Celebrating Women’s History in a meaningful way

City Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown, Curtis Jones Jr. and Maria D. Quiñones-Sanchez took out time to honor a host of sheroes from across the city, “women of moxie” whose leadership in private, public and nonprofit sectors is helping to move the needle to a better quality of life for all who live and work here: Tina Sloan Green, Clarena Tolson, Katherine Gajewski,  Yvonne Roberts, Irene Hannan, Hon. Renee Cardwell Hughes, Vanessa Fields, Kathy Black, Evelyn Marcha-Hidalgo and Sophie Bryan 

Mayor Nutter signs a bill asking voters to create a permanent Philadelphia Commission for Women.

City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown makes a last-minute edit to her prepared comments during a Women’s History Month program at City Hall.

Mayor Nutter, City Councilwomen Blondell Reynolds Brown and Maria D. Quiñones-Sanchez join a host of women who testified on behalf of creating a new Commission for Women, including PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau and Commissioner Shalimar Thomas.

The Women’s History Month program also featured an important part two: the enactment of legislation that will move the city a step closer to reintroducing a Commission for Women. Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed Bill No. 140230, allowing voters in the Mayor 19 primary election to decide whether to update the city’s charter and make such a commission a permanent feature of municipal government. PCHR testified in favor of this action in February.

Philadelphia Revenue Commissioner Clarena Tolson, PCHR Deputy Director Pamela Gwaltney and City Councilman Blondell Reynolds Brown share a moment of celebration and sisterhood.

With issues ranging from pay equity to human trafficking to cyclical poverty, there is cause and need for a set of thinkers and doers to focus on real solutions, Reynolds Brown reminded the audience. Nutter said he signed the legislation in honor of his grandmother, his mother, his sister, his wife and, “for the future, my daughter Olivia.”

And once the question goes on the ballot, Nutter said, “The answer should be ‘Yes.'”

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Testifying for equality: A rationale for a Commission for Women

PHILADELPHIA – PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau was one of host of voices rising in favor of a proposal to institute a Philadelphia Commission for Women at a hearing in City Council on Wednesday.

PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau delivers testimony during a hearing by City Council’s committee on law and government.

Designed by City Councilwomen Blondell Reynolds Brown and Marian B. Tasco, the unpaid commission would study concerns and advance initiatives to help level the playing field for women and girls in the city.  A set of legislation originally authored last year is winding its way through City Council and toward Mayor Nutter’s desk.

Resolution No. 140244 would amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish the commission permanently, with Bill No. 140230 allowing the idea to be put before the voters – perhaps as soon as during this spring’s primary elections.

“Addressing . . . rapidly unfolding scenarios smartly and effectively could be the work of a Commission for Women, because evaluating policies that come with rising immigration or shifting employment sectors, for instance, would help alleviate the persistent and growing poverty Philadelphia currently faces,” Landau told members of City Council’s Committee on Law and Government.

“Be it by ballot or executive order, creating this commission poses to be a benefit. It could lead toward greater equality by offering research-based perspectives to City Council and future mayoral administrations to better inform decisions by both.

“That’s a win-win situation.”

Read the full testimony here: pchr_testimony_comm4women_021815.