, civic engagement is now more accessible for constituent participation and applications. While there are a large number of appointees serving beyond term, strategic partnerships with civic organizations will assist with the recruitment efforts to bring in a new class of appointees.
“Our boards and commissions should reflect the incredible diversity of St. Louis, across racial lines and different backgrounds, but many residents have felt excluded from the decision-making process for far too long,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “This partnership with local civic organizations and United WE’s Appointments Project® will strengthen our city and ensure that a diversity of perspectives is included on our civic boards, which will make our city stronger in the long run.”
The Jones Administration is partnering with United WE to increase the number of women and people of diverse backgrounds on local boards and commissions through its Appointments Project®. Started in 2014, United WE’s Appointments Project® has successfully facilitated more than 170 appointments of women on boards and commissions. The project serves as a talent bank and advisor, and guides women through the process of applying for boards and commissions. The Appointments Project fills a critical need in creating a pathway to more equitable and inclusive representation.
“Our research showed that women were not civically engaged because they weren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project to ask women to serve so local boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President and CEO. “With the help of partners like Mayor Jones, we are addressing the gender disparities in local leadership and making real change in our communities.”
The Jones Administration is also partnering with various civic organizations to assist with recruitment including 100 Black Men of St. Louis, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, the National Pan-Hellenic Council of St. Louis, St. Louis (MO) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Tower Grove Pride, the Archway (MO) Chapter of The Links Incorporated, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce.
A public virtual training event is planned for Thursday, February 17 at 12:00pm for interested applicants to learn more about the application process. To learn more about open board and commissions vacancies visit stlouis-mo.gov/government/boards/ and to register for the event visit formstack.io/FC984 [formstack.io].
To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit www.united-we.org/appointments-project