Advocacy and Policy Issues in the Community

CEW’s commitment to promoting access and opportunities results in many collaborative efforts with local, regional and national organizations to raise awareness about women’s issues, to address specific concerns related to women’s employment, education, and leadership, and to ensure the broadest dissemination of current research on women’s lives.  The following are some examples of current CEW involvement in advocacy and policy issues.

The Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist Program

The Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist Program was created in order to bring social activists who work on gender issues to the Center for the Education of Women, University of Michigan.

During her stay, the activist has the opportunity to interact with University faculty and students, as well as community members and other social change activists in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The visit is intended to give the selected activist time for reflection, research and/or planning related to her area of activism.   A written work outlining the results of this study time is produced by the Visiting Activist and presented to the general public.

Criteria for selection as a Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist includes:

a) Extent of activism,
b) Focus on gender issues and
c) Success in working with groups as well as individuals

For more information about the Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist Program, made possible through a gift from Twink Frey and James McKay,  contact Beth Sullivan at bsulliva@umich.edu or 734-998-7225.

Connie Evans – Inaugural Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist, Winter 2006

While at CEW Connie Evans, founder of the Women’s Self-Employment Project in Chicago, was able to consult with University researchers, other activists, and to convene “town meetings” with women of color to hear their perspectives on asset development and financial security as well as to discuss with them her thoughts about next steps in her work.  Exploring how women of color, especially African American women,  perceive their financial security and how to encourage asset development in this population was her primary goal while on campus.

The results of her exploration and research are presented in:
The Intersection of  Gender, Race and Culture as Influencers on African American Women’s Financial Fitness, Asset Accumulation, and Wealth Attainment.

Access to Education

CEW  is a founding member of CFITE, the Coalition for Independence Through Education, an organization of Michigan educators, researchers, advocates, student parents, college administrators and others who advocate for welfare recipients' access to college.  The Coalition supports opportunities for low-income parents to complete college because extensive research has shown that completion of post-secondary education increases welfare recipients’ wages much more rapidly than does work.  CFITE released a report in 2002 examining educational opportunities and barriers to access for Michigan's welfare recipients.

Women in Business

The Women’s Leadership Forum of Detroit and the Detroit Women’s Economic Club have partnered with CEW  to rank Michigan’s 100 largest publicly held corporation in regard to presence of women in the highest paid positions and on boards of directors.  The Women’s Leadership Index 2003 indicated that women held only 9.6% of seats on corporate boards and 7.1% of the top five compensated officer positions in these Michigan corporations.

The Forte´ Foundation, a consortium of educational institutions, businesses and nonprofit groups, emerged as the direct result of a research investigation conducted by CEW, the UM’s Business School and Catalyst.  The study yielded a report, Women and the MBA:  Gateway to Opportunity that provided suggestions for business schools to improve recruitment and retention of women.  Following publication of the report, a group of women business leaders, with the participation of CEW director Carol Hollenshead, created the Forté Foundation. Forté Foundation's mission is to substantially increase the number of women business leaders by increasing the flow of women into key educational gateways and business networks.

Women Leaders in Higher Education

CEW, in conjunction with the American Council on Education Office of Women in Higher Education, planned OWHE’s first regional leadership forum for senior women administrators.  Held at CEW, the forum, entitled “Advancing Women’s Leadership: Styles, Strategies, and Tools,” was designed to enhance the success of women who are preparing to seek a college presidency or other top-level position.

CEW’s Director was elected to the national board of the ACE Women’s Network Network in 2003 and continues to serve.  She is also a member of the Executive Board of the Michigan chapter.
In 2004, CEW won the ACE Women’s Network Program Award for Outstanding, Innovative and Visionary Programs Benefiting Women Leaders in recognition of the excellence of the Center’s many leadership development and support programs.

Research on Women

CEW is a founding member of the National Council for Research on Women which conducts and promotes research on women and girls with the aim of positively influencing national and international policy development and program creation.