Activate 3.8: Economic Equity Campaign launches in Eastern WA
This past weekend, the Washington State Women’s Commission (WSWC) kicked off the Eastern Washington leg of the Activate 3.8 campaign in Spokane. Partnering with Gonzaga University’s Women Lead program and the Girl Scouts of Washington, we organized an engaging event for people of all ages.
Event Highlights:
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Inspirational Keynotes: The program featured powerful remarks from WA State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson, and our Executive Director Grace Yoo. Our partners, Brian Newberry, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, and Sherri Lynch, Co-founder of Gonzaga’s Women Lead Program, also shared how their organizations work to expand access to opportunity.
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Insightful Fireside Chat: A panel discussion with three C-suite women leaders in Washington offered candid insights into navigating traditionally male-dominated fields. This conversation, facilitated by WSWC Commissioner Anna Franklin, included Cheryl Steele, CSO of Starbucks, and Kelly Fukai, COO of Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA).
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Hands-On Science Activity: Before the panel, students, including many Girl Scouts, stepped out to participate in an exciting life science activity. Led by Central Valley School District high school teacher Krista Larsen, the kids examined water samples from local streams. They discovered an array of critters among the algae and under rocks using charts the Lands Council provided. Based on their findings, students were able to determine how healthy each water sample was.
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STEM Mobile: The Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho brought their “STEM Mobile,” filled with interactive activities like Lego robots and anatomical charts. This mobile unit aims to connect more girls in rural parts of Washington and Northern Idaho with careers in STEM.
Engagement and Participation:
As with all our Pay Equity Tour events, we featured a “Use Your Voice” booth for attendees to share their thoughts on economic equity. There was also a “purple carpet” photo zone to help spread the word about this crucial issue and a “swag station” where supporters could gear up for Activate 3.8.
Looking Ahead:
This successful launch in Spokane is just the beginning! The 10-city Pay Equity Tour, in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Washington, aims to connect K-12 girls with career opportunities in tech, aerospace, STEM, construction, and trades. Upcoming stops include Bellingham, Olympia, Pullman, Redmond, Seattle, Sequim, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Yakima.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn or subscribe to updates for the latest on Activate 3.8: The Pay Equity Tour and learn how you can be directly involved. We hope to see you soon!
Share Your Story:
Eager to share your story? Visit our Activate 3.8 website where you can fill out a survey about your experience with economic equality. There’s also an option to share more details through video submissions. At the end of our 10-city tour, we’ll use these submissions to highlight the issues impacting our constituents’ lives the most and to gather stories to share with legislators and state agencies.
About the Women Lead Program:
The Women Lead program at Gonzaga University’s School of Leadership Studies is dedicated to educating and empowering women. We offer a variety of programs, including conferences, workshops, book clubs, and a certificate program, inviting all genders to consider gender equity in the workplace. Since 2016, the program has educated thousands of professionals from various industries and educational levels, providing a space for community building and networking.
About the Washington State Women’s Commission:
The Washington State Women’s Commission (WSWC) is an executive branch cabinet agency under the Office of Governor Inslee, serving as the primary voice for Washington women and girls. Established in 2018, WSWC develops policies and initiatives to address issues disproportionately affecting women, such as childcare access, domestic and gender-based violence, equal pay, healthcare access, and intersectional inequities. Through strategic listening and collaboration, we represent the 3.8 million women and girls across Washington.
Learn more at wswc.wa.gov and activate38.com.
