Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women

The State of Women in Toledo

Toledo should aspire to be the most desirable community in Ohio for women to live and succeed. A focused, data-driven effort with our business, education, political and nonprofit partners is the future of meaningful change.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dr. Karen Bjorkman, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, The University of Toledo
Dr. Angela Fitzpatrick, Director, Eberly Center for Women, The University of Toledo

What ALICE is Telling Us About Toledo Women

Wendy Pestrue, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toledo
Lucas Stall, Senior Director Public Relations and Advocacy, United Way of Greater Toledo
Asha Barnes, Digital Strategy and Data Analytics Committee, Chair, Director, Market Analytics, HCR ManorCare

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Rhonda Sewell, Manager, External and Governmental Affairs, Toledo and Lucas County Public Library
Commentator: Wendy Pestrue, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toledo
Panelists:

• Erin Baker, Executive Committee Chair, Human Relations Commission, City of Toledo
• Lisa McDuffie, President and CEO, YWCA of Northwest Ohio
• Doni Miller, CEO, Neighborhood Health Association
• Deb Flores, CEO, Zepf Center
• Reem Subei, Staff Lawyer, Advocates for Basic Law Equality, Inc.

Break

Concurrent Panel Discussion Sessions
State of Women in Business

Explore the challenges and opportunities women in business face today and learn where you can join the efforts to advance gender equity.
Moderator: Sabrina Weaver, Executive Board President, Women of Toledo
Commentator: Dr. Anne L. Balazs, Dean, John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation
Panelists:

• Sandy Spang, Commissioner of Small Business Services, City of Toledo
• Lenora McIntyre, Operations Manager and Certified Business Advisor for the Minority Business Development Center, The University of Toledo
• Amy Haschak, Partner, Network Management Jumpstart

State of Women in Public Service

Women in public service are dedicated to creating gender-equitable public spaces. Learn how you can work to advance gender equity through public service.
Moderator: Paula Ross, Founding Member, The Matriots PAC
Commentator: Dr. Rene Heberle, Professor of Political Science, The University of Toledo
Panelists:

• Senator Theresa Gavarone, Senate District 2 Representative, The Ohio Senate
• Auditor Anita Lopez, Esq., Lucas County Auditor
• Commissioner Doris I. Herringshaw, President, Wood County Commissioners
• Katy Crosby, Chief of Staff, City of Toledo
• Ashley Futrell, Esq., Attorney at Law at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

State of Women in Education

From kindergarten to higher education, women are working to help future generations build a more equitable world. Join us for a conversation the current efforts and how to help move them forward.
Moderator: Dr. Lynne Hamer, Professor and Program Coordinator, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, Educational Studies
Commentator: Dr. Charlene Gilbert, Dean, College of Arts and Letters
Panelists:

• Anjali Phadke, Vice President of Student Government, The University of Toledo
• Dr. Amy Thompson, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, The University of Toledo
• Dr. Treva Jeffries, Assistant Transformational Leader of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Toledo Public Schools
• Ruth Leonard, Administrative Lead, Community Solidarity Response Network

State of Women's Health

Working holistically to improve women’s healthcare is an integral part of gender equity. Join us for a conversation about the current efforts and how to help move them forward.
Moderator: Erin Marten, Founder, Solace Health and Community Outreach Center
Commentator: Dr. Linda Lewandowski, Vice Provost for Health Affairs for Interprofessional and Community Partnerships, Dean and Professor, College of Nursing
Panelists:

• Dr. La Tasha Sullivan, Director, University Counseling Center
• Iris E. Harvey, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
• Dr. Elysia James, UTMC Healthcare Provider and Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology

Intersectional Gender Equity Action Workshop

In this transformational workshop, leadership coach and activist Dr. P will guide us through exercises to develop intersectional frameworks and strategies for creating lasting change.
Facilitator: Dr. Patrice McClellan, President and Lead Strategist with The Ronald Group

Concurrent Networking Sessions: Get Engaged

Network with local women’s and gender equity organizations to find out what you can do to advance gender equity in our community.

• University of Toledo Council on the Status of Women: The University of Toledo is a campus coalition of faculty, staff and students committed to advancing intersectional gender equity through research and advocacy. UToledo faculty, staff, and students are invited to apply.
• Women of Toledo: Women of Toledo offers programs and services that help tackle issues critical to women’s economic advancement and interrupt various biases in the workplace, marketplace, community and family. These programs and services are teaching diverse groups of women and young women to lean in with our organization for support. Women of Toledo shows them how to connect with other women and build new skills and resources, while creating mentorship and peer-networking circles to share ideas, offer support or seek advice.
• YWCA of Northwest Ohio: The YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s programs are here to provide safety, encouragement, support, skill building and resources to families, women and men in northwest Ohio. For more than 125 years, the YWCA has been a vital community resource in northwest Ohio committed to eliminating racism and empowering women.
• Toledo Lucas County Public Library Steinem Sisters Collection: The Steinem Sisters Collection is a feminist collection that explores the lives and achievements of women. Created to honor Gloria Steinem, the collection champions the historical, cultural and political contribution of women; and strives to provide a welcoming space for women of all walks of life to share their truths. The types of materials we collect are first and foremost “feminist materials”- which are those materials that uphold women’s rights and interests in defining and promoting political, economic, personal and social equality of the sexes. This collection was made possible due to a generous donation by The Steinem’s Sisters Collective.
• Women’s Initiative of United Way: The Women’s Initiative of the United Way’s mission is to mobilize and network women to become leaders, philanthropists and advocates on issues concerning women and children. The Initiative accomplishes this goal through professional development, networking and community impact-centered events that help educate women on the community’s needs while connecting them with opportunities to see the need and create a direct impact.
• American Association for University Women (AAUW) Toledo: The AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
• The University of Toledo Eberly Center for Women: The Eberly Center for Women advances gender equity through high-impact and innovative programs that uplift women and gender minorities, build community and mobilize changemakers.

Keynote: Womanist Leadership

Womanist leadership is discussed as an oppositional model to the asymmetrical leadership structure advanced by white men. Black women, who stand at the intersection of race and gender often face additional oppression due to their class, sexuality or physical ability. In response, they have developed and practiced models of leadership tied to their identities and collective in focus. This talk presents the tenets of womanist leadership, drawing from historic and contemporary examples and analysis.
Speaker: Dr. Melina Abdullah, Professor and former Chair of Pan-African Studies, California State University, Los Angeles