June is LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) pride month, to commemorate the Stonewall riots that took place on June 28, 1969 in New York City. The riots, which were against police raids discriminating upon sexual and gender minorities, stand as a symbol of LGBT advocacy and a refusal to remain silent against injustice. This year’s Pride Festival will be on June 21, 22, and 23 in Goodale Park.

          In the month of June it’s important that we honor and pay homage to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community members.  Their historic struggle for fair treatment and equal rights on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is one to which we all owe a great amount of reverence and respect.  As we have seen, this persistent drive for a much-deserved place at the table has largely paid off.  More and more community leaders are feeling comfortable enough to “come out” and the conversation about lesbian and gay individuals’ rights is being amplified.  In an effort to recognize and pay tribute to the determination and resounding successes of LGBT-identifying individuals around the world, I would like to share some of my personal experiences as a gay-identifying teenager here in the Central Ohio area.

            I’d like to start off by pointing out that my situation growing up was very unique in that I was (and still am to this day) blessed and fortunate enough to have experienced an incredible amount of love and support from my friends and family in terms of what I did and who I have become.  If it had not been for this tightly-bound support structure woven together by those closest to me, I would be nowhere near the person I am today.  Prior to my coming out, I can recall feeling as if I was journeying through life as nothing more than a passive and distant spectator.  I felt as if I was simply bearing witness to the rest of the world as it passed me by – never engaged, never truly living, just existing.

            Fast forwarding to the middle of my sophomore year when I decided I was tired of hiding in the shadows and came out.  As I navigated the uncharted waters of finding ways to express my newfound identity, my family and friends were with me every step of the way.  Although rocky at first, they never left my side.  This outpouring of acceptance and support was absolutely crucial to instilling within me the ability to believe in myself as well as to recognize the incredible amount of potential I had inside of me. 

            Pushing the clock forward to today, I cannot even begin to thank enough those individuals who believed in me and, in doing so, allowed me to strive for my full potential.  I am now heavily involved in the local LGBT community and am extremely proud to live here in the Central Ohio area.  In just this past year, I have experienced an immense amount of life-changing support and encouragement in terms of my own identity and the work I do to contribute to the environment of acceptance and fairness we are fostering here in Ohio.  Just some examples of this include the incredible amount of support my fellow students and I have experienced from the faculty and administration of Hilliard Davidson High School in forming our school’s Gay-Straight Alliance as well as the welcoming encouragement I have received from groups and organizations like PFLAG Columbus, BRAVO, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARCO), Stonewall Columbus, and, now, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. 

            We have a wonderful community here in Central Ohio absolutely packed full of world-changing potential.  It is inspiring to see the huge positive impact people are able to have on each other as well as the community at large when an onlooker takes the initiative to support and believe in them.  By empowering individuals in this way, we are able to live in a world where all people, no matter who they are or where they come from, can do whatever it is that they strive to do and be whoever it is they have ever dreamt of being. 

Written by Marshall Troxell

As I was walking toward the Ohio Theatre after parking for the event, I got a call from a friend asking about Keyholder, wondering if I was there yet, asking if I was excited, and telling me about all the attention it was getting online and overall fueled my already growing pre-event buzz.  I had been getting progressively more excited over the previous few weeks.  About five of my housemates even helped me try on different shoes and earrings as I got ready to leave. The excitement didn’t really hit until I rounded the corner and saw “The Women’s Fund” in the marquee above the theatre.

When I found out weeks ago that America Ferrera, Sheryl WuDunn, and Connie Schultz were going to be this year’s Keyholder guests, my anticipation kicked in.  Each of these women who are astonishing and impressive on their own were even more impactful through their powerful conversation about their experiences that brought us new perspective on what we can do to make a difference in the lives of women and girls and embrace their potential.  As a young college graduate seeking guidance in world full of media and social pressures that tell me that my choices are limited, I could look to America, Sheryl, and Connie and feel genuine inspiration.  I can say that I’ve already used America’s line, “why not you?” to motivate myself and some of my friends who needed a boost to step up and do something great.

