NYWA Timeline - A Voice Grown Louder
Highlights, New York Women's Agenda Accomplishments

1992:  Founded by Elinor Guggenheimer. Goal: Bring major women's groups together under one umbrella and raise awareness in political, economic and cultural circles of what women and their families need to thrive.

Outcomes:

    NYWA begins a quarterly newsletter to help member organizations leverage influence through the power of numbers.
    NYWA defines principal areas of engagement:  Women's Health, City Issues, Jobs and the Economy, Women and the Media, and Domestic Violence.
    NYWA begins raising funds to support the newsletter and work of the coalition.

1992-93:  NYWA grows quickly-- 18 organizations sign up under its umbrella

1993-94:  In area of domestic violence, NYWA seeks greater support for helping female victims of domestic violence increase their safety and redirect their lives.  Founder Elinor Guggenheimer and Linda Fairstein, chief of sex crimes prosecution unit for NYC District Attorney's Office, meet with Mayor David Dinkins and heads of hospital administration to explore solutions.

Outcomes:  Today, most hospitals have an advocate on staff who is trained to help female victims of domestic violence find a safe house after examination and treatment, with follow-up support services. 

1994-95:  NYWA keeps growing.  Member organizations now reach 52.

To expand women's presence on corporate boards, NYWA and Financial Women's Association develop conference for directors of small and medium-size corporations to explore tactics for getting more women named to corporate boards.

1995-96:  NYWA keeps growing.  Member organizations now reach 83.

To stimulate thoughtful discussion about the status of women and families, NYWA

    Prepares a major report on foster care in New York
    Hosts a symposium with pollster Celinda Lake on 'Does the Women's Vote Count'
    Hosts program on 'Women's Image Now, Type Casting, No Casting' in cooperation with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

1996-98:  NYWA keeps growing.

    Long Island chapter launched.
    Two new committees form: CitiIssues, to focus on the impact that New York's public policies have on women and families, and Arts and Culture, to heighten awareness about the positive impact the arts play in the city's economic life.

On other fronts, NYWA hosts

    Third annual Conference on Domestic Violence, featuring Linda Fairstein, and Dede Bartlett, vice president of Corporate Affairs Programs at Philip Morris.
    Conference on Women's Health at New York Hilton.

1999-2000:   More progress in combating domestic violence.   With NYWA's encouragement, Philip Morris hosts 'Plays for Living' to raise awareness of how domestic violence impacts the workplace, and what employers can do to assist victims.

Committee on Aging forms, to advocate for healthier, more active and productive lives for older women in New York City

Committee on Economic Development forms, to increase the economic clout of women business owners

Economic Development Committee, in cooperation with Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, hosts conference on Best Practices for Accelerating the Growth of Women-Owned Businesses.  Panelists from government organizations, financial service companies, and advocacy groups report on successes in the growth of women-owned businesses, and barriers to further growth.

2000-2001:  NYWA keeps growing.  There are now nearly 100 member organizations.

More than half of women business owners in New York are their families' main breadwinners, and more than a third of their businesses grossed over $500,000 in 1999.  That information comes from the first-ever survey of women business owners in New York City, conducted by NYWA's Economic Development Committee and NYC Comptroller Alan Hevesi's office.

CitiIssues Committee educates a new pool of city council candidates vying to win one of the 37 seats open in 2001 because of term limits legislation.

NYWA's Arts and Culture Committee organizes Arts Advocacy Breakfast

to urge City Council members to increase funding for arts education in public schools and for small and mid-size cultural institutions that energize neighborhoods.

Economic Development Committee, hosts 2nd annual conference on Best Practices for Accelerating Growth of Women-Owned Businesses.

NYWA organizes Emergency Access to Credit Fair, to assist small businesses hurt directly or indirectly by the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

NYWA prepares for grandest milestone yet:  Tenth anniversary Star Breakfast, on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001 at the New York Hilton.

 

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