Oklahoma Women’s Coalition
The mission of Oklahoma Women’s Coalition is to improve the potential of Oklahoma women and girls through education and advocacy.
Executive Director, Kristin Davis, says that Oklahoma Women’s Coalition is a statewide nonpartisan non-profit organization. In 2008 a group of women formed the coalition to strengthen individual women and girls organizations and draw together to strengthen the voices of women and girls in Oklahoma. At that time Oklahoma was ranked 3rd worst state in the nation for women and currently it is ranked 2nd. Also recent information shows women in Tulsa ranked 9th in the nation for equal pay. Davis says that they have been able to see positive results on the policy level within the past year and a half.
Oklahoma Women’s Coalition is inviting people to their free educational forum series. Issues included in the forums are human trafficking, female incarceration, women’s health, and domestic violence. Davis describes the forums, “It’s a way for people to attend an event and learn about the issues that are very relevant to women and girls in our state and also learn about how to get involved and make a difference.” There will be a forum on female incarceration on March 27th in Oklahoma City at the United Way building from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Davis is encouraging attendees to bring a brown bag lunch to the event. Dr. Laura Pitman from the Department of Corrections, former House Speaker Kris Steele, Dr. Monty Gray with Francis Tuttle, and a panel of women who’ve been incarcerated will be speakers. They will discuss factors related to Oklahoma being ranked as number one for female incarceration in the country. The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness and to inform people about how to get involved.
In addition to the educational forums, Oklahoma Women’s Coalition is hosting an Advocacy Day event on Tuesday April 9th. “We will be visiting the capitol and speaking with legislators and then celebrating that evening with a reception,” Davis says. She says Advocacy Day is a great opportunity to get involved in the political process. For more information on Oklahoma Women’s Coalition’s events and issues, visit their website and facebook page. “The best way to really make a difference in this area is to spread awareness because a lot of people don’t realize the issues that women and girls are facing in Oklahoma. Human trafficking for one is a huge issue, “ Davis explains. She says that because of the structure of the interstate highways, Oklahoma is the hub for human trafficking in the United States.
oklahomawomenscoalition.org
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