Not only were the featured guests amazing, but I was blown away by the beauty and diversity of the crowd the event drew.  Women of different ages and backgrounds who all value the mobilization of the collective power of women and girls began to flood into theatre as I stood in the entryway.  I couldn’t help but smile as I read the tribute section of the program to which many of the night’s guests had contributed.  It was a personal touch that helped remind everyone why they had decided to come.  My mom was so excited to see the tribute I had written dedicated to her that she showed it to all of her friends at work.

I think it’s safe to say that the Keyholder Girls Choir that closed the show stole the hearts of everyone and was absolutely stunning.  At the end of the night, I felt privileged to have spent my evening in room full of people who care.

Keyholder empowered us to ask ourselves what we have to give.

Written by Anna Cooper

Tickets for Keyholder tonight are available for purchase at the Ohio Theatre ticket office.

Plus, in addition to an amazing and inspiring evening giving voice to women and girls in central Ohio, bring your Keyholder ticket to The Jury Room immediately following the event to continue the fun over cocktails and conversations with fellow attendees. BONUS: $2 from each drink will be donated back to The Women’s Fund!

We hope to see you there!

“Mom, I’m pregnant.” 

It’s amazing how these words can produce such a variety of emotions. For many women who have completed high school and/or college, found stable employment, maintain healthy relationships, and are surrounded by a strong network of support, these are exciting words; the indication of a new chapter in life and many exciting possibilities.

For the one in three teen girls who become pregnant before they are 20, the words, “I’m pregnant” are accompanied by the fear that she may become one of the 67% of pregnant teens that do not finish high school. Or that if she is able to finish high school, her dreams of college may be delayed significantly because only less than 2% of pregnant teen girls who complete high school obtain a college degree before age 30. Hopefully, she is supported by friends and family through her pregnancy and the birth of her child, because on average, teen moms make significantly less than the poverty level. Oh, but what about the child’s father, you ask?  Chances are that the father of her child, if he is also a teen, will be one of the 84% of teen dad’s that do not remain in the life of their child.

These concerning statistics often leave me wondering how do we protect the futures of young women and empower them to make the best decisions for their lives. I know, however, the answer is education. Studies show that youth who receive sexuality education that is medically accurate and comprehensive are more likely to delay first intercourse, and more likely to use a condom or other contraception the first time they have sex. Honest, age-appropriate sexual health education is key to giving teens the power to make healthier decisions for healthier lives.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio’s Peer Education Program trains teen girls from Eastmoor Academy and Whitehall-Yearling High School to provide medically accurate, non-judgmental, sexual health information for the prevention of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).  These young women are taught to facilitate conversations about abstinence, contraception, healthy relationships, and positive self-esteem with their peers.  Studies have shown that people are most likely to accept information from someone they view as a peer rather than an authority figure. Peer Educators build on the relationships they already have with their peers, and influence them to reduce risk-taking behaviors. Through both one-on-one and classroom experiences these young ladies make sure their peers have the most up to date information about what they are up against and have the tools to protect themselves.

The Peer Educators at Whitehall and Eastmoor feel personally committed to reducing the hundreds-of-thousands of teen pregnancies that happen each year. That number is more than a statistic to them; it is a snapshot of their communities’ realities. Through open and caring conversations, Peer Educators empower women to know that they do not have to be a “statistic”; they can live healthy, full lives equipped with the knowledge to take control of their futures.

On this National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, I hope you will be inspired by these young, ambitious women and find ways to empower the young women in your community too.

Looking at America Ferrera’s filmography it’s undeniable that she’s a great fit for The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. She is a young, vibrant, strong woman who brings a new voice that empowers women and girls to the screen.

We first met America on the Disney Channel in the made for TV movie Gotta Kick it Up! The show was centered on a high school dance team learning together that they are capable of competing and succeeding, proving their potential to both themselves and their community.  The message went beyond dance and put girls who were typically not cast onto the screen. For young Hispanic girls it was about time to see someone who looked like them as a role model. As we were reminded by Miss Representation, you can’t be what you can’t see.

