Seventy-percent of Iowa’s female headed households are struggling economically. Forty-percent are living in poverty and an additional 30 percent do not earn enough to support their basic living expenses.
This according to the SHE MATTERS: 2015 Issues and Actions report. In an effort to help Iowa’s women and girls create economic self-sufficiency, the Iowa Women’s Foundation recently completed community meetings in 18 Iowa counties.
Meetings were held May through August as the Iowa Women’s Foundation hit the state highways and byways for their SHE MATTERS: We Listen and Iowa Wins Tour. The Iowa Women’s Foundation leadership traveled over 4,800 miles to 18 Iowa communities, including Cedar Rapids, Chariton, Council Bluffs, Creston, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Fort Madison, Iowa City, Jefferson, Marshalltown, Mason City, Ottumwa, Davenport, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Waterloo.
The meeting in Jefferson was held June 29 and was coordinated by Jacque Andrew a member of the Iowa Women’s Foundation board.
Thirty-seven local partners from community nonprofits, educational institutions and businesses collaborated with the Iowa Women’s Foundation bringing to the discussion 266 community leaders recognized for their work with women and girls.
“We learned firsthand the most pressing challenges affecting economic self-sufficiency for women (and children) in each community. We also heard what initiatives are in place to advance success for women and girls and about the gaps that exist,” said Dawn Oliver Wiand, executive director of the Iowa Women’s Foundation and organizer of these community meetings.
Community leaders also made recommendations for specific areas or issues where the Iowa Women’s Foundation could invest to help women and girls achieve economic success. “The tour exceeded our expectations. Each community meeting was enthusiastically attended and the discussions thoughtful and informative,” said Oliver Wiand.
The data will culminate in a report, developed by the Iowa Women’s Foundation, to be released in early 2016. The Foundation will use the report to guide its priorities and strategies moving forward. The report will also be shared with community, business and government leaders around the state to “inform and drive action towards statewide gender equality,” said Oliver Wiand.
“Economically self-sufficient women can lead Iowa’s next chapter of economic growth. Investing in women means investing in our economy. Iowa’s more than 1 million women and girls deserve nothing less,” she noted.
The Iowa Women’s Foundation is a 501(c)3 non profit organization, committed to improving the lives of Iowa’s women and girls through a diversified mix of funding and action: research, grantmaking, advocacy, education and collaboration. To achieve its goals and make the most significant impact, IWF brings together and invests in organizations across Iowa that make women and girls more successful. IWF is the only state-wide organization working to enhance and improve women’s economic self-sufficiency.
