Press Release: City of St. Louis Launches Online Boards and Commissions Application Portal

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

Press Release: United WE and University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research Unveil New Research on the Status of Women in Kansas

United WE held a virtual press conference today to announce findings from ongoing research on the Status of Women in Kansas. United WE commissioned the study with the University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research in an effort to analyze women’s progress to better identify areas of concern and potential policy insights for women of all ages.

This research illuminates important findings, implications, and policy insights as women are being disproportionately affected by the economic and societal effects of COVID-19. Kansas maintains higher female labor force participation than the U.S., however, the gender earnings gap is wider in Kansas. For Kansas women, 73.5% are employed while only 69.6% of U.S. women participate in the labor force. Women in Kansas earned 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man in 2020.

Covid has illuminated how challenging it is to fully participate in the workforce when childcare is compromised. The research shows that infant care in Kansas is less affordable than most other states, accounting for 29% of female median earnings in Kansas. The unemployment rate rose dramatically at the beginning of the pandemic, with the rate for U.S. women peaking at over 16% in April 2020. Kansas women’s unemployment peaked at 7.6% in June 2020 and remained higher than men’s through August 2020.

“The pandemic has brought long-time gender inequities such as pay equity, paid family and medical leave, childcare and flexible work options further to the forefront,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “It is our collective responsibility to take this research, identify innovative solutions, educate elected officials and community leaders, and unite to advance and support policies that strengthen Kansas women and families for the economic development of our state.” 

The 2021 findings highlight areas of possible action to help economically empower women and their families. Findings from the research include the following:

Employment & Earnings

• In Kansas in 2020, for every dollar earned by a man, women made only 78 cents. This is less than the national average of $0.82 per dollar.

• Women have lower levels of self-employment in Kansas compared with the U.S. and are less likely to own a business in Kansas.

• United WE advocates for salary history bans and has established pay equity best practice guidelines to promote equal pay for equal work. 

Covid-19 & The She-cession

• A greater share of Kansas unemployment claims have been filed by women since March 14, 2020 (46.6%) than prior to the pandemic (32%).

• Women in Kansas are more likely to work in sectors that were subject to layoffs due to Covid such as health care, accommodations and food services, education, and retail trade.

• United WE advances and supports policies that reduce workforce development obstacles such as pay inequality, childcare barriers, limited paid family leave, entrepreneurship restrictions, and sexual harassment.

Childcare

• Kansas infant care costs are 29% of female median earnings, one of the highest percentages in the U.S.

• In Kansas, infant care at daycare centers is 1.3 times more expensive than in-state college tuition. Daycare costs for four-year old children compare to in-state tuition in Kansas.

• United WE advocates for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers. Thousands of additional state employees in Kansas benefit from paid parental leave, as the Judicial Branch and Board of Regents updated their paid family leave policies in September 2021.

Poverty & Social Insurance

• Among people age 65 and over, women in Kansas are almost twice more likely than men to be in poverty.

• Child poverty in Kansas averaged 14.9% from 2015-2019. This rate increased significantly since 2000, when it stood at 9.1%.

• Poverty strikes single mother households at an alarming rate: 34% in Kansas and 35% for the U.S.

• United WE supports policy reforms that remove barriers and leverage opportunities for women’s economic development, such as gender pay equity, which impacts retirement savings for women in the long-term. 

Civic Engagement

• Women are in the minority in state legislatures in Kansas and in the U.S. Women comprise only about 28% of state legislators in Kansas and 29% in the U.S.

• Women vote in higher numbers in Kansas compared with men. In the 2020 general election, 61.4% of women versus 58.7% of men 18 and over reported casting their ballots.

• United WE’s Appointments Project® facilitates the appointment of women to civic boards and commissions and addresses a critical gap in representation and leadership. The project is expanding to cities across the country including Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City.

“Factual data is the first step in telling an accurate story of the lives of Kansas women,” said Dr. Donna Ginther, Director, Center for Science Technology & Economic Policy at the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas. “This research validates the importance of removing barriers and advocating for policies that support women, ultimately making families and communities healthier and the economy stronger.” 

The study was initially released in March 2016. A full copy of the 2021 report can be viewed here.

From Our President & CEO: Impactful Public Policy Starts with Listening

In my role, I have the honor of speaking with and listening to women regularly. I often hear stories of perseverance, strength and resilience from so many women who are facing challenges daily in our society and economy. These stories are what drive me to advocate for those women whose voices are not being heard. 

