Turning Talk Into Action An Indiana Commission for Women project has identified key issues for women in Indiana and is developing solutions By David Wellman
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n February of 2011, the Indiana Commission for Women (ICW) launched an initiative that combined an online survey with 17 “listening sessions” around the state in order to identify the top concerns of Hoosier women. “We are the voice of women to the state, and in order to be that, we have to listen first,” says Kristin Svyantek Garvey, Executive Director of the ICW. What the ICW heard was a hunger for change and growth on multiple fronts, coupled with frustration over a lack of resources to address the issues raised. The project identified five issues that were top of mind with Indiana women: healthrelated issues, work-related issues, care-giving, leadership and violence against women. There were some common threads running through all these discussions, Garvey adds. “First, there was an acknowledgement that 20
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