Usually a majority of men call the shots at the state Capitol but not today. Women joined together for strength and left with ideas on how to "Rise Up and Be the Best."
"We really need more women in the legislature," says Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women member Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. "I've said that for a long time."
Leftwich got to see what that might look like on Friday as only women sat in the floor seats of the House chamber.
"I want them to feel enraged," says Leftwich. "I want them to get engaged."
The Oklahoma Women's Summit, hosted by OCSW, brought pressing topics such as women's health care, leadership and incarceration up for discussion.
"It's important for people to know there are other choices aside from incarceration, and drug court is one of those programs," says OCSW Commissioner Patricia Presley.
Those at the Capitol saw a live drug court with a successful graduation, and officials hope that will encourage women to demand more funding for the program so Oklahoma can stop taking first place for incarcerating women.
"These people don't need felony charges," says Leftwich. "They need to have misdemeanor charges. They need to be in drug court and get the treatment."
The senator says that's not the only change that is not the only change that needs to occur. Among other things, she's hoping to change the way domestic abuse is handled.
"It a felony to steal $50 worth of groceries or own a fighting rooster, but it's a misdemeanor if you hit your wife, and I've always had a problem with that," says Leftwich.
The ultimate goal for the summit is to meet the theme and "Rise Up to Be the Best."
"Some women say, 'Oh, I couldn't do that,' and I'm here to tell every women who is here today and any women who listens to this, 'Yes, you can,'" says Leftwich. "Sometimes you have to do the things you think you cannot do. When you do that, you find a whole new area of life you didn't know was out there."
Leftwich says empowerment begins with being active in the community and letting your legislator know you want legislation supporting women. She says she can't wait to see the day Oklahoma rises up and decides to have zero tolerance for domestic violence.
Leftwich authored several bills, including the "Scum of the Earth" bill and a bill to make sure batterist programs are completed.
Resources (Note: Information taken from Oklahoma Women's Summit information booklet)
This publication contains a thorough listing of all Oklahoma state agencies. The ABC also includes listings for Oklahoma-elected officers, cabinet, legislature, high courts and institutions. Each listing includes statutory citations, contact information and sections on the agency's mission statement, history and function. The most recent publication can be downloaded in its entirety.
Founded in 1997, FEW Foundation exists solely to provide college tuition and textbooks to the qualified, indigent, incarcerated women of Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Oklahoma. Sixty women are in classes today with FEW Foundation funds. Contact Suzanne Edmondson, fewfund@cox.net
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is a 501 (c) (3) organization with the mission of being a partner in the community making "equal justice for all" a reality by providing free, civil-legal assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and their families and to the elderly. This service is provided through its 19 law offices that are strategically located throughout the state so that they can serve every county. These law offices are in Ardmore, Bartlesville, Clinton, Hugo, Lawton, Muskogee, Norman, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, and Tulsa. In addition, there are satellite offices in Ada, Altus, Chickasha, Duncan, Jay, Poteau, Shawnee, Stilwell, and Woodward.
Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging-Senior Info Line- 800.211.2116
Agencies designated to be the focal points for Older Americans Act programs in our state. Funding is provided for supportive home and community-based services to keep older persons at home for as long as possible, independent and with a good quality of life. Services are also provided to caregivers. The services are free. The Senior Info-Line's toll free number is 1.800.211.2116 and will ring into the appropriate Area Agency on Aging.
The Victim Services Unit of the Office of Attorney General was created July 1, 2005, as a result of the legislative transfer of oversight responsibilities for domestic violence, sexual assault, and batterers intervention service programs from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Among the many duties assigned to the unit, OAG staff members work with survivors and families on cases assigned to the AG's Criminal Appeals Unit, assist with funding and certification of domestic violence and sexual assault programs, provide regional trainings and a multi-disciplinary statewide conference on a variety of issues surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and implement OK VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), a criminal tracking and automated notification system, and VINE Protective Order, a system providing status notification to victims regarding protective orders.
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs in Oklahoma are non-profit organizations that recruit, screen and train community volunteers to act as Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children in juvenile "deprived proceedings, and to help ensure their needs and best interests are served while wards of the juvenile courts.
The Oklahoma Center for the Book is an outreach center for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and is located in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The mission of the Oklahoma Center for the Book is to promote Oklahoma authors, celebrate the State's literary heritage and to include reading for pleasure for all Oklahomans. For further information call 405.522.3575 or visit www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb.
ReadOKC.org is an on-line directory of literacy and ESL providers in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and compiled by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation's literacy initiative LIFE (Literacy is For Everyone). ReadOKC.org is a resource for citizens interested in literacy services available in the community.
The Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault- www.ocadvsa.org
The Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is comprised of non-profit, community-based organizations which include shelters, safe houses, crisis centers, crisis/hotlines and task forces working with the concerns of victims and/or survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We provide training, technical assistance, clearinghouse open to the public, awareness events, and systems advocacy.
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is located in Stillwater. The department provides leadership, resources, and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. That system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 56 campuses, 398 comprehensive school districts, 25 skill centers and three juvenile facilities.
Located in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Heritage Association focuses on telling Oklahoma's history through its people, and each of its programs strives to accomplish that goal. The organization has hosted the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for the past 80 years to recognize the most accomplished individuals from our state. Check out the amazing women of Oklahoma!