In order to identify barriers, one must listen to concerns directly from those being impacted. We had the chance to sit down with hundreds of women in 2021 through our Missouri town halls, where we heard about the challenges they are facing such as childcare, eldercare, healthcare, paid family leave and broadband access. 

In listening to these women, there was an unmistakable theme that women want to participate in the economy, but there are structural barriers keeping them from participating fully or succeeding. But even more shocking, was that we learned this was the FIRST time many of these women had been asked questions about these issues. This was the first time they were able to share their stories. The first time someone sat down to listen to them.

We heard stories such as:

Angela from Kansas City who had challenges with gaining the funding she needed from a bank to start up her bakery business.

• "If my dad came in [to the bank] with the same information, he would have gotten a loan. I was a minority, a woman, and I was younger - I wasn't taken seriously."

A woman from Southwest Missouri who’s facing challenges with childcare.

• “We are in a heavily industrial area, second shift childcare is non-existent. There are unfortunate choices being made. There are several organizations that have tried with grants and task forces. It continues to be an issue.”

A rural town hall participant who struggles to get broadband access at her home.

• "We live in a rural area ... in order for us to obtain internet, we would have had to pay the construction cost, which was over $24K."

Women’s voices must be heard to help shape policy solutions and drive systemic change. We need to continue to provide opportunities for women to speak up, such as roundtable talks, small group discussions, listening sessions and surveys. We are excited to be conducting town halls throughout the State of Kansas in the summer of 2022 to hear firsthand from more women. 

At United WE, we are not only listening, we are also taking action. The Missouri Town Halls Report has helped us inform policy priorities in Missouri and we plan to do the same with the Status of Women in Kansas Report which will be released on Feb. 2, 2022. Earlier this week, our Missouri Town Halls Report was leveraged by Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe at an important roundtable discussion on the state’s childcare needs. I am proud to be at this table and have United WE’s research informing the group. I will also have the opportunity to advocate in support of a childcare tax credit and financing during both Kansas and Missouri 2022 legislative sessions, sharing the learnings and stories I heard from women at our town halls.

We will continue to advocate for policy solutions that benefit women across our communities and work to drive real, lasting change in both Kansas and Missouri as we enter the new year. We will continue listening to women, hearing about the challenges they face each day, and advocating on their behalf. Because when women are included and heard, we have a more inclusive economy and we all win.

United We Listen,

Wendy

A Loyal Changemaker

United WE Donor Feature: D.I. Murphy 

“I’m thankful for the changes that have come about since I was in the workforce but we still have a lot of work to do”.

When D.I. Murphy decided to become a Changemaker for United WE in 2020, she said it was an easy decision. Ms. Murphy has been a donor to United WE since 2014 and knew becoming a Changemaker, United WE’s group of loyal donors that make monthly donations, was the right step. She said, “I don’t even notice that $10 coming out of my account every month but I realize that it is going to a cause I believe in.”

Ms. Murphy, (Dodie to her friends and family) has a fascinating story and has seen her share of change and empowerment for women since her career in government, highlighted by her tenure with Governor Teasdale in the 70’s and 80’s. She will tell you she has dealt with a host of issues with gender equity in her professional career, education and personal experiences. She has been retired for many years, yet she offered a piece of advice to women of all ages that never outdates—"be open to constantly learning and encouraging the allies in your lives to do the same. Above all, “do not accept anyone putting you down, even jokingly.” 

Ms. Murphy said, “I’m thankful for the changes that have come about since I was in the workforce, but we still have a lot of work to do”. “I am 100% behind the work that United WE is doing”.

We invite you to join Ms. Murphy and become a Changemaker today! A gift of any size, automatically charged monthly, is an easy and affordable way to empower women. For questions or more information on other ways to give and volunteer, contact Robyn Kollar, Director of Annual Giving at agd@united-we.org or 816.988.2006.

From Our President & CEO: Reflecting on This Year & Growing the Movement

This year has been full of productivity and rewarding impact as we accelerated our movement to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. We commissioned critical research, advocated for solutions to remove barriers, helped educate and appoint women to leadership positions, solicited feedback from women on their obstacles, and engaged more people like you than ever before in supporting our mission.

Here are few highlights:

• 660 Women trained/empowered through our programming and Appointments Project

• 501 policy maker education touchpoints addressing barriers such as occupational licensing, paid family leave, childcare and more

• 262 Women’s voices heard in town halls across Missouri

• 36 Women appointed to boards and commissions

• 7 new Appointments Project cities/counties onboarded

Thank you for your gifts of leadership, engagement, support, and feedback this year. Our successes are not possible without you - you fuel and champion our mission in your workplaces and communities. Because of you, this movement has tremendous momentum and united with you, we are eager to remove even more barriers for women in 2022!

