Burlington County Revamping Women's Advisory Council

Burlington County is taking steps to modernize and reinvigorate the Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council in an effort to actively address the unique needs of women in the county, officials announced. During the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting on Wednesday, Freeholder Director Kate Gibbs and Deputy Director Linda Hughes presented a resolution modernizing and refocusing the council.

The resolution and accompanying by-law changes rename the council, increase its membership, and streamline its objectives, officials said. The goal is to provide flexibility to better serve the ever-changing needs of the county’s women and a broader more diverse perspective.

“As the only county in the state with women serving as Director and Deputy Director of the Freeholder Board, I believe we have a unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of women in Burlington County,” Gibbs said. “While we have a proud tradition of women in positions of leadership like Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, Sheriff Jean Stanfield, Surrogate Mary Ann O’Brien and many public servants in management positions, unfortunately women still face challenges created by historic gender inequality. Women deserve a respected seat at the table and what better time to reinvigorate our advisory council as a voice for our female residents than Women’s History Month.”

Gibbs and Hughes have tasked the council with evaluating existing services and programs; educating the public about the challenges women face daily; raising awareness of the special contributions women make in the community; and providing opportunities for mentoring and collaboration that will enhance the quality of life for all women in Burlington County.

They will work with the council to launch new women-focused-initiatives. This includes conducting a county-wide women’s survey, leveraging social media to create an online resource center with centralized information about services and programs for women, and launching a mentoring event series, with the goal of bringing more than 50 established professional women together with women either starting or re-starting their careers.

On Wednesday, 20 members that have diverse backgrounds, professions, and hometowns were appointed to the council. Despite their differences, they share the goal of making Burlington County a great place for women to live, work, raise a family, and retire.

This is another step the county is taking to promote gender equality, including an equal pay resolution, mandatory sexual harassment training and retraining for all county employees, and placing private, dedicated mother’s rooms in county buildings.

“I am proud of the steps we have taken for a safer, fairer work environment and look forward to the positive impact created by bringing these incredible women, and their voices, to the table,” Hughes said.

Patch file image