America continued to challenge typical character types by playing Ana in Real Women Have Curves. An independent film centered on a young woman who’s struggling to balance her mother’s expectations of her and her body and her own wants. It stuck a cord with audiences through it relatable plot and honest portrayal of body image and self-esteem. Like her character, Ana, America does not shy away from reminding girls they are more than their bodies. America has said: “Girls should be able to go to sleep every night and say to themselves, ‘I’m happy and proud of the way I am living my life.”  

For girlfriends everywhere Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a reminder of close bonds and life changing friendship. America plays Carmen, a character that struggles with her confidence and identity. Her parents are divorced, she feels out of place in a broken family, and uncertain of who she is. She’s vulnerable, innocent, and misunderstood. Carmen wants to have it all together so badly, trying har

d to be perfect while all the walls around her come crashing down. Ultimately learning to trust friend, rely on those around her, and believe in herself, she finds her strength.  

Audiences may know her best from Ugly Betty, the sitcom that brought America into the TV spotlight and that she won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for. But America Ferrera is more than Betty Suarez, the quirky and lovable aspiring fashion magazine writer. While Betty brought laughter into households for years and a fresh face for girls to look up to, America has been acting this role for more than a decade.

Beyond acting, America is a humanitarian. She has served as an ambassador for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children. In 2012, she joined Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn to bring their book Half the Sky to life in a PBS documentary. She travelled with Kristof to Kolkata, India to visit The New Light Shelter, a nonprofit organization that works to save girls from becoming victims of sexual exploitation and to improve lives of the children of sex workers. There, she met Urmi Basu, the brave and dedicated woman who founded the shelter; and she connected to the inspiring young girls who seek refuge at New Light.

Women and girls are her life’s passion. Not just when she’s visiting children in India or is taking a trip to Mali; her experiences live deeply within her. She is a voice and an advocate for women and girls in all facets of her life. She the voice that we need; the one that let’s girls know that they are important and powerful.

Join us and be inspired by America on May 9^th at the Ohio Theatre!

Written by Kathleen Kishman and Sara Mitchell

I wanted to vote for Connie Schultz after she finished Sherrod Brown’s acceptance speech after winning a contested race to be re-elected to the US Senate in 2012.  Schultz stepped in when Brown lost his voice.  Articulate and powerful, rather than reading simply what was written, she could have been delivering her own acceptance speech. I was riveted and impressed, excited about the victory, but mostly in awe of Schultz, a woman that doesn’t stand quietly in the background.  I remember visiting my grandmother, who has always lived in Parma, Ohio, looking over the Plain Dealer and talking about Schultz as a source of Cleveland pride.  This was the first time I’d seen her not just in print.  As a young woman about to enter the workforce and pursue a professional life of my own, I felt inspired by Schultz’s delivery and a sense of pride as a woman.

As a writer, Schultz is bold and thoughtful.  A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who often tackles difficult issues that are especially important to women, like her 2002 commentary on a girl coming to terms with her homosexuality that received a National Headliner Award.  Some of her work has even led to direct social justice.  Her 2003 series on a rapist imprisoned for a crime he did not commit was so powerful, the real rapist turned himself in after the stories had been published.  She’s written on the progress and treatment of women, highlighting topics from women dedicated to pursuing fundamental change from within the Catholic Church to female political candidates, women’s health, the abortion debate, even tackling the issue of gun control from the perspective of woman who own guns.  All of her work seems to weave a perfect presentation of the personal and the political, which, especially for women, are invariably intertwined.  She gives a human voice to issues that are often polarizing.  Her work on the status of women is thought provoking, inspiring, and commands respect.

Schultz is a distinguished professional and advocate for women. Admirable both for her professional career and for the enlightened perspective she brings to women’s issues through journalism, Schultz is more than all else, impressive as a woman.

Maybe I can’t be or vote for Connie Schultz, but I (and you, too!) can see her as our interviewer for Keyholder 2013 on May 9th.  As an important member of the Ohio community who has garnered national recognition, she will bring a local lens to issues affecting women globally.  With Schultz’s talent as an engaging journalist and dynamic speaker, the conversation at Keyholder 2013 is guaranteed to be memorable.

