New research from The Florida Women’s Funding Alliance (FWFA), Research to Action: Make Girls a Priority in Florida, focuses on the problems affecting young women’s health, safety, and well-being throughout the state. The third Florida Women’s Funding Alliance publication, authored by the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, addresses setbacks facing girls such as over-reliance on the juvenile justice system, and a lack of positive alternatives.
The Research to Action project identifies the challenges girls and young women face in every facet of society, and offers suggestions on how to close the divide in education and overall well-being.
Join FPN for a briefing with two of the authors of the research, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center CEO, Vicky Basra, and Vice President of Research & Planning, Dr. Vanessa Patino Lydia, to explore how communities can enact positive changes including: banning suspension of K-3 students, setting age limits on arrests, campaigning for school-based mental health services, placing girl advocates in schools, and creating opportunities to listen and partner with girls.
Jennifer Kryshka and Takeata King Pang, both members of the Florida Women’s Funding Alliance, will share how attendees can engage with the continuing efforts of FWFA around creating a Florida where women and girls thrive.
About the Speakers
Vicky Basra is a nationally recognized executive and advocate for girls’ rights with more than 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership. She is a sought-after trainer, thought leader, and architect of change. She is a regular contributor to research studies analyzing the impact of trauma on girls and young women and is a trusted media expert on issues related to commercial sexual exploitation, diversity and women’s leadership, and the impact of trauma on girls and young women.
Vicky has developed multiple programs including the first advocacy program to provide services victims/survivors of intimate violence, sexual assault and stalking on Vanderbilt University’s Campus.
A passionate advocate for gender equality, Vicky currently serves as the President and CEO of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, where she oversees strategies for growth and improvement and works to fulfill the organization’s mission is to ensure that everyone “SEE THE GIRL” especially those being pushed into the justice system. During her time at the Policy Center, Vicky collaborated to develop and implement the Open Doors Network, a program specifically addressing the needs of victims of human trafficking. She has extensive experience meeting needs of communities through the development of innovative programs and community engagement models.
Vicky holds an MSW from the University of Tennessee and is presently pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Tennessee.
Vanessa Patino Lydia, PhD is an advocate for justice, researcher, and baseball mom. As Vice President of Research and Planning at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, she oversees research initiatives to inform better policies, programs, and services directly linked to girls’ experiences.
Previously, Dr. Patino Lydia was a Senior Researcher at the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. This year marks 20 years that Vanessa has worked in the juvenile justice field. She is the Principal Investigator of the latest Status of Girls research that examines girls’ disparate well-being indicators, educational and juvenile justice outcomes in Florida. The research calls on communities, policymakers, educators, providers, and parents to pay attention to the needs of girls.
Vanessa received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Master in Public Administration, specializing in juvenile justice policy from the Florida State University. She received her PhD in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University.
Takeata King Pang specializes in Advocacy, Government Relations and Communications. She began her career working on candidate and issue campaigns around the country. She then spent three years at Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida working in public and community affairs; before taking on statewide and affiliate public relations and communications. Next she served as Chief of Staff to Florida State Senator Kevin Rader for three years. More recently, Takeata worked in Corporate Communications and Giving at TBC Corporation.
In 2011, Takeata earned a Masters in Political Management with an emphasis in Candidate Campaigns from The George Washington University. She completed her Bachelor of Art degrees in Political Science, Communication Studies, and Theatre Arts with a minor in Pre-Law from Stetson University in 2004.
Currently, Takeata is the Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation of Florida focusing on growing the organization in order to increase the reach of programming to educate and empower women and girls to become leaders, so they can change the world.
Jennifer Kryshka is a lifelong feminist who has worked in the Jewish community for over 17 years. She joined the Jewish Women's Foundation of Palm Beach in 2014 as Chief Program & Operations Officer and became Chief Executive Officer in January 2019. She is honored to work on behalf of women and girls alongside JWF’s passionate trustees. Jennifer currently chairs the Florida Women’s Funding Alliance steering committee. She is a former board member of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and former board chair of NARAL Virginia’s League of Young Leaders.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Philosophy & Literature and a Minor in Women’s Studies from University of Central Florida, and earned an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Florida Atlantic University.
This program is free and open to FPN Members only. Please register to receive the Zoom Meeting log-in information.
For programmatic questions, please contact Geula Ferguson.
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