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The Georgia Commission on Women (GCW) met on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at the offices of GCW in Atlanta. Members present included Nellie Duke, Debbie Connell, Julianna McConnell, Sharon Baker, Linda McWhorter and Bette Rose Bowers. Executive Director Jessica Jones was in attendance, and guests included Bob Jackson and Tommie Cato from the Carroll County NAACP, and Kim Schofield from the Lupus Foundation.
Chair Duke called the meeting to order. Commissioner McWhorter led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes from the February 2011 GCW business meeting were read. Minutes were approved as read.
Bob Jackson and Tommie Cato spoke on the Re-Entry Coalition program that reintegrates former prisoners into the community, reduces prison recidivism and improves public safety through addressing the educational, employment, healthcare, housing and family relationship needs of prisoners re-entering society by providing support and connection to needed services in the community after prisoners have been released. There has been an increase in females being incarcerated. The Re-Entry program helps their clients obtain their GED and encourage them to go back to school. The price of getting a GED is increasing from $90 to $200 in a couple of months. They would like to include GED prep-classes in their program. There are three computers on their site, each connected directly with the Georgia Dept. of Labor, helping find jobs for clients. It cost the state $17,900-$18,000 to house one prisoner each year. The goal is to get as many people out of the cycle of going to prison for good, saving the government money. They would like to intervene with the children, so that they do not end up in prison in the future. Commissioner Connell suggested the Children of Prisoners Mentoring grant. Vice Chair McConnell noted that there is a home in Carroll County that houses women coming out of prisons. Commissioner Baker asked if they work with prisoners coming off of addictions, and Mr. Jackson answered that they work with Pathways, which works on a sliding-scale payment plan with clients. Commissioner McWhorter asked if the sheriff deputies and police have mentoring programs. They responded that they are working on starting a mentoring program. The Carroll County police have donated bicycles to the program. They need volunteers for their clients. They also need funding for prevention programs. They also need help getting the word out about their program across the state.
Director Jones spoke on the Lupus Foundation and the Lupus Walk on Saturday, April 30th, at Piedmont Park. Her close friend, Bonnie Huynh, died of lupus related complications two years ago while in childbirth. Jones will be participating in the walk, with team “Bonnie’s Hot Mess.” Kim Schofield, a lupus sufferer, researcher and advocate, heads the Dekalb County Lupus Support Group. She would like to increase the awareness of lupus, encouraging doctors and patients to more readily encourage lupus testing and to make people aware of the signs of lupus. GCW will add the Lupus Foundation’s web site link and information to our web site.
Chair Duke spoke on the lack of finances for GCW. There is still no money allotted to GCW through the state.
Vice Chair McConnell gave a legislative report. The Human Trafficking Bill (HB 200) passed in the legislature, and the Runaway Youth Bill (HB 165) passed as well. They are both currently awaiting the governor’s signature. The CSEC had a very successful legislative session. Under the new laws, if a person traffics a child, he or she may get up to life in prison, and if the children being prostituted can prove that they were deceived into prostituting, they will not be charged as a prostitute. Violators may have their assets seized, and victims will now have access to a victim’s fund. Also, rape kits are being paid for now.
International Women’s Day was celebrated on Chair Duke’s birthday on March 8, 2011. Members of GCW attended the celebration in Carrollton, donating a multitude of baby gifts for the maternity hospital in Liberia.
Commissioner Brady’s husband, Terrell, suffered an aneurism and has been hospitalized recently. Upon leaving the hospital, he obtained a staph infection and is currently being treated at home. Commissioner Dabbs is having cataract surgery next week. Commissioner Rogers is at home, recuperating from a fall during the ice storms. All three of the members were unable to attend the meeting.
There have been numerous bone density screenings since the last business meeting of GCW. Commissioner Dabbs and former Commissioner Deana Womack provided free bone density screenings at Kennesaw State University. Commissioner S. Baker held a “Lunch with a Doctor” event at the VA Hospital, where she and Director Jones provided bone density screenings. Commissioner S. Baker will be traveling to South Georgia to do more osteoporosis related programs in the near future.
Chair Duke commented that there are currently no Chairs on some GCW committees. Treasurer Murphey recently sent an e-mail indicating her intention of resigning from GCW. Commissioner McWhorter was nominated as Treasurer of GCW for the remainder of the year, replacing Commissioner Murphey. It was voted upon, and accepted unanimously.
Chair Duke handed out a letter asking GCW’s supporters for help with funding. It was met with a bit of disagreement from members. The first paragraph needs to be deleted. Vice Chair McConnell recommended that some of the commissioners should get together and make another letter. Commissioners S. Baker and McConnell will work on that letter.
The 2011 Georgia Woman of the Year, Xernona Clayton, has requested that the 2011 Georgia Woman of the Year event be held on Tuesday, July 19th. The venue for this event is yet to be decided. Options include the Blue Room of the Train Depot, 103 West, and the Floyd Room/Empire Room of the “Sloppy” Floyd Building.
The meeting adjourned.
The next meeting of GCW will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the office of GCW in Atlanta.