There are countless women who inspired us this year. I invite to you revisit their stories:

• Watch our Take Three video series, where I spoke with inspiring women about their efforts to empower women in their communities.

• Revisit stories of generosity and kindness from some of our amazing donors here.

• Read quotes from Missouri women town hall participants about the barriers they face in our full report here.

As we wrap this year, I want to give you a teaser of what’s to come in 2022:

• Research: We will release the Status of Women in Kansas and Status of Women in Oklahoma, as well as an occupational licensing briefing.

• Economic Development: We will launch the first-ever Kansas Women’s Economic Development Task Force and conduct town halls across Kansas.

• Civic Leadership: We will continue to scale our award-winning Appointments Project to new states and cities from the east to west coast.

There is much to celebrate this year, and I am grateful for the community that makes our work possible. I hope you take time to rest and reflect this holiday season and know that you have made a difference in the lives of thousands of women. I look forward to strengthening this movement with you in 2022.

Kindly,

Wendy

New study: Childcare Challenges Lead to Significant Impact on Missouri’s Economy

“No one should have to choose between caring for a child and paying the bills. This important data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Chamber of Commerce echoes our Missouri Town Hall Report findings and highlights the childcare challenges that exist for families in Missouri and across our country. For many women, the cost of care equals or surpasses their monthly income, making it hard to justify staying in the workforce. By generating innovative solutions we can boost women’s participation in the labor force and grow our American economy”

— Wendy Doyle

A new report has revealed that childcare challenges are costing Missouri an estimated $1.35 billion annually for the state’s economy, including a $280 million annual loss in tax revenue.

The Untapped Potential in Missouri report, jointly released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry — and in partnership with United WE — sheds new light on an issue that is contributing to workforce challenges employers are facing today.  In fact, the report found that 28 percent of respondents reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

“As we work to achieve a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that the availability of workforce is a crucial challenge — with childcare remaining a significant barrier for many Missourians who want to work. This new report brings to light that childcare issues are costing our state more than a billion dollars annually,” said Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “While this is a complex subject, the business community is ready to lead as we explore ways to address childcare challenges and their subsequent impact on our state’s workforce.”

As a partner in the study release, United WE shares the concern about how childcare issues affect Missouri’s economy as well as the impact on individual families.

“No one should have to choose between caring for a child and paying the bills. This important data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Chamber of Commerce echoes our Missouri Town Hall Report findings and highlights the childcare challenges that exist for families in Missouri and across our country. For many women, the cost of care equals or surpasses their monthly income, making it hard to justify staying in the workforce. By generating innovative solutions we can boost women’s participation in the labor force and grow our American economy,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of United WE.

Key findings from the 2021 report include:

• Childcare gaps result in massive economic losses for Missouri. Childcare issues result in a total estimated loss of $1.35 billion in Missouri, including an estimated $280 million lost annually in tax revenue.

• Some Missouri parents are leaving their jobs due to childcare issues. Approximately 9 percent of parents surveyed voluntarily left a job due to childcare issues.

• Childcare issues are significantly affecting parents’ job decisions. Of respondents surveyed, 28 percent reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

• The greatest need is for infant and toddler care. Of parents who voluntarily leave their jobs, 57 percent do so when their child(ren) is two years old or younger.

The “Untapped Potential” series examines childcare challenges and issues in five U.S. states—Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, and Texas—building on reports released in 2020 on Iowa, Idaho, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.

“While the impact is different in each of these states, these studies show the urgency needed in addressing childcare issues across the country,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Center for Education and Workforce. “The challenges in the childcare system are complex, but solvable — and addressing them comprehensively, in ways that consider the needs of parents, businesses, and providers, will be central for the nation’s long-term economic success.”

Investing in Equity and Opportunity for Women

United WE Donor Feature: Jennifer Ingraham

As a former United WE board chair, Jennifer Ingraham has supported the mission of United WE with her time, talent and treasure for nearly 20 years. She is engaged on every level – which means she holds many titles at United WE, including Appointee, Advisor, Trailblazer, Changemaker and member of the Legacy Society. 

“Even though I no longer have an active role as a board member, United WE’s work of eliminating the barriers to women’s economic growth continues. When we lift up women, they in turn lift up economies. Supporting that work through philanthropy is my way of investing in those at United WE who are continuing to make a difference for women.”

