Summary of Legislative Women's Caucus - 2012

Jan 06, 2013
Contact: 
Bryn Sullivan

Legislative Women's Caucus

Summary of Events ~ 2012

Awareness

The Legislative Women's Caucus is consistently asked to bring awareness to great causes that affect women throughout our state. Through events and resolutions, the LWC is always happy to lend a helping hand.

February 2, 2012 LWC teamed up with the American Heart Association and the San Ramon Valley HeartSafe Community to promote heart disease awareness offer 'hands-only' CPR. ACR 91 (Buchanan) recognized the month of February 2012 as American Heart Month and February 3, 2012 as Wear Red Day in California.

March 2012 During Women's History Month, the LWC is able to provide an exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda. This year we honored all the women artists in the Capitol. Both women who are depicted in art, like the many statues adorning the Capitol, and women who are behind the canvas were honored. The State has several women artists who have painted pieces hung within the Capitol.

April 25, 2012 Along with the Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CalCASA) members of the Women's Caucus (and of the Legislature at large) celebrated Denim Day by dressing in denim, signing the pledge to end Sexual Violence and participating in a rally on the West Steps.

Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

The Legislative Women's Caucus and the CSWG work hand in hand to promote issues relevant to women. The LWC and its allies fought tirelessly to save the CSWG. We are still working to ensure its future.

March 29, 2012 Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles and the Commission on the Status of Women released "The Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California." Geena Davis, the new Commission chair, Maria Contreras Sweet, and college president Ann McElaney-Johnson addressed a large crowd of media, students, and advocates about the great strides women have made despite the striking gender gap that still persists in our state.

April 24, 2012 Speaker Pérez announces he will bridge the gap in funding for the Commission on the Status of Women by $150,000 from Assembly savings.

June 27, 2012 SB 1038 (budget bill on State Government) is signed by Governor Brown. He retains the $270,000 the legislature allocated to the Commission and agrees to policy changes focusing its mission. The name of the Commission is officially changed to Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

September 2012 The Commission partners with the State Library and is now housed with the California Research Bureau within the State Library at 900 N Street.

October 3, 2012 The Commission and the CA Research Bureau jointly announce the release of five short subject papers on women veterans, including military sexual trauma, homelessness, employment, mental health, and benefit awareness.

December 4, 2012 The Commission meets and agrees to search for an executive director. The Commission is also hosting a logo contest amongst high school graphic design students.

Education

The LWC hosts a number of briefings throughout the year to educate legislators, legislative staff and others in the Capitol community.

February 1, 2012 A Joint Oversight Hearing of the Assembly Budget Sub #1 and Senate Human Services Committees, with the Legislative Women's Caucus and the Commission on the Status of Women on: Falling Behind: The Impact of the Great Recession and the Budget Crisis on California's Women and Their Families. The Women's Foundation of California and the California Budget Project testified on the release of their new study by the same name.

May 16, 2012 Child Care advocates and the LWC host a staff briefing to look at budget options for childcare.

August 20-21, 2012 The LWC organized, in both the Assembly and the Senate Chambers, presentations to recognize the accomplishments of California's female athletes in the Olympic games.

Conversations

The LWC has hosted several meetings to meet and greet influential persons involved with policy and politics as relevant to women.

February 13, 2012 Members of the Legislative Women's Caucus met with both Speaker Pérez and President pro Tempore Steinberg to discuss LWC priorities, legislation, women in the budget and women in the media. The LWC also discussed the goal of keeping the Commission on the Status of Women afloat.

March 20, 2012 Fourteen European women participants of the World Learning Visitor Exchange Program met with the Legislative Women's Caucus in the Governor's Council room. These women, invited by the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, represented Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Norway, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and the Ukraine. The objectives of the trip were to promote women's leadership in the economy.

Events

In order to accomplish our goals of education and awareness on issues impacting women – we often hold events to convey our message in an enjoyable way.

January 25, 2012 Legislative Women's Caucus and Manatt Phelps & Phillips co-hosted director Jennifer Siebel Newsom for a screening of her thought-provoking documentary, "Miss Representation" at the Crest Theater. Prior to the screening the CA Medical Association hosted a VIP reception. Over 500 people attended.

March 26, 2012 The Assembly celebrated the annual Woman of the Year by honoring 80 women from throughout the state. Lilly Ledbetter was the keynote speaker for the event. Various Senators hosted individual events in their districts.

March 26, 2012 Lilly Ledbetter spoke about her dramatic experiences as an advocate and signed copies of her memoir, Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond at the California Museum.

March 26 2012 LWC hosted its annual Alumnae Dinner at the California Museum for Women, History and the Arts. The site of the dinner was in the Remarkable Women exhibit.

May 15, 2012 The California Legislative Women's Caucus and The 20 Million Minds Foundation hosted a book-signing reception for New York Times bestselling author, television legal analyst, and trial attorney Lisa Bloom. The event was a great success and attended by many LWC members and legislative staff.

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