Having 20/20 Vision is something that not many people can boast when it comes to their eyesight, but what about having 2020 vision and equality in sight when it comes to gender and leadership in our nation? Today, only 12 of the Fortune 500 companies have women as their CEOs or presidents. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, “90 women serve in the U.S. Congress. Seventeen women serve in the Senate and 73 women serve in the House. The number of women in statewide elective executive posts is 73, while the proportion of women in state legislatures is 24.4 percent”. These numbers are low…
So how does that affect Girl Scouts? Well, there are three Girl Scouts who are serving as delegates for Vision 2020, a national project of the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University, focused exclusively on advancing gender equality by energizing dialogue about women and leadership! These women will work to develop and launch an agenda to move America towards gender equality by 2020 – which is also the centennial celebration of the 19th amendment!
GSUSA’s National President Connie L. Lindsey was chosen as a national delegate, representing Illinois. GSUSA says about Lindsey: “Since her appointment in 2008, she has provided guidance in three vital areas—policy, fund-raising, and management. Connie is an integral part of the Girl Scout transformation, committed to building and sustaining membership growth and ensuring girls receive a premier leadership development experience.”
Morgan Coffey from Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, was chosen as a national delegate, representing Georgia, for her work with Stronghold Cooperative Ministries (Stronghold Atlanta – a resource center for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence). Coffey currently serves GSUSA as a National Girl Consultant and a National Young Women of Distinction.
Natalia Thompson from Girl Scouts of Black Hawk Council, has also been selected as a national delegate, representing Wisconsin. Thompson currently serves GSUSA as a National Girl Consultant and a 2008 National Young Woman of Distinction.
“I salute Connie, Morgan, and Natalia for joining this significant conversation to advance the leadership of girls and women throughout the United States,” said Kathy Cloninger, CEO of GSUSA. “Their voices will bring tremendous value to this national dialogue on women and gender equality.”
So what do you think? Do these issues need revised sight? Do they need to be seen in 20/20 vision as an equal playing field? Can it be done by 2020?
-Morgan Coffey
National Young Woman of Distinction
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Check out Morgan’s personal blog here!
Filed under: Uncategorized
[...] was recently featured on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta blog, along with two other National Delegates who are also Girl Scouts: Connie Lindsey, president of the [...]