Washington State Women’s Commission Presents at Governor Jay Inslee’s Final Public Performance Review
On Thursday, September 26th, the Washington State Women’s Commission had the incredible honor of presenting at Governor Jay Inslee's 82nd and final Public Performance Review (PPR).
All PPR's are organized and facilitated by Results Washington team. This event provided an opportunity for agencies in the Office of the Governor to highlight how they ensure Washingtonians’ voices are reflected in state policies
and programs.
Presenters
- Leah White, Deputy Director, Washington State Women’s Commission (WSWC)
- Megan Matthews, Director, Office of Equity (EQUITY)
- Sam Fennell, Operations and Policy Manager, Washington State LGBTQ Commission (LGBTQ)
- Mateo Acuña, Councilmember, LGBTQ Youth Advisory Council
- Karen Hanan, Director, Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA)
- Allyson Brooks, Executive Director, Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP)
- Maria Sigüenza, Executive Director, Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) and Acting Director, WSWC
- Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)
- Commission on African American Affairs (CAAA)
Amplifying Community Voices in Government
During the presentation, we shared some of the innovative ways our agencies work to make state government more accessible and responsive to community needs. These methods include:
- LGBTQ Youth Advisory Council: Comprised of 12 councilmembers, ages 14-25, who meet in three committees to guide the LGBTQ Commission’s priorities.
- Office of Equity’s Community Compensation Program: This initiative compensates community members with a daily rate, along with travel and childcare, to ensure broader participation in state workgroups.
- WSWC’s Activate 3.8: The Pay Equity Tour: A statewide tour featuring 10 stops where we gather feedback and stories from Washingtonians about their experiences with pay inequity
Additionally, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) discussed their efforts to increase the representation of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ history and artists in their work.
A Moment of Historical Significance
A particularly powerful moment during the event was when Governor Inslee recognized a historical connection between past and present change-makers. He highlighted a photo from Sigüenza’s presentation on “Next Steps & Future Commitments.” The photo was taken in 1967 at a Farmworker Forum in Washington, during one of the first major efforts to organize farm laborers working in dire conditions, with inadequate resources, security, and pay.
Governor Inslee pointed out two people featured prominently in the photo. He noted they were the parents of someone seated in the crowd; Lisa van der Lugt, Results Washington Executive Strategic Performance Advisor and the first-ever women to direct the the Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA).
This moment demonstrates the legacy of community organizing, grassroots efforts, and protests that laid the foundation for social justice work in government today. Each of the community-focused commissions were founded at a pivotal time in state and national history, where it became clear that those facing oppression needed to have a voice to move Washington forward. Thanks to the efforts of advocates like van der Lugt’s parents, there are now platforms in state government, like the community-focused commissions, that ensure the voices of the historically excluded have a place at the table.
A Milestone for Governor Inslee and the Commissions
All the Executive Directors of the community-focused commissions represented were appointed by Governor Inslee during his 12-year tenure. This PPR marked the first time these agencies - some of them created by the Governor like WSWC, LGBTQ, and Equity (first-in-the-nation office) - were able to formally and collectively present their progress to the Governor. Under Governor Inslee’s administration, he ensured commissions were resourced and staffed more adequately to do their work, underscoring his deep commitment to ensuring the diverse voices of Washingtonians are represented in state government.
Governor Inslee concluded the event by encouraging all presenters to continue prioritizing representation and amplifying public voices in state government. He emphasized the importance of building on the work accomplished over the years and carrying the momentum forward.
Learn More
To explore more about each agency’s presentation, you can watch the full Public Performance Review and view the accompanying slides:
