|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
2005 Chapter Director Retreat
Washington, DC
On July 19, 2005, YWTF’s Chapter Directors traveled from across the country to Washington, DC for the first annual YWTF Chapter Director Retreat.
The four-day retreat began with a welcome reception hosted by YWTF’s DC Metro Chapter. This was followed by two days of strategic planning where Directors finalized YWTF’s mission and vision, established short and long-term goals, created a list of national issues and programs, designed YWTF’s brochure and website, and launched the formation of a Nationwide Coordinating Committee. On the third day, Directors were trained in lobbying, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and design.
On the final day, Chapter Directors met with their members of Congress and Senators to introduce them to YWTF and its work in their local districts, as well as discuss upcoming pieces of legislation that affect younger women in their 20s and 30s. At several of these meetings, possibilities for future collaboration were discussed.
The retreat ended with a “Congressional Dialogue,” an intimate roundtable discussion with six Congresswomen, during which YWTF Directors made presentations on a variety of policy issues and how they affect younger women. Issues included domestic violence, family and medical leave, childcare and reproductive rights. Congresswomen also made remarks about their work on these issues, and how YWTF could help them in their work to advance women’s rights. Together, members and Directors strategized about how to frame issues in ways that will engage younger women in politics and civic life. |
 |
 |
2005 Meet-Up
Washington, DC
To launch YWTF, young women from 45 states converged in Washington at George Washington University January 28-30, 2005 to discuss the social, legislative, and cultural priorities of their generation.
At a strategy meeting held in June 2004, it was agreed that YWTF should not be DC-centered in its membership or goals. Survey questions and applications to attend the Meet-Up were sent to women around the country through e-mail lists, postings at colleges, community centers and health clinics, and word-of-mouth advertising. More than 500 applications were sent back, and YWTF selected 130 to attend the first national gathering of the organization.
Through initial outreach, YWTF found that issues of concern to younger women often differ from those addressed by the mainstream women's movement. Based on the answers to the survey questions regarding the most pressing concerns of women in their 20s and 30s, the central focus of the Meet-Up became to draft a Younger Women's Issue Agenda. Participants spent the majority of the weekend in break-out groups discussing one of eight issues, including sexual and reproductive freedom, media representation and body image, and inclusion and diversity within the women's movement.
Download Younger Women's Issue Agenda
In addition to drafting an agenda, the weekend included a series of intergenerational dinners where senior women leaders hosted YWTF participants in their homes. Finally young women broke into regional groups where they elected regional directors and discussed which issues from the Issue Agenda were most critical in their regions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Younger women’s task force • 1701 K Street NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006 • (202) 293-4505
©2007 National Council of Women’s Organizations. All Rights Reserved.
|
|