Through our Civic Engagement Initiatives, we reach out to the community seeking ways of making our collective voices more powerfully heard. By taking courageous stands as a Club on issues congruent with our values, we provide strong civic leadership.
Our work on Civic Engagement work is implemented on three levels:
- Through Action Group and special projects.
- Through collaborations with other civic organizations.
- Through endorsements of ballot issues and position statements on city policy issues.
2024 Annual Report
Civic Engagement is at the very heart of Woman’s City Club. Our mission is to educate, empower and engage. The education and empowerment functions are both necessary to move toward citizen engagement. Therefore, civic engagement flows into many of the other areas of WCC. The Social Justice Action Group and the Program Committee both connect to civic engagement so that the issues we choose to emphasize at any given time can be addressed in the activities of the Social Justice Action Group and the programs that WCC presents.
The two major issues Civic Engagement took on this year were the Reproductive Rights Amendment and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund funding amendment. Those two legislative issues we recovered in programming, actions, and engagement. WCC endorsed the amendment, worked to get iton the ballot, and rejoiced at its passing. Likewise, we endorsed the city of Cincinnati Affordable Housing Amendment, worked to get it on the ballot, presented an excellent program explaining the amendment, knocked on doors and made calls in support. This time there was no rejoicing as the amendment failed. WCC continues to advocate for solutions to the housing crisis.
We have attended housing committee meetings about a new program the city has recommended on zoning changes impacting residential housing development. This plan, Connected Communities, does not address affordable housing at needed levels (housing for people with incomes 30-60 percent AMI. WCC joins other housing advocates expressing this concern. We also feel there has not been enough citizen engagement in creating this plan.
We recently signed a letter, with several other citizen groups, to the City Council criticizing the Futures Commission report for a lack of an inclusive group on the Futures Commission. We felt, along with others, that the commission was made up of CEO’s and other business people without input from non-profit leaders and citizen groups. Once again, the city missed the mark on citizen engagement. The lack of a well-rounded group to complete the commission resulted in a report with no emphasis on affordable housing. Another major gap in the report was the omission of resources for the Green Cincinnati plan.
WCC has taken a strong position on the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment, which we hope to see on Ohio’s November ballot. Many of our members have been active in circulating petitions for this anti- amendment. If this amendment makes it to November's ballot, we hope that WCC’ s efforts with the Greater Cincinnati Voter gerrymandering Collaborative in voter registration will pay off at the polls. By Jan Seymour
Education Action Group
Understanding the tragic correlation between street violence and literacy, WCC provides volunteers and funds for an after-school tutoring program in an inner-city school. We teach kindergartners literacy skills so they will have a better chance of becoming strong readers by fourth grade.
Social Justice Action Group
Purpose: The Social Justice Action Group addresses inequities due to systemic poverty and inequality, racism, and sexism. Concerns include racial justice, gender equality, equal access to affordable housing, criminal justice reform, citizen empowerment, and voting rights.
Environmental Action Group
Purpose: