The election is over and the country is holding its breath as we move into a new era in the government. What the change of administration (and the election of the first woman Vice President) mean for feminist goals and aims? The CWI will explore the areas of health, economics and education as well as the process the transition team will utilize to nominate new leaders in these policy areas to accomplish the vision developed in the Biden Agenda for Women (https://joebiden.com/womens-agenda/# )
Meeting speakers:
Ben Strand, from Senator Mazie Hirono’s office (D-HI), will discuss the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity Education Act, (GEEA), which Senator Hirono reintroduced during the 116th Congress (2019-2020) with Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA). GEEA would provide additional resources, training, and technical assistance to support the full implementation of Title IX. Ben Strand is a Legislative Assistant for Senator Hirono, and in his current policy role, covers education, arts and humanities, science and technology, workforce development, and related issues. He graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Political Science and American History, and a M.A. in Political Science.
Donna Lent, President of the National Women’s Political Caucus, has agreed to share her political savvy and wisdom as to how the nominations process for the new Administration’s feminist leadership team will unfold under the Coalition for Women’s Appointments which she is re-establishing. Donna Lent, a member of NWPC for twenty-seven years, was elected to an unprecedented third term as President at the NWPC Biennial Convention in 2019. As president, Donna has successfully reduced overhead for the National office while maintaining and expanding programs. Prior to this position, Donna served as First Vice President of the National Board and Vice President of Political Planning. She also served as President of the New York State NWPC. Donna is currently the elected Town Clerk of Brookhaven, NY, a role she assumed in 2013 and was elected to a second four-year term in 2017.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research has just released a new report entitled “Build(ing) the Future: Bold Policies for a Gender-Equitable Recovery” (https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policies-for-a-Gender-Equitable-Recovery-Finalsm2.pdf ) which thoroughly covers stressors and solutions facing working women in the wake of the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Connie Cordovilla will share information on their report. report.
Dr. Diana Zuckerman, PhD, President of the[SK1] National Center for Health Research received her PhD in psychology from Ohio State University and was a post-doctoral fellow in epidemiology and public health at Yale Medical School. After various academic positions she worked for a decade as a Congressional and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staffer and Clinton Administration adviser on heath programs and policies. She will address a wide range of priorities, such as improving testing, treatments, and vaccines for Covid-19; improving access to reproductive health; improving the ACA; how lack of diversity in clinical trials harms women of color; the lowering of safety standards for medical products (speed and greed vs. safety and effectiveness); and the need for rebuilding and strengthening the clout and independence of the Offices focused on women’s health in the various federal health agencies.
Megan Corrado, Esq., CWI’s Vice President for Global Affairs, will address some key priorities to achieve a feminist foreign policy to ensure women’s meaningful participation in all facets of decision-making and improve the lives of women and families around the world, including recent recommendations on the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda and efforts to address reproductive health and gender-based violence on a global scale. Megan, an international human rights attorney, currently serves as the Co-Chair of the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security, and previously worked as the Director of Advocacy with Women for Afghan Women and Program Director and Counsel with the Public International Law and Policy Group, in addition to roles in the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Congress, and British Parliament.
These and other issues are also covered in Women Demand More: A Letter to Federal Elected Officials and Candidates From the Women’s Community (https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Womens-Community-Transition-Letter-Draft-10.15.2020.pdf ) which was created and endorsed by a number of women’s groups.
