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.

2008 Southeast Tennessee Regional Summit

The Southeast Tennessee Advisory Council will host the third-annual regional summit May 14th on the campus of Bryan College in Dayton, TN. For more information contact Jan Cheek at jan.cheek@state.tn.us.

Tri-Cities Tennessee Regional Women's Business Summit

"Unlocking the Door to Economic Self-Sufficiency"
Thursday, May 22, 2008

Join us at Northeast State Technical Community College for the Inaugural Tri-Cities Tennessee Regional Women's Business Summit. This event will primarily provide a platform for the discussion of issues disproportionately impacting women business owners and entrepreneurs, career women, and professional women; and serve as a resource and starting point for satisfying the knowledge gaps and developing real solutions to overcome the constraints women in business often face. The secondary goal is to build a powerful new regional network for collaboration and mentorship. The Summit will inspire and unite women of all ages, ethnic groups, professions, managerial levels, and economic status. The day-long event will include interactive workshops and powerful panel discussions on a variety of topics, including Business and Management, Career Planning, Health, Business Ownership, Marketing, Finance, and Law. For more information, contact Aundrea Wilcox at AWILCOX@KOSBE.ORG or (423)392-8801.

June 5th East Tennessee Regional Summit

The EAST TENNESSEE REGIONAL WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT will be held THURSDAY, June 5, on the campus of Maryville College. For more information, contact Wendy Pitts Reeves at wendypittsreeves@yahoo.com.

Women Business Owners Opportunities Conference Returns to Memphis

Join us for the 3rd Annual Women Business Owners Opportunities Conference (WBOOC) on Thursday and Friday, June 19 - 20, 2008, featuring topics for both business and professional women. Thursday’s program includes the Business Boot Camp and the WBOOC Opportunities Room. On Friday you will hear dynamic presentations from experts on marketing, financing and personal development.

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Fifth Annual Economic Summit

Political Participation Report

The Tennessee Economic Council on Women has issued a new report Achieving an Equally Gendered Government: The Economic Impact of Women's Political Participation in Tennessee

Women across State Say 2007 Summit a Resounding Success

Over 400 people from across the State joined together for a fantastic day of information and inspiration.

“The positive feedback has been remarkable,” said Yvonne Wood, Summit Coordinator.

In addition to the extraordinary keynote speakers, Karyl Innis, Patricia Schroeder and Marie Wilson, Summit attendees also had the opportunity to hear such notable speakers as Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Coach Melanie Balcomb, Kim McMillan, Senator Rosalind Kurita and State Representatives Janis Sontany and Nathan Vaughn, among many more.

“It’s fairly easy to identify the economic issues that women face today,” said Carol Berz, Co-Chair of the Summit and Chair of the Council and Foundation. “It can be more challenging to find speakers who can take the next step and offer information that can be used in finding solutions.”

Other highlights of the 2007 Summit include: the annual Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus meeting and the opportunity to become a member of the Caucus; presentation of the “E” Awards to Rosalyn Carpenter, Agenia Clark, Sen. Thelma Harper, Mary Jinks, Rep. Sherry Jones and Deborah Reed; release of the Economic Council’s newest research on the Economic Impact of Women’s Political Participation; and the awarding of six college scholarships.

Women’s Economic Council Foundation 2007 Scholarship Winners

The Women’s Economic Council Foundation announced this year six $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to both a traditional and non-traditional female student from each Grand Division of Tennessee. The scholarships were formally presented by Melanie Balcomb, Vanderbilt University Head Women’s Basketball Coach, on October 22nd at the 2007 Economic Summit for Women.

The scholarship winners from each Grand Division are:

West Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Sharon Denise Hyman Beasley, Memphis, TN
High School: Paulita Edmondson, Gates, TN

Middle Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Billie Hieatt, Baxter, TN
High School: Alyse Ray, Gallatin, TN

East Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Betty Dowdy, Pleasant Hill, TN
High School: Anjali Bisaria, Knoxville, TN

Council on hand for signing of Health Insurance Continuance Bill

July 21, 2006

DV Hearing in Jackson brings attention to Economic Impact

On Tuesday, June 27th several dozen men and women gathered at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee to address the economic impact of domestic violence in the Jackson area.  After ECW Executive Director Jennifer Rawls opened the hearing with a welcome, both Senator Don McLeary, R-Jackson District 27, and Representative Randy Rinks, D- Savannah 71, addressed the audience with their concerns about the impact of domestic violence and their personal experiences with domestic violence.

Some of the other community members who spoke were Ron Davidson, Director of Missions with the Shiloh Baptist Association, Gill Kendrick, Chief of Brownsville Police, and Mary Jo Middlebrooks, an attorney from Jackson.  The Council thanks Sandra Silverstein and the Southwest Tennessee Advisory Council.

East TN Advisory Council Community Survey

You have an opportunity to shape the economic development for women in your local community and in the region. We want to know what you observe and experience as barriers to the economic success of women. Our goal is to hear issues regarding women from across the age span, women who live alone as well as those who have families and from women of varying socio-economic levels who for whatever reasons are at risk for financial difficulties. Our hope is to influence the quality of life for women today in order to bring hope to our young girls and the women of tomorrow.

For more information, contact Wendy Pitts Reeves, TECW member or Phyllis Clingner, Advisory Council Chair

Click here to take survey

Domestic Violence Costs

Over the course of the past two years, the Economic Council on Women has undertaken research to determine the economic impact of domestic violence in Tennessee. In that time, there have been changes in two very telling statistics. First, we’ve gone from 7th in the Nation to 5th in the number of women who are murdered each year – usually by an intimate partner and usually with a gun. Also in that time, the Center for Disease Control has increased its estimation of the occurrence of domestic violence from 1 in 4 families to 1 in 3.

Dealing with domestic violence has become a multi-million dollar business. Between the money expended to imprison the offenders to the increasing costs of maintaining a safe work environment or pay-ing the litigation expenses of not doing so, domestic violence is making a significant negative economic impact.

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