This Focus on Excellence website allows consumers to view Oklahoma nursing home ratings. It is a tool that allows the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Oklahoma State Department of Health to work with nursing homes to provide quality long-term care facilities for Oklahomans.
Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy- www.oica.org
OICA raises awareness by sharing important data and research and by identifying the gaps in programs and systems that are designed to serve children and youth. OICA takes action by moving ideas, issues and initiatives forward in ways that mobilize people, promote effective solutions and achieve real results. When needed, OICA builds coalitions and changes policy to ensure that those changes, improvements and solutions benefit all children.
Oklahoma Primary Care Association is Oklahoma's federally-designated, federally-funded trade association for community health centers and other community-based health care providers. Its mission is strengthening access to community-based health care through advocacy, education and technical assistance. OPCA works in cooperation with the State Primary Care Office (PCO), also funded by HRSA, in a structured public/private partnership to strengthen access to comprehensive preventive and primary health care.
The Women's Archives at Oklahoma State university serves as the central information source about women associated with Oklahoma, preserving the contributions women make to family and community, science and culture, as well as business and government. For more information about materials in the collection or to donate materials of your own, contact Dr. Jennifer Paustenbaugh at 405.744.9778 or jennifer.paustenbaugh@okstate.edu.
Before the summer of 2007, Oklahoma Women's Legislative Coalition (OWLC) was the Oklahoma Legislative Coalition. The coalition has sponsored a day at the State Capitol in March for over 20 years. In 2007, the member organizations voted to change the organization's name and focus to address more direct policies and issues related to Oklahoma women and girls.
The inspiration for the website and blog came out of a December 2004 meeting of Oklahoma women leaders to discuss establishment of a women's networking organization. The aim of the website is to promote collaboration and networking between women's organizations and to improve the status of women and girls via issue advocacy, coalition building and information sharing. Jean Warner, Oklahoma Women's Network Founder, blogs on women and girls in Oklahoma and keeps everyone informed on women's issues and Oklahoma news in general. This blog provides countless links to other great issues.
REI's Women's Business Center (WBC) is the result of a cooperative agreement with the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership to assist Oklahoma's enterprising women wanting to explore the opportunities of starting a business or expanding and improving an existing business.
The Women's Foundation of Oklahoma makes grants that benefit women and girls, as well as our communities overall. Women's Foundation of Oklahoma is the only statewide fund dedicated to women and girls.
Founded in 1907, the Oklahoma City YWCA has worked tirelessly on behalf of women and minorities for nearly a century. More than 20,000 women and children receive help each year through the Oklahoma City YWCA's programs including crisis services, counseling, child care, transitional housing, domestic violence and sexual assault victims assistance and education. Community outreach efforts of the YWCA Oklahoma City provide ongoing additional education on the issues of domestic and family violence, the empowerment of women and strategies to end racism in our community.
The Center for Women Policy Studies was founded in 1972 as the first feminist policy analysis and research institution in the USA. The Center is a unique resource for progressive public policy and social change. The Center is respected by policy makers, academics, and advocates worldwide for our reliable research, in-depth policy analysis, and astute advocacy.
Ending violence and discrimination against women around the world through public pressure. Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the Human Rights of women around the world. Working with the national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human-rights abuses.
A national, nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. With roots dating to 1864, Girls Inc. has provided vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, under-served areas. Today innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential and prepare them to lead successful, independent and fulfilling lives.
Institute for Women's Policy Research- www.iwpr.org
The Institute for Women's Policy Research conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities and societies. IWPR focuses on issues of poverty and welfare, employment and earnings, work and family issues, health and safety and women's civic and political participation.
National Association of Commissions for Women- www.nacw.org
The organization connecting Commissions for Women in states, counties and cities across America, NACW is the national advocate for government commissions for women and holds a unique and positive position for women's justice and touches millions of women, playing a significant role in national policy and legislative development.
National Domestic Violence Hotline- www.ndvh.org- 800.799.SAFE
The website provides resource links and books on domestic violence as well as information on hotline services.
In 1969, a group of women and men of Seneca Falls created the National Women's Hall of Fame, believing that the contribution of American women deserved a permanent home in the small village where it all began. The Hall is home to exhibits, artifacts of historical interest, a research library and office.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the US Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
As the only national grassroots membership organization to focus solely on issues unique to women as they age, OWL strives to improve the status and quality of life for midlife and older women. It educates about and advocates for health, economic security and quality of life.
The Peace Women Project monitors and works toward rapid and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Peace Women hosts Peacewomen.org, a website that provides accurate and timely information on women, peace and security issues and women's peace-building initiatives in areas of armed conflict. Peace Women advocates for the integration of gender analysis in the governance, peace and security work of civil society actors, the UN system and governmental bodies.
UNIFEM-United Nations Development Fund for Women- www.unifem.org
UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to foster women's empowerment and gender equality.
The White House Project, a national nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization (501(c)(3)) aims to advance women's leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the US presidency. Through multi-platform programs, the White House Project creates a culture where America's most valuable untapped resource-women-can succeed in all realms.
The Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) works to provide low and moderate income women (aged 18 to 65) with basic financial information aimed at helping them take financial control over their lives and to increase awareness of the structural barriers that prevent women's adequate participation in the nation's retirement systems. Although women have entered the labor force in record numbers, their access to retirement benefits has not followed at the same level. As the only project to focus exclusively on the specific inequities that disadvantage women, WISER seeks to improve the opportunities for women to secure retirement income.
