Florida Commission on the Status of Women

Nonpartisan board of Florida

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The Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW) is a nonpartisan board established in 1991 with a focus of raising awareness and celebrating the contributions and success of all Floridians. They provide a collaborative platform for those seeking information on issues that affect women, girls and families in Florida. FCSW members serve by appointment and the commission is housed at the Office of the Attorney General of Florida.^[1] Their goal is to provide communication, promotion, and collaboration among hundreds of organizations working in all 67 counties that are focused on the welfare of the women of Florida.

History

Governor Lawton Chiles lobbied the Florida Legislature to statutorily create the Florida Commission on the Status of Women after he took office in 1991. The leading sponsor in the House of Representatives for CS/CS/HB 109 was Representative Elaine Gordon, while Senator Carrie Meek sponsored the companion bill, SB 1324. The commission's legislative authority now exists in Section 14.24, Florida Statutes. Since 1991, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women has been fully supported by the Governor, the Cabinet and the Florida Legislature.

Events

The Commission oversees two awards: the Florida Women's Hall of Fame, an honor roll of women who have contributed to life for citizens of Florida, and the Florida Achievement Award for individuals who have improved the lives of women and girls in Florida.

Florida Women's Hall of Fame

An awards ceremony for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame was first held in 1982 and recipient names are displayed in the Florida State Capitol.^[1] Since 1992, up to three women have been inducted into the Hall each year. Nominations are made between April 1 and July 15 of each year. These nominations are carefully reviewed by members of the FCSW who then propose 10 finalists to the Governor who selects the final inductees each year.

Florida Women's Day at The Capitol

More than 130 women and organizations travel to Tallahassee to participate in Florida Women's Day at the Capitol. This annual event brings together legislators, public policy experts, members of community organizations, and the public in order to inform and motivate women to engage in the legislative process, and to help them gather the tools needed to be leaders on policy changes impacting women.

Women's History Essay Contest

Florida students in grades 6-9 participate in the Florida Women's Essay Contest designed to allow young people the opportunity to gain a more relevant appreciation of women's roles in history, and engage young minds of women's roles in history, and engage young minds of women's role in the future. Winning essayists are awarded prizes and recognized during Women's Day at the Capitol in Tallahassee.

References

^ ^a ^b "About the FCSW". FCSW. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.

External links

"Florida Commission on the Status of Women home page".

Florida Women's Hall of Fame

Administered by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women

1980s

1982	Mary McLeod Bethune Helene S. Coleman Elaine Gordon Wilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey Paula Mae Milton Barbara Jo Palmer
1984	Roxcy O'Neal Bolton Barbara Landstreet Frye Lena B. Smithers Hughes Zora Neale Hurston Sybil Collins Mobley Helen Muir Gladys Pumariega Soler Julia DeForest Sturtevant Tuttle
1986	Annie Ackerman Rosemary Barkett Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry Dorothy Dodd Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elsie Jones Hare Elizabeth McCullough Johnson Frances Bartlett Kinne Arva Moore Parks McCabe Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Florence Barbara Seibert Marilyn K. Smith Eartha M. M. White

1990s

1992	Jacqueline Cochran Carrie P. Meek Ruth Bryan Owen
1993	Betty Skelton Frankman Erde Paulina Pedroso Janet Reno
1994	Nikki Beare Betty Mae Jumper Gladys Nichols Milton
1995	Evelyn Stocking Crosslin JoAnn Hardin Morgan Sarah Brooks Pryor
1996	Marjorie Harris Carr Betty Castor Ivy Julia Cromartie Stranahan
1997	Alicia Baro Carita Doggett Corse M. Athalie Range
1998	Helen Gordon Davis Mattie Belle Davis Christine Fulwylie-Bankston
1999	Althea Gibson Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin Dessie Smith Prescott

2000s

2000	Chris Evert Paula Fickes Hawkins Marianne Mathewson-Chapman
2001	Jessie Ball duPont Lenore Carrero Nesbitt Lynda Keever
2002	Victoria Joyce Ely Toni Jennings Frances Langford Stuart
2003	Sarah Ann Blocker Gloria Estefan Mary R. Grizzle
2005	Shirley D. Coletti Judith Kersey Marion Hammer
2006	Caridad Asensio Tillie Fowler Lucy W. Morgan
2007	Maryly VanLeer Peck Peggy A. Quince
2008	Barbara J. Pariente Pallavi Patel Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
2009	Louise H. Cortelis Gwen Margolis Betty Schlesinger Sembler

2010s

2010	Eugenie Clark Claudine Dianne Ryce Dara Grace Torres
2011	Mary Brennan Karl Anna I. Rodriguez
2012	Ruth H. Alexander Elizabeth "Budd" Bell Vicki Bryant Burke
2013	Clara C. Frye Aleene Pridgen Kidd MacKenzie Lillie Pierce Voss
2014	Susan Benton Louise Jones Gopher Dottie Berger MacKinnon
2015	Mary Lee Farrior Evelyn Cahn Keiser Charlotte Edwards Maguire
2016	Carol Jenkins Barnett Helen Aguirre Ferré Elmira Louise Leto
2017	Mary Lou Baker Kathleen Scott Robertson Katherine Fernandez Rundle
2018	Adela Hernandez Gonzmart Janet Petro Lee Bird Leavengood
2019	Doris Mae Barnes Judith A. Bense Mildred Wilborn Gildersleeve