Do Something Mo! and Winning Women Wednesdays will host the second annual Women’s Freedom Forum in the Northland later this month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Park Hill South High School, 4500 River Park Dr, Riverside. Speakers to begin at 7 p.m.
Last year, the forum had over 300 attendees and five speakers including former mayor of Kansas City Kay Barnes, as the key note speaker. This year the forum plans to inspire even more women to lead.
This year’s theme is “Lead Like A Woman.” Statistics show that when women lead institutions and organizations enjoy more public trust. When women lead, policies and projects have a positive economic impact across the broader community. When women lead, the community experiences better educational and health outcomes.
Women remain under represented in positions of leadership with less than 30% of Federal and State legislatures and 11% of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies. “Those numbers have been stagnant over the last decade,” Kat Henry, executive director of Do Something Mo said, “It shows in policy choices being made by the government as well as corporations. Women still make 85 cents to the dollar made by men. Our goal is to start moving that needle again.”
Lynn Roberts from Winning Women says that it takes ten or more asks to convince women to lead, “Women will question if they have the right skills and experience, how it impacts their families and how they will balance those demands with the demands of leadership.”
The Women’s Freedom Forum aims to showcase women from all ages and experience who have stepped forward to lead. The goal is to inspire and encourage women to lead through the example and experience of other women.
This year will feature Park Hill South High School student, Izzy Reyes, as a future leader. She is the captain of the first female flag football team at Park Hill South, participated in Model UN, Mock Trials and other organizations. Izzy plans to pursue a career in Human Rights advocacy and continue to serve her community.
She will be complimented by key note speaker, Casey Williamson, CFO of Haas & Wilkerson and member of the advisory board for WIN for KC. WIN for KC promotes women and girls in sports. Participation in sports helps women and girls develop confidence, leadership and team building skills.
The forum will include presentations by women’s health and nutritional expert, Angela Ellis and Caylee Knox, therapist and counselor, who believes guiding others to grow is the best of humanity. Cheekybird will be on hand with women oriented products while the American Association of University Women will provide an opportunity to register to vote.