KANSAS CITY, Mo. – First Lady Sheena Greitens announced the Governor has committed to appoint 25 more women to Missouri state boards and commissions in the next 25 days to honor the Women’s Foundation’s 25th anniversary.
The Foundation, who promotes equity and opportunity for women, held its annual nonpartisan We Work For Change event which was attended by First Lady Greitens, Kansas City Mayor Sly James, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power. The event was attended by over 1,300 people.
The Kansas City-based women’s advocacy group serves women in both Kansas and Missouri, by providing research, philanthropy, and policy solutions. The Foundation has been working closely with the Governor and the Mayor James through their Appointments Project, aimed at increasing representation of women in public positions.
“We encourage women to apply to our website, expressing their interest in serving on a city, county or state board and then we partner with the leaders: mayors, county executives, governor, to submit applicants for their consideration when openings are available,” says President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation, Wendy Doyle. “There’s a lot of work around getting women on the corporate boards, but there hasn’t been a lot of work to get women on public boards. We’re one of the only organizations that we know of, to date, in the country, working on something like this.”
At the event, Allison Pericich became the 50th appointment made from the Appointments Project. Mayor James appointed Pericich to Kansas City’s Historic Preservation Commission.
First Lady Sheena Greitens was one of the keynote speakers and echoed an announcement the Governor made in August, asking for Missouri to increase the number of women on state boards and commissions. She said that Missouri is committed to adding 25 women to state boards and commissions over the next 25 days.
Following the event, she sent out a series of tweets thanking the Women’s Foundation and Ambassador Power for attending. She was proud that the Governor signed an executive order allowing state employees in the executive brand agencies paid parental leave. At the nonpartisan event, she spoke about issues women face in the Missouri Government.
Proud as a spouse & woman w/career in public policy that this admin has appt’d more women to state cabinet than any in Missouri history. /2
— Sheena Greitens (@SheenaGreitens) October 4, 2017
9 of 16 heads of exec depts are women. Some are first women, and women of color, in those positions. Great leaders and role models. /3
— Sheena Greitens (@SheenaGreitens) October 4, 2017
As a working mother, also proud of @EricGreitens admin’s adoption of paid parental leave for state workers in executive departments. /4
— Sheena Greitens (@SheenaGreitens) October 4, 2017
Happy that admin is reforming boards/commissions so regs/licensing don’t disproportionately hold women back & their voices are represented 5
— Sheena Greitens (@SheenaGreitens) October 4, 2017
The National Conference of State Legislatures measures gender representation in America and found that women account for only 24.9 percent of the Missouri legislature and only 24.4 percent of legislatures nationwide. The Colorado Legislature is the closest to equal gender representation with 42% and Mississippi is the furthest away with 13.2 percent.
Former Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power spoke about the importance of civic engagement for women. During her time as Ambassador, she advocated for improved human rights, religious rights, and civil liberties. “For all of the bad news out there, women in 2017 are a major bright spot, Power said at the event, “we are stepping up more than ever.”
Totally wowed by the girls assembled & inspired by @WomensFound in Kansas City. When down, recall Eleanor Roosevelt’s words: “A woman is like a teabag. You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water” pic.twitter.com/5Xv5YbbtlK
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) October 3, 2017
Michael Layer is a reporter for the Missouri Times and the Missouri Times Magazine. He joined the Missouri Times in August 2017 after graduating from Goucher College the previous May. To contact Michael, email michael@themissouritimes.com or follow him on Twitter @_MichaelLayer