 The Women's Leadership Council
is an organization within the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area that was founded by a group of corporate,
civic, and community leaders who are working together
to improve the quality of life for women and children
in the New Orleans region through leadership, philanthropy,
and advocacy.
The WLC expands women's ability to be a strong voice and achieve results in the non- profit arena by maximizing the number of women
pooling their time, talent, and financial resources toward specific goals. Working together, women can shine light on critical social services and public policy issues and bring to the forefront the positive impact that women can have on a community.The WLC recognizes and applauds the talents of women. They embody the delicate balance of strength and compassion, fight for their beliefs, and are strong collaborators who know how to get things done.
In order to join the WLC, women are asked to donate a minimum of $1,000 to United Way. In an effort in engage younger women in community change, women age 35 or younger can join the WLC with a donation of $500. This membership category is entitled WINGS (Women's Initiative - Next Generations). When a woman joins WLC, she has a number of choices in which to designate her donation. She can choose to designate her gift to the WLC area of focus, which initially is an early childhood development collaborative, called "Success By 6" or designate to the United Way Maximum Impact Fund, or to any of United Way's goal areas for service effectiveness.
The WLC addresses such areas as Public Policy, WLC membership, Women's and Children's Issues, Event Planning/PR, and WLC Governance. During the year, the WLC plans several activities that offer women opportunities to meet other women leaders and learn about the community's needs and how they are being addressed. The WLC was modeled after a number of successful Women's Initiatives in United Ways in other major cities across the nation.
United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council Activities Post Katrina
Post Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Women’s Leadership Initiative identified the lack of high-quality child care as the number one issue in the six-parish area. WLI Executive Committee members began working with Success By 6 to develop a proposal supporting the reopening of child care centers and asked other Women’s Initiatives around the country to support the fund.
The Women’s Leadership Initiative’s funding provided support for a Parental Involvement Specialist for eight Family-to-Family home-based Early Head Starts through Kingsley House. After the storms, children were moved to the Kingsley House campus until their child care homes were able to reopen. The WLI again approved funding of $50,000 for a full year of operation for the Parent-to-Parent Involvement Program.
Kim Sport, WLI founder, organized the 2006 “Seeing is Believing” Conference, which brought Women’s Initiatives from nine other states to see the damages in the area and advocate on their behalf. The program included two panels, a devastation tour, a State of the United Way address from United Way Campaign Chair Suzanne Mestayer and a keynote speech by the chair of the National Women’s Leadership Council, Ann Stallard.
The 6th Annual Public Policy Luncheon held in February 2007 celebrated the life and work of Louisiana’s own Lindy Boggs, former US Representative and Ambassador to the Vatican. It included a keynote speech by Sherry Guarisco, of the Louisiana Department of Social Services, on the state’s new child care Quality Rating System. The event, attended by 340 guests, closed with the announcement of United Way’s legislative agenda.
By vote of its Governing Body, the Women’s Leadership Initiative changed its name to the Women’s Leadership Council of United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area in March 2007. The “Women’s Leadership Council,” already commonly used by several local United Ways, is a name that is explicit about women in leadership roles and compliments the United Way system shift from fundraising to community impact leadership.
The WLC is committed to making certain that issues important to women are being adequately addressed and funded. Its more than 800 members have worked to change the lives of women and the face of child care services in the greater New Orleans area, collectively investing more than $1 million in quality child care to ensure that all children are ready to learn when they enter school.
Women’s Rebuild Week 2007
In October 2007, the WLC partnered with the St. Bernard Project to host “Women’s Rebuild Week.” WLC Chair Flo Schornstein and Vice-Chair Margo DuBos, along with more than 100 women from around the country, helped rebuild ten hurricane-ravaged homes. The week culminated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Heart of Learning Child Development Center, the first child care center to reopen in St. Bernard Parish.
Health Care Partnership
In December 2007, Touro Infirmary became the Women’s Leadership Council’s Health Care Partner. Touro made a significant contribution to the organization and will invite members to events, seminars and screenings planned specifically for the WLC.
For more information or to become involved contact:
Leigh Thorpe
Women's Leadership Director
2515 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 827-6825
Fax: (504) 821-4378 |
