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Mission |
Position Statements |
Accomplishments |
Board of Directors |
Leadership Council
About LIWA
Accomplishments
The Long Island Women’s Agenda is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan coalition of diverse women’s groups and individuals on Long Island that takes leadership positions on issues important to women: family, health, environment, business and economic development, education and arts & culture. LIWA’s many accomplishments include the following:
• LIWA issues a quarterly newsletter which is distributed to LIWA members and elected officials, and includes articles about issues important to LIWA and its member organizations. It also includes a calendar of events for all LIWA member organizations.
• LIWA has developed an interactive website launched in 2003, which provides a listing, home page and link for all Member Organizations allowing them to identify their issues and concerns in one forum. A special section devoted to member articles, allows LIWA members to issue press releases and spotlight events as needed.
• In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, LIWA compiled a directory of all women’s organizations on Long Island (more than 100 organizations), which LIWA distributes free of charge to all media, libraries and elected officials. The directory went live in 2005 and is available on the LIWA Web Site at www.liwa.org.
• In collaboration with Cablevision, LIWA created a public service announcement, which was aired in early 2005 on more than 40 cable networks reaching more than 777,000 households and businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
LIWA’s Advocacy/Education Efforts
• In 2005, LIWA adopted early care and education as a major issue. In order to advance advocacy, and provide advice on this issue, LIWA has partnered with the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls to create a seminar series entitled “The Early Years Matter: What Every Parent Needs To Know.” Held in 9 locations across Long Island, including two in Spanish, this program is designed to empower parents to advocate on behalf of their children, and provide information on the many resources available to them.
• LIWA hosted a menopause seminar, “Demystifying the Myths of Menopause” on June 7, 2005.
• LIWA has been an advocate for Pay Equity for women on both a Long Island and New York State level.
• LIWA was a staunch supporter of the Women’s Health and Wellness Act, which Governor Pataki signed into law in September 2002.
• LIWA has been involved in the fight for saving Title IX’s equality standard, by appealing to both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the US Government to prevent female athletics programs from being negatively impacted.
• In collaboration with its member organizations, LIWA developed and hosted the following five educational symposiums in 2001: Women’s Health & the Environment; Advocacy Made Easy- How to Sell Issues to Legislators; Women’s Heart Health from the Inside Out; Women, Finances & Success; and Being a Parent, an Employee & a Person, too.
• LIWA, its member organizations and its various committees hosted a Legislative Forum with members of the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures and Suffolk County Supervisor, Robert Gaffney in April 2002 to discuss issues that are pertinent to LIWA’s mission.
• In collaboration with the National Association of Mothers’ Centers, LIWA has presented a series of workshops at the Work and Family Life Conference on Long Island from November 2000 through and including 2005.
• The Arts & Culture Committee continues to lend its support to High Five Long Island. The High Five Program makes the arts affordable and accessible to students ages 13-19.
• The Health Committee presented a career day workshop in November 2001 to counsel teenage girls at a residential center.
• LIWA sponsored Women’s Art in Long Island’s Town Halls in April 2000.
• In collaboration with the LI Blood Center, LIWA conducted a blood drive in December 2000.
LIWA’s Events
• In the spring of 2005, LIWA launched a new monthly program “Long Island Women in Conversation.” Each month, at a different location on Long Island, a guest facilitator will lead an interactive session that focuses on different topics related to women. The program is free to LIWA members and non-members.
• LIWA hosted its Fifth Annual Awards Dinner on May 17, 2005 which honored National Advocate of the Year, Eileen McDonnell, President of New England Financial; Community Advocate Dr. Joan Johnson, Islip Town Clerk; Dr. Andrew Jacono, with the “Honorable MEN-tion” Award; and the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls as “Organization of the Year.” The evening was hosted by Emmy-award winning media personality Judy Martin, a News 12 and NPR contributor.
• LIWA hosted its Fourth Annual Awards and Installation Dinner on June 21, 2004 where the new board was installed and LIWA honored National Advocate of the Year, Sharon G. Grosser, Executive Director of Roslyn Savings Foundation; and the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition as “Organization of the Year.” The award was accepted by HBCAC's Founder and President Karen Miller.
• LIWA hosted a Candidates 2004 Forum for US Congressional Incumbents and their opponents in October 2004.
• LIWA in collaboration with the Landmark on Main Street hosted a conference entitled "Women Thriving in a Changing World . . . Balancing Mind Body & Spirit" in February of 2004.
• LIWA President, Leslie Berkoff and Vice President of Communications, Debbi Honorof appeared on the WLIW Channel 21 program, TICKET, to promote the LIWA Women’s Conference: Women Thriving in a Changing World: Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit.
• LIWA hosted a luncheon to honor our 40 dedicated female elected officials serving in the U.S. Senate and Congress, New York State Government, The Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures, as well as heads of Long Island Towns and Villages on November 10, 2003. We were joined by Soledad O’Brien who moderated a panel called, “Women in Politics: How and Why they Run and How they Govern.”
• LIWA hosted its Third Annual Awards Dinner on June 23, 2003, which honored Advocate of the Year, Roz Goldmacher and Organization of the Year, Women on the Job, as well as bestowed a Special Advocate Award to Christie Brinkley for her advocacy on Nuclear Emergency Evacuations.
• LIWA hosted a Networking Dinner for our Member Organizations on March 31, 2003 to celebrate the accomplishments of these women’s organizations during Women’s History Month.
• In March of 2003, LIWA created a unique new networking concept entitled “Networking with a Twist." In what has become a highly anticipated annual event, both LIWA members and non members can came together to network, explore various boutiques, shop for gifts, and enjoy free spiritual and physical services including tarot card readers, handwriting analysts, feng shui and massage.
• LIWA, in collaboration with North Shore-LIJ Health Systems, held a women’s health conference in September 2002 entitled, “Breakthrough and Challenges in Women’s Health- What the 21st Century Promises.”
• LIWA hosted its Second Annual Awards Dinner on June 17, 2002, which honored Long Island’s Female Heroes of September 11th, presenting them with LIWA’s Humanitarian Award; as well as Advocate of the Year, Marianne Garvin, and Organization of the Year, The Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women.
• LIWA hosted its First Awards Luncheon on June 11, 2001, featuring Sally Ride as our keynote speaker, where we presented awards to the Advocate of the Year, Jane Gitlin, and Organization of the Year, The National Association of Mothers' Centers
• LIWA hosted a Legislative Breakfast in 2000 featuring Long Island’s Delegates to the New York State Assembly and United States Congress
• LIWA hosted a Candidates 2000 Forum for US Congressional Incumbents and their opponents in October 2000
• LIWA hosted a Summer Showcasing Expo, June 27, 2000, highlighting our organizational members and the missions of their respective groups.
• Held our Inaugural Luncheon on April 20, 1999 featuring First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, keynote speaker, with 1,
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