Free Webinar on November 10 Invites Wichita Women to Learn About Leadership Opportunities
The City of Wichita and United WE today announced 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 virtual public training event is planned for
noon on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 with local community partners Wichita Urban Professionals, The Hive, Greater Wichita Partnership and the Wichita Chamber of Commerce. 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.
To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit
www.united-we.org/appointments-project.
About United WE
United Women's Empowerment, or United WE (formerly the Women's Foundation), is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance all women's economic and civic leadership. Since 1991, United WE has overcome systemic barriers to women's economic development and civic leadership by investing in research, advocacy, and policy solutions. We have conducted 20 meaningful research studies, advocated for issues resulting in 39 policy actions, and supported more than 160 civic appointments. Our work positively impacts hundreds of thousands of women and families by commissioning transformative research, scaling our fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor the legacies of women, and contributing to policy solutions that advance equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and occupational licensing; and aid in fighting against sexual harassment. Unite with us. Visit
www.united-we.org and connect with @UnitedWeEmpower on
Facebook,
Twitter,
LinkedIn and
Instagram.
About Appointments Project®
United WE's fast-growing Appointments Project® is a research-based, tested and systematic approach that has resulted in more than 160 women being appointed to civic boards and commissions. Through a landmark study, United WE identified the barriers causing women to be underrepresented on civic boards and commissions and established the Appointments Project® in 2014. The Appointments Project® empowers women and strengthens communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions to better reflect the communities they serve. In addition to increasing gender diversity, the project emphasizes increasing racial equity on civic boards and commissions among women, with women of color representing 34% of applicants. For more information, please visit
www.united-we.org/appointments-project or follow us on social media (Facebook,
Twitter,
LinkedIn and
Instagram).
