Mission Statement

The Tennessee Economic Council on Women assesses Tennessee women’s economic status. It develops and advocates solutions to address women’s needs to help women achieve economic autonomy. In setting its priorities, the Council selects issues that are timely and likely to result in positive changes for women.

Vision

The Tennessee Economic Council on Women will be regarded as the source of information about women’s issues in Tennessee. It is the place to come to identify organizations and activities relating to women in each of the 95 counties. The Council will make major statements and bring significant attention to the issues of educational attainment, occupations and income.

2003-2004 Goals

I. Educate and empower girls and women to pursue careers in high paying, high demand occupations by developing a statewide career mentoring campaign.

II. Define and educate policy makers and the general public about the economic impact of domestic violence on Tennessee’s economy.

III. Increase women’s representation on state boards and commissions by recommending qualified women to serve on state boards and commissions to the Governor and others.

IV. Improve the limited state funding of the TECW by collaborating with other state agencies, community groups, women’s advocates and others to provide research and/or programs that advance women’s economic status.

Publications

2000 First Biennial Report
2001 Women's Economic Listening Tours
2002 Second Biennial Report
2002 Resource Directories

Events and Projects

10/02 State Asset Development Report Card
11/02 GEM-SET Science, Engineering and Technology E-Mentoring (Clay, Fentress, Giles)
11/02 Chattanooga "Economic Impact of Domestic Violence" Hearings
1/03 Strategic Planning Retreat - Davidson County
1/03 "Hats off to Women Legislators" Luncheon, AmSouth Bank - Davidson
2/03 TN Tech "Engineering Your Future" - Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Smith Counties
2/03-5/03 Warren County Health Careers Promotion Program
2/03-5/03 Fentress County Middle School Career Promotion Program
4/03 "Income of Her Own" Girls' Entrepreneur Workshop - Warren
5/23 Memphis "Economic Impact of Domestic Violence" Hearing
6/03 Girl Scouts Camp CEO
8/03 Tennessee Economic Council on Women Meeting-Dickson
10/03 "Income of Her Own: A Focus on Healthcare Careers"; Girls Career Mentoring workshop-Warren
10/03 GEM-Nursing, Group E-Mentoring in Nursing Program (Warren, Davidson, Giles)

Collaborating with the State and Other Entities

Developing Information Together – The Tennessee State Government is in a unique position to help the Council assess Tennessee women's economic status and develop and advocate solutions to address women's needs. The State Government is a primary repository of information about Tennessee. Most Departments of State Government can provide the Council information about women and about how women are affected by the policies, programs and services under their jurisdictions. In some cases, however, they have the information but it is not compiled in a way that we can use. In other cases, only a part of the information that we seek is currently collected.

The Council hopes to work closely with various Departments of State Government to produce gender-specific reports that contain economic and program data. Based on an analysis of this information, the Council will collaborate with Departments to make better use of existing resources and services for women and to provide substantive information to legislators and the public.

The Council is mindful that entities outside of Government must also be part of the effort to improve the status of women in Tennessee. They deserve credit for many innovations and programs. Their ideas and efforts have resulted in many improvements in the workplace and in the lives of women and families. We intend to draw upon, learn from and collaborate with private industry, charitable organizations, civic groups, educational institutions and other groups and resources.

Collaborations since September 2002

Adventure Science Museum – Davidson
American Association of University Women-Blount, Putnam
All About Women Health Conference
Belmont University – Davidson
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee-Hamilton, Shelby
Center for Research on Women-Shelby
Chamber of Commerce – Blount
Chamber of Commerce-Hamilton
Chamber of Commerce-Memphis
Chattanooga Domestic Violence Coalition-Hamilton
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Elementary Schools (2) – Fentress
Federal Express Co.-Shelby
Girls Inc. – Hamilton
Girl Scout Councils, Davidson, Putnam, Knox, Rutherford
H+M Company, Inc.
HCA Foundation – Warren
High Schools - Celina, DeKalb, Fentress, Giles, Warren
Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Junior League Legislative Committee – Statewide
Maryville College-Blount
Middle Tenn. State U – Rutherford
Motlow State Community College – Warren
Nashville Council of Jewish Women – Davidson
Nashville Women’s Political Caucus – Davidson
Pellissippi State Community College
River Park Hospital
Shelby County Attorney General’s Office
Society of Women Engineers-Cookeville
Tennessee Board of Regents, Higher Education
Commission, Economic and Community Development
Tennessee Department of Education-HOSA-Davidson,Warren, Giles
Tennessee Center for Nursing
Tennessee Leadership
Tennessee Right to Learn-Fentress
Tennessee Right to Learn – White
Tenn. Technology Center – Warren
Tenn. Technological U – Putnam
Trevecca Nazarene University
US Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau
University of the South – Franklin
Upper Cumberland Region Health Councils:
DeKalb, Macon, Warren
Week of the Young Child – Davidson
Women’s Economic Council Foundation, Inc.
Women’s Foundation – Shelby County
Women in Technology International
Women’s Resource Center – Davidson