This Morning’s Diane Reem Show on WFAE – Authors of “Womenomics” speak

Listen now to the Diane Reem show on WFAE (90.7) and hear Katty Kay, Washington correspondent and anchor for the BBC World News America and Claire Shipman, Senior National Correspondent for ABC News’ “Good Morning America” and a regular on “The Week with George Stephanopoulos,” discuss how some women are saying no to demanding jobs…even in tough economic times.

Have you read “Womenomics?” If so, what did you think?

Domestic Violence March on the Square

The Domestic Violence Advocacy Council of Mecklenburg County is inviting the public to march on the Square in Uptown Charlotte in response to the most recent domestic violence-related homicide in Mecklenuburg County.

Yennifer Karina Fuentes, 31, was found dead on Monday night at about 11 p.m. on Ingleside Drive, off South Boulevard and Archdale Drive, in south Charlotte, Police have arrested her boyfriend, Victor Alfonso Cruz-Garcia, 22, and charged him with the murder.

The march is intended to broaden the public’s awareness that help is available, including programs and services offering safety planning. This is not a memorial.

When: 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 4, 2009
Where: On the Square at Trade and Tryon Street, Charlotte,NC

Free parking is available at the Hal Marshall County Services Center, 700 N.Tryon Street, or in the Seventh Street Station parking garage. A free trolley runs the length of Tryon Street every seven minutes.

The is the fourth Mecklenburg County domestic violence-related homicide of 2009. Last year there were a total of 11 people killed at the hands of their intimate partner or due to domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Advocacy Council organizes awareness marches every Thursday following a death in Mecklenburg County in which domestic violence is believed to have played a role. The council includes: victim advocates, child advocates, housing advocates, mental health professionals, police, prosecutors, courts, substance abuse providers education professionals, medical professionals, batterers’ intervention programs, shelters, animal control, legislators, colleges, local companies, local churches, survivors, and interested community members.

For more information on the effects of domestic violence in our community, call Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services Women’s Commission at 704-336-3210 or the Shelter for Battered Women’s 24-hour hotline at 704-332-2513. For move information on the Domestic Violence Advocacy Council, visit the web site: http://dvac.charmeck.org.

For more information on this march, please contact Mike Sexton at 704-432-1568, email: Michael.Sexton@mecklenburgcounty.gov.

A Woman at the Table

On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, the Political Action Team of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Women’s Summit presented A Woman at the Table: A Better Feast for All, the first in a series of events examining the impact of the recent economic downturn on area women. The event was designed as a call to action for women to take their seat at the table and get involved the public policy debate.

Keynote Speaker Victoria Budson of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government kicked off the day, providing the theoretical basis for the importance of including women in the decisionmaking process. Her examples from US and abroad outlined both the economic and operational benefits of including women in the board room and as elected officials around the world.

Ms. Budson was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Nancy Gutierrez, dean of the college of arts and sciences at UNCC. Dr. Jennifer Troyer from UNCC’s department of economics, Jenn Frye of Democracy NC, and community activist Maxine Eaves explained how they became activists and took their place at the table.

At the end of the day, the lens was turned to the participants who were asked “What is your issue?” Table groups then brainstormed ways for individual women to get involved in addressing their issue. Each woman was charged with a single action to take “in the next two weeks.”

Co-chairs Dr. Becka Tait and Mary Klenz were pleased with the enthusiam of the participants and can’t wait to hear from participants about their action plans.

Michele Miller Houck

Welcome to the official blog of The Charlotte Mecklenburg Women’s Summit

Thank you for reading the official blog of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Women’s Summit! We hope you will use this blog to share information with other women and to help us build our network and expand our work so that we can truly work together to improve the lives of women and girls in Charlotte-Mecklenburg!