Welcome to the website of the Commission. We are a non-partisan body with a focus on raising awareness and celebrating the contributions and successes of all Floridians, along with providing a collaborate platform for those seeking information on issues that affect women, girls and their families in our state.
Our goal is to provide communication, promotion, and collaboration among the hundreds of organizations working in all 67 counties that are focused on the welfare of the women of Florida. We are all interested in improving the well-being of Florida women and girls – and by extension, all Floridians. In doing so, we strive to be a resource for lawmakers, businesses, and residents so they have a better understanding of these important issues.
2019 Voices of Florida Women Online Survey!
Wanting to be responsive to the specific concerns and needs of women in Florida, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women asks women to share about the challenges they encounter in their everyday lives through the 2019 Voices of Florida Women Online Survey. Available through November 30, 2019, they survey coincides with the 2019 Voices of Florida Women Listening Tour.
The questionnaire is brief – it takes just a few minutes to complete – and it will give us important feedback to share with local, state and national leaders, and help us focus our future educational and collaborative efforts on the issues that matter most to women in Florida. Please click on this link and take the survey, then share it with your friends, colleagues, associates, networks. The survey will close on November 30, so don’t miss this important opportunity to be heard. Please contact Kelly Sciba at ksciba@fcsw.netfor more information regarding Voices of Florida Women.
Commission Hosts Voice of Florida Women Southwest Florida
Click here to view and download photos from the event.
Women from across Southwest Florida participated in a free community conversation as part of the Voices of Florida Women project at the City Pier. Dr. Cindy Banyai, Evaluation and Design Advisor to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and Principal, Banyai Evaluation & Consulting, moderated the event attended by more than 50 women and included Randall Henderson, Jr., Mayor of the City of Fort Myers.
“We are excited to host our first Community Conversation of 2019 here in Southwest Florida,” said Project Chair Commissioner Jenna Persons. “We look forward to talking with women bout the issues that are important to them and continuing that dialogue in the future in our locale and across the State.”
The year-long Voices project, sponsored by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW), is intended to help gain a comprehensive understanding of issues impacting Florida women and their families. A report with the findings and recommendations will be released in January 2020.
Congratulations to the
2018 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees!
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women today inducted three new members into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame at a distinguished ceremony in Orlando as a part of the Future of Florida Forum. Celebrating its 36th anniversary, the Hall of Fame honored 2018 inductees Adela Hernandez Gonzmart (Ybor City), Lee Bird Leavengood (Tampa), and Janet Petro (Indian Harbour Beach) for their significant contributions to the citizens of Florida.
For the second consecutive year since its establishment, the Hall of Fame ceremony was held as a part of the Florida Chamber Foundation’s annual Future of Florida Forum. The centralized location and expanded celebration presented a greater opportunity to recognize the many ways that women’s history has become woven into the fabric of our state and national story in a more meaningful way. With the support of the Florida Chamber Foundation, the event was streamed live for audiences around the state and attended by some of the leading voices in Florida government and business.
“Partnerships and collaboration matter to securing Florida’s future and we are proud to host the Women’s Hall of Fame during a milestone year. The honorees at this event are incredible examples of Floridians who made, and continue to make, Florida’s long-term future their focus,” said Tony Carvajal, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber Foundation.
“The Commission’s partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation has underscored the importance of collaboration, education, and celebration of the accomplishments of women who have made their mark on the State of Florida,” said Commission Chair Lady Dhyana Ziegler. “These trailblazers have made history.”
The ceremony included an evening of honor with remarks from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis; Doug Davidson, Chair of the Florida Chamber Foundation; Crystal Stiles, Director of Economic Development for Florida Power and Light Company, and Commissioners from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Joined by their family and friends, inductees were celebrated with commemorative videos and remarks about the legacy of accomplishments and the contributions they made to the lives of people across Florida.
The evening was anchored with an induction ceremony led by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi where inductees were awarded with replicas of the plaques that will be placed on the Hall of Fame wall in the Florida Capitol Rotunda, as well as an American flag that was flown over the United States Capitol in their honor.
Hall of Fame members were selected by Governor Rick Scott from a group of ten nominees selected by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. This year’s inductees will join current members on the walls of the Florida Capitol. Visitors can view all of the Hall of Fame members immortalized on plaques in the Capitol Rotunda or on the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame website.