April 2017 Newsletter



Monday, April 3rd, 2017


 

 

April 2017 Newsletter

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In this Issue

1. Sign up for a Hidden Figures Viewing and Coding Party
2. Attend a NFWL in the States Event
3. Learn More About Child Abuse Prevention Policy
4. Women in the News
5.
Share Your Legislation
6. Keep Up with NFWL

NFWL and Google’s Made with Code Partner on
Hidden Figures Viewing and Coding Parties

Learn how to host your own!


NFWL
and Google’s Made with Code are excited to launch the newest addition to Grab ‘n Go programming. We have compiled a toolkit to help you plan and host a Hidden Figures viewing and coding party for teen girls (13-18) in your community. After watching this inspirational movie, attendees discuss the movie and complete a brief coding exercise, with a goal of getting more girls involved in STEM. Read more about the Made with Code program here and their Hidden Figures initiative.

This is a great opportunity to mentor teen girls and we have already received a lot of interest from our membership. Click the button below for more information on how you can host an event in your community and to sign up.

Sign Up to Host a Hidden Figures Viewing and Coding Party

To celebrate our Hidden Figures toolkit launch, we are featuring women’s work involving STEM education. Check it out!

Computer Science Education Act, Representative Kristine Lytton (WA)
Increasing Funding for STEM Education, Representative Leslie Osborn and Senator Kim David (OK)
DigiGirlz event, Councilwoman Angelique Ashby (CA)

NFWL in the States

Olympia, Washington

NFWL had a great time at the State Capitol, meeting with over 20 elected women. The luncheon would not have been possible without our gracious co-hosts: Senator Jan Angel, Senator Annette Cleveland, Senator Lynda Wilson, and Representative Sharon Wylie.

Salem, Oregon

NFWL then traveled to Oregon for another Dome Tour. Our host and NFWL Oregon State Director, Senator Jackie Winters, brought together several of her colleagues for the evening reception. Many thanks to Walmart for supporting both Dome Tours.

Frankfort, Kentucky
NFWL State Director County Clerk Lynn Hesselbrock and State Treasurer Allison Ball hosted NFWL for a Dome Tour luncheon to speak with Kentucky’s elected women. NFWL Immediate Past Chair and Delaware State Representative Helene Keeley also attended to meet attendees. Reynolds American Inc. sponsored the event, discussing one of their operating companies’ work to create an ebola vaccination.
Date: Wednesday, April 5
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
City: Phoenix, AZ
Location: Arizona House of Representatives Room 035/038
Co-Hosts: Representative Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Representative Brenda Barton, Senator Katie Hobbs, Representative Maria Syms
Sponsors: GJJAMS Foundation and Arizona Public Service
All elected women in Arizona are welcome to attend. Email allison@womenlegislators.org to RSVP.

Partner Post

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We have partnered with our friends at Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA) to share policy ideas to help elected women get involved in the fight to eradicate child abuse.

Help Make Great Childhoods Happen During Child Abuse Prevention Month
Make a difference this April by supporting children and families in your community

At Prevent Child Abuse America, we believe that we all have a role to play in the healthy development of children. This April during Child Abuse Prevention month, we are encouraging you to find the role you can play in your community by taking one of three simple steps: mentor, advocate or donate.

1. MENTOR: A great way to get involved is to mentor a child or parent. According to research, the presence of a stable, caring adult in a child’s life is a key component to overcoming childhood trauma. By volunteering your time, such as by being a coach for an after-school sports or academic team, you can be the stable, caring adult to a child in need. Parents, too, need mentors. Two major risk factors for child abuse and neglect are parental stress and social isolation. By being there for a struggling single parent or family and doing something small like bringing over a home-cooked meal or volunteering to babysit for an evening, you can help reduce these risk factors and make a difference for children and families in your community.

2. ADVOCATE: Another way to take action this April is to advocate for policies that support families and help children thrive. Connect with your local Prevent Child Abuse America state chapter to find out what policies have the biggest impact in your state.

3. DONATE: If you don’t have the time to mentor or advocate, support child abuse prevention by donating to youth-serving organizations or charities that support families. Good examples include your local food bank, daycare center, or your Prevent Child Abuse America state chapter.

Together, we can all make a difference during Child Abuse Prevention month. Join us this April and help create the great childhoods all children deserve. To learn more about PCAA, click here.

Women in the News

Our partners are not the only ones working on preventing child abuse. Many of our outstanding members are leaders on this issue as well. Check out their recent work.

Establishing home visitation programs, Senator Teresa Pavia-Weed (RI)
Child Welfare 101- What Happens After You Call Event, Senator Beth Martinez Humerick (CO)
Bill to Improve Child Abuse Protections at Religious Institutions, Senator Diane Allen (NJ)
Developing Child Abuse Prevention Plans, Representative Kim Dudik (MT)

What are you working on?

We know many legislative sessions are coming to an end, and we want to hear about what legislation you passed this year! Make sure to share what you are working on with us so we can let our other members know.

Share My Legislation

Keeping Up with NFWL

NFWL Executive Director Jody Thomas and Virginia State Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn spent the day on March 14th mentoring young women interested in pursuing a career in politics and public policy. Both had a great time talking state politics!

NFWL staff member Brenna Sculley visited the Connecticut State Capitol on International Women’s Day to speak with women legislators at a Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors Event.
Gallup invited NFWL to the unveiling of their new study on women and work. We had a great time hearing from expert panelists, including actress Eva Longoria!

Executive Director Jody Thomas represented NFWL at the State Department’s International Women of Courage Awards, where she met remarkable women working to advance the rights of women around the world. First Lady Melanie Trump was also at the event to honor award recipients. Click here to read more about the 2017 Women of Courage Award winners.

A very special congratulations to one of our 2016 Annual Conference speakers, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice. She is the President and Dean of Moorehouse School of Medicine and left the room speechless after sharing her story at our conference in Orlando. Dr. Rice is one of the 2017 Horatio Alger Award Recipients. Founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Richard J. Stephenson, was also given this prestigious honor. CTCA is on NFWL’s Board of Directors. The award recognizes work that inspires young adults to pursue higher education. Congratulations!

NFWL shares with heavy hearts the passing of Board Member and Chickasaw Tribal Legislator Dean McManus. She represented the Pontotoc District in the Chickasaw Nation Tribal Legislature and served for 18 consecutive years. She served on NFWL’s Board of Directors since 2015 and has been actively involved in the organization for several years. Fellow Board Member Freeholder Serena DiMaso shared, “I am absolutely heart broken. Dean was certainly an inspiration for me and countless others. I am sure her kind spirit will be a guiding force for all of us for generations to come.”

 


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