Jennifer Ingraham is a working mother with 25+ years of experience in fundraising for the arts and higher education sectors. Jennifer currently serves Kansas City University as Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni Relations. “This role affords me the honor of inviting alumni to reflect on their success and give back to their alma mater. I feel when I make a personal gift in support of United WE, it gives me that same opportunity to reflect on the work that has been accomplished to advance women during my lifetime and make an investment in the next wave of change I want to see in the world.”

As an appointee through the Appointments Project, Jennifer serves as Vice Chair of the Missouri Community Service Commission and is the co-chair of the Kansas City PIEA Crossroads Arts Advisory Committee. Jennifer is passionate about making a difference in our communities and philanthropy is an easy and active way of supporting United WE’s crucial mission. “I encourage others who believe in equity and opportunity for women to make their own gift in support of United WE. There is a time and place for all of us to be actively involved in the nonprofits and missions we care about. But when we can’t be personally engaged, we can still support those who are doing the work through our personal philanthropy.” 

A monthly recurring donation (Changemakers) or planned gift (Legacy Society) is also an affordable way to make an impact. ”I made my planned giving commitment to United WE at a time when the organization wanted to grow its endowment. I was board president and I felt that before I asked others to make a significant gift to the campaign, I needed to lead by example. I knew I couldn’t make a leadership gift from my discretionary income, but I could if I made a planned gift. That experience is what led me to make my first charitable planned gift.”

Thank you, Jennifer, for your on-going support and passion for empowering women!

We invite you to join Jennifer today by becoming a Changemaker, Trailblazer, Legacy Society member – or like her, all three!  Contact Robyn Kollar at agd@united-we.org or 816-988-2006 to learn more.

From Our President & CEO: A Season of Gratitude

What are you thankful for this year? 

For most of us, this year has sometimes felt like a repeat of 2020; there have been setbacks and concerns as we continue to navigate a pandemic, find our country divided on key issues, and address the challenges that disproportionately affect women. 

However, as we enter the holiday season, it is important to pause and acknowledge our gratitudes and our triumphs. There have been hardships, but this year has provided us with opportunities to plan for future generations while acknowledging the current needs of women and their families. We have taken time to listen, learn, and act as we move forward, paving the path for how we want future generations of women and girls to thrive. I am thankful for all that you have done to further our mission and advance gender equity through your support and involvement, particularly:  

Women’s Economic Development Task Force: A First-of-its-Kind Initiative to Provoke Change

Between July and October, we spoke with hundreds of  women from all backgrounds across the state of Missouri about the issues surrounding their participation and advancement in the workforce. We had candid conversations, uncovered new insights, and are currently developing actionable and necessary policy recommendations to improve the conditions that hold women back. And Missouri is just a starting point; we have plans to expand our task forces to additional states in 2022 to continue hearing and understanding the challenges affecting women across our nation. We are grateful for the honesty of our participants and the generous support of our partners. 

Key Policy Expansions

We supported multiple policy updates that impact women’s wellbeing this year. We are grateful to the political leaders on both sides of the party lines who support the advancement of women through multiple changes, including:

• Medicaid Expansion in Missouri: 275K more Missourians now have access to health insurance, including pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities and children. 

• Occupational Licensing Support for Women-Led Jobs: House Bills 273 and 476 were signed into law in Missouri, providing broader licensure reforms for shampooing and occupational therapy. 

• Occupational Licensing Support for Military Reciprocity in Kansas. HB 2066, signed into law, expands the existing law to make it easier for military spouses from other states to use their professional licenses in Kansas by expediting key elements of the licensing process.

• Expanded Paid Family Leave for Kansas state employees: The Judicial Branch now provides eight weeks of leave for both parents, an increase of just four weeks for the secondary parent, and the Board of Regents requires a shorter employment time to qualify for leave.

As I reflect on 2021, I see that we have been busy at work, and I am grateful for that. I’m also thankful to the many stakeholders that support, elevate and advocate for our work.

Thank you to the civic leaders who listen to our feedback to improve policies for women and families. 

Thank you to the community partners who support the Appointments Project, and to the women who trust us with their journey to seek positions on boards and commissions. 

Thank you to the generous donors who make our work possible.

Thank you to the generous volunteers who give of their time to advance women, from our board of directors to advisors to numerous committees, task force and coalition members, and of course, United WE Ambassadors and Groundbreakers.

Thank you for being a supporter of United WE; we are grateful for the time, talent and treasure that countless women and men have donated to our organization since 1991. 