Written by Anna Cooper

Equal pay for equal work is not a new concept.  I recently found an old t-shirt of my mom’s from a Laurie Anderson concert emblazoned with a statistic in graffiti print that said women make 63 cents to every dollar that a man makes.  “You could cross it out and write ‘77’,” she said after I pointed out that the information on the t-shirt was no longer correct.  I was pleased at the notion of progress, but disappointed in the minimal increase.  In a country where the perpetually dominant political issue is the economy and jobs, only 14 cents worth of progress have been made in the past twenty-five years when it comes to women in the workplace.  The pay disparity is even worse for women of minorities.  Also alarming is that the more education both a man and woman receive, the greater the difference will be in their pay.  I want to be able to cross out “63” and write “100,” I can’t.  But someday I will.

Until the day of full equality comes, women will continue to bear the brunt of most housework and child care on top of facing pay discrimination in the workforce.  Women are more likely than men to take time off of work to take care of their children, which can threaten their salaries and professional advancement.  Women receive less encouragement to pursue careers in STEM fields where pay is generally the highest.  Even though metrics show greater company success when executive boards include women, the professional environment remains unwelcoming to women.

Waiting for the statistic of pay disparity to increase cent by cent is not going to cut it.  We don’t have time for that.  President Obama’s first piece of legislation signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  While I was pleased to see this, I was also appalled.  Why has it taken until 2009 for women to have legal recourse for pay discrimination?  Equal Pay Day is still on April 9^th because it marks the date of how long a woman must work into the new year to match what her male counterpart earned the previous year.  As a female student about to enter the workforce, knowing I will be subject to systemic unfairness, this is disconcerting.  My brother and I are close in age, we both graduated from high school with GPAs above a 4.0, dabbled in sports, joined clubs, took on leadership roles.  We both have the privilege of a college education.  I’ve taken interest in public service and non-profits, and he’s pursuing applied math and statistics.  Even if we were entering the same field, statistics still show that he will make more money than I will.  Is this fair?  No.  Will being complicit improve the situation?  Definitely not.  As young, ambitious women start entering the workforce, we need a proactive approach. Our point of individual action starts with salary negotiation, especially our very first to prevent compounding of lost wages.  Working as a community organizer where I was often required to make requests that seemed outlandish I was repeatedly told, “Sometimes you get what you ask for, and not much of what you don’t.”  Unfortunately, this is true when it comes to our salaries.  Women are less likely to assume that wages are negotiable or ask for as much as a male counterpart.  We need to learn how to ask for the pay we know we deserve.  Businesses and the economy are more productive and successful when more women are included.  Being treated as only 77% valuable is outlandish; asking for fair pay is not.

Women are impressively resilient for dealing with the negative consequences of this issue for so long, not to mention the pile-on of additional expectations when it comes to over things like appearance and family demands.  I should at least be able to expect equal pay for the work I am equally qualified to do.  It’s time for women to be confident in their strengths and enter the workforce ready to capitalize on their potential.  Salary negotiation is an opportunity to make legislative progress a social reality on an individual level.  I don’t fancy myself a demanding person, but I also don’t fancy myself as someone who likes to be paid less than I deserve.  Brave and intelligent women before me have paved the way for this conversation, I am getting impatient and want to write “100” on my mom’s old t-shirt.

Join The Women’s Fund on Tuesday, April 9^th at 5:30 pm to learn salary negotiation skills for the workplace.

Reserve your spot here: https://www.cypclub.com/events/2013/457/business-the-art-of-negotiation-a-benefit-for-the-womens-fund.html

Written by Anna Cooper

On a hot, summer day, most kids are thinking about taking a dive into a cool pool while some desire to plunge into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  Believe it or not, 3rd graders can create projects that range from designing and writing code for various games, interactive arts and animations to building and programming a robot.  Yes, children as young as eight years old are capable of being the designers and creators of technology rather than basic users of it.  Unfortunately, research shows that girls and women in the U.S. are avid users of technology, but they are significantly underrepresented in its creation.  Thankfully, 60 girls in Columbus will have the prime opportunity to counteract those statistics by participating in TECHie Camp: Girl Power! It is a full day, week long summer program designed to engage elementary school girls in hands-on, interactive STEM-related activities.  The girls will take a “deep dive” into Programming and emerge with knowledge, concepts and skills that are useful in today’s classroom and tomorrow’s workplace.  The girls will use Scratch, developed the MIT Media Lab, to learn the concepts of computer programming by using a simple graphical interface. They can create their own interactive art, interactive stories and games…watch as cars explode after traveling at great speeds or see fire-breathing dragons morph into gorgeous, long-haired fairy princesses who go onto marry the handsome prince!