I have been so inspired this year by the groundbreaking women and men who support United WE and our efforts. During this season of gratitude, I encourage you to thank the people in your life who support and acknowledge you. Our work is far from done, but we are making progress together, and that is worth celebrating. United WE are thankful.

Kindly, 

Wendy

Enabling Equity for Future Generations

United WE Donor Feature: Ebony Reed

When United WE CEO Wendy Doyle met Ebony Reed on an airplane flying back to Kansas City in early 2020, she quickly knew she wanted to recruit her to serve on United WE’s board of directors. As New Audiences Chief of The Wall Street Journal, Ebony led many projects at the intersection of gender, which included writing and editing the Journal’s Women In newsletter. Ebony joined United WE’s board in January 2021 and hit the ground running by supporting the We Work for Change event and co-leading board recruitment efforts.

“I’m proud to be a board member to strategically support United WE’s inclusive mission of advocating for women’s economic and civic leadership and opportunity,” said Ebony. “This urgent work is nonpartisan and is at the heart of some of the most significant change and calls for change that we are seeing in society right now.”

As a journalist and co-author of the forthcoming book, “The Black Dollar”, some of the top policy areas of concern for Ebony are pay equity, workplace opportunity and entrepreneurship. “All of these areas have a significant impact on women’s financial equity and are linked to legislative changes and challenges, so that underscores the importance of United WE’s growing work with the Appointments Project.”

Ebony has held other board positions in Boston, New England and journalism industry nonprofit boards, but right now she is focusing all of her nonprofit time on United WE. Ebony is currently on book leave from The Wall Street Journal to write “The Black Dollar'' with fellow journalist Louise Story, which is focused on the economic systems and intersections of race with Black Americans over time in this country. The book is a mix of history, statistics and multi-generational personal stories. 

She also recently decided to make an impact on future generations of women by making a gift to United WE in her estate plan and joining United WE’s Legacy Society.

“I’ve had a lot of time lately to think about the impact I want to make with my life and how I want to help future generations. When we think about the fact that we all only have a finite amount of time in this life on this earth, it makes it really clear that making a contribution to a mission-focused organization that will use those funds for the betterment of the community is the right thing to do. Better outcomes for women mean better outcomes for our broader society.”

— Ebony Reed

Thank you, Ebony, for your incredible leadership and support to empower women! We invite you to join Ebony as a founding member of our Legacy Society by including United WE in your estate plan. An estate gift is an easy way to make an impact and can be as simple as designating United WE as beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. Estate gifts can be any amount that is meaningful to you! If you have already included United WE in your estate plan and have not yet notified us of your intention, please let us know so we can recognize your legacy as a founding member. Contact Angie Heer, Chief Development Officer at cdo@united-we.org or 816.988.2007 for further information.

Want to grab a copy of “The Black Dollar” once it is published? You can sign up here to get updates.

Ebony Reed accepts a Legacy Society Founding Member recognition piece from former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and United WE Change Campaign Honorary Chair, Sly James. Founding Members received a framed photo of the Fearless Girl statue from Wall Street engraved with their name and the title “Fearless.”

Press Release: Mayor Whipple and United WE Partnership Aims to Appoint More Women to Boards and Commissions

Free Virtual Webinar on November 10 Invites Wichita Women to Learn About Leadership Opportunities

As announced in a press briefing today with the Office of Mayor Whipple, the City of Wichita and United WE have a collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on local boards and commissions through the Appointments Project®. Started in 2014, United WE’s Appointments Project® has successfully placed more than 160 women on boards and commissions, with women of color representing 34% of applicants.  

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to increase gender parity and better drive representation across civic leadership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents,” Mayor Whipple said. “Our partnership with United WE and its Appointments Project® is strengthening our city by increasing the number of women, including women of color, who are at the decision-making table of their communities.”

United WE’s Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The award-winning approach guides women through the process of applying for these positions and suggests applicants for appointment.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they aren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project® so local boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “With the help of partners like Mayor Whipple, we are addressing the gender disparities in local leadership and able to make real changes in our communities.” 

Based on a growing number of success stories, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to work with elected officials and better community representation that leads to better lives for all.  

A public training event is planned for November 10, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. CST with local community partners Wichita Urban Professionals, The Hive, Greater Wichita Partnership and YLPWichita. Interested residents can sign up at https://united-we.org/events/2021/11/10/appointments-project-wichita-overview. 

“We encourage and invite everyone to learn more and join us in unlocking women’s potential for civic leadership,” Mayor Whipple said.