In addition to the technical aspects of the camp, the girls will also participate in activities designed to improve their self-concept, self-esteem and dispel the myth that only boys/men are engaged and successful in computing related educational and career pathways.  There is compelling evidence to show that innovative approaches such as greater hands-on access to computers and technology tools benefit girls’ ability to succeed.  A recent survey conducted by the National Center for Women and Information Technology found that nearly half of current technology professionals indicated they participated in an informal technology-related educational program as a child.  Furthermore, on a national and local level, women, Latinos and African Americans are underrepresented in STEM, and TECH CORPS works diligently to close that gap through programs like TECHie Camp: Girl Power and additional outreach.  Through our girl-only programs, we literally hope to change the “face” of the Information Technology and Computer Science fields.    

Written by: Carla Thompson

Today marks the 101^st birthday of Girl Scouts in the USA! In honor of this anniversary, we highlight our grant partnership between the local Girl Scouts council, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, and The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio.

For at least a decade, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council (GSOH) has offered programming aimed at the prevention of bullying.  In many cases this is provided not through traditional Girl Scout troops, but in various in-school settings where girls who might not otherwise have access to the Girl Scout experience can participate. Last year, with the support of The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Girl Scouts took that to a higher level.

Power Up! Doing Nothing? Not an Option is programming developed by Girl Scouts of Colorado and widely used in the western United States.  It focuses on relational aggression, the most common form of bullying among girls, and teaches that it is never OK to stand by and watch another being targeted by a bully.  In fact, it helps girls understand that by speaking up, these bystanders have real power.  Then it helps them develop the skills and confidence to exert that power.

Last year, as a pilot project, Power Up! was offered in Fairfield County at two elementary schools, in an after-school program at the YMCA, and at a Girl Scout gathering.  The program reached 138 girls in grades K through 6, with over 60% of participants in the third and fourth grade.  The girls who participated gave it rave reviews, and the teachers and administrators in their schools report seeing a real change in the girl culture of the school as a result.

The Power Up! program got so much positive buzz in Fairfield County that this year Girl Scouts has had to turn down some requests for it. But thanks to an expanded Women’s Fund grant, they are going to be able to introduce this powerful program in Pickaway and Licking Counties as well.    Facilitators have already been trained in Licking County, with the actual sessions to roll out this month and next.  Pickaway County will follow soon after.

Through this funding partnership, Girl Scouts and The Women’s Fund are helping a new generation of girls find their own power.

Written by: Jodi Woerner

Around the globe we are celebrating the 100th International Women’s Day. In the past 100 years, women have fought hard to gain economic, social, and political opportunities, and this important work is still being done today.

You see, we are in the midst of a global movement. A movement that focuses on a woman’s ability to overcome unthinkable circumstances and create opportunity. Around the world this movement is known as Half the Sky. Here, in central Ohio, The Women’s Fund is mobilizing the collective power to create social change for women and girls.

Each day we witness what can happen when women bind together to restore their families, communities, and countries. We meet women like Norah of Rwanda Women in Action, who is creating a new system of support for refugee women resettled in Columbus after leaving their war torn nations. We meet women like Julie of doma International, whose passion for breaking the orphan cycle around the world led her on the path to fighting human trafficking in central Ohio.

These women remind us that change is possible, and we all can be part of the solution.

On this International Women’s Day, join this global movement in our local community by attending Keyholder featuring Award Winning Actress America Ferrera and author Sheryl WuDunn. On May 9th at the Ohio Theatre, this courageous duo will be interviewed by nationally acclaimed and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Connie Schultz.

Join us as they share the powerful and inspirational message behind Half the Sky, and how each of us can be part of this important work.

To purchase tickets click here or call our office at 614.225.9926