A Bolder Way Forward
National and statewide studies continue to show that women and girls in Utah are not thriving in critical areas. Year after year, Utah continues to have high levels of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and gender-based discrimination, while also ranking as the worst state for women’s equality and having low levels of women’s leadership representation in nearly all domains, including politics and business. Although the needle has moved slightly in a few areas, with its current trajectory it will take two, three, or even four decades to make notable progress. It is time for Utah to embrace A Bolder Way Forward (BWF). When we lift Utah girls and women, we lift all Utahns!
For a more in-depth overview of the Bolder Way Forward, watch the 15-minute video presentation below and then review this 3-page framework document. If you are interested in being involved in the Bolder Way Forward, please complete this survey. Additionally, our funders, partners, & affiliates document specifies how you can partner with the BWF. If your business or organization is interested in becoming involved with the BWF, please review our business partner opportunities document.
- Building the BWF Bridge
- Bridging Utah’s Gender Pay Disparity Through Digital Access (Utah Business)
- A Bolder Way Forward for Utah Forum Video Recording
- A Bolder Way Forward (FOX 13 News)
- A Bolder Way Forward (UWLP Podcast)
- A Bolder Way Forward is the Start of a Revolution (The Davis Journal)
- BWF Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram
Framework
The primary aim of A Bolder Way Forward is to be a vehicle of change for Utah women and girls. We can conceptualize how this vehicle will move up a paved road using the metaphor of a wheel (see visual below). This includes 18 areas of focus (spokes), which fall into five broader categories. Each spoke, a key area where change needs to occur, is a movement with a coalition that functions to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Below is a list of spokes, by category, with links to individual webpages that share descriptions, leadership, goals, and affiliates/participants. Additionally, the rim of the wheel represents four overarching issues (sexism, identity, culture, and male allyship) that permeate across and influence each spoke.
Spokes (Areas of Focus)
- Education (3 spokes)
- Community Engagement (1 spoke)
- Safety & Security (5 spokes)
- Health & Wellbeing (2 spokes)
- Workplace (7 spokes)
For a more detailed description, see the framework document.
Rims (Impact Teams)
- Sexism
- Identity
- Culture
- Male Allyship
- Six Patterns of Successful Movements
- Thinking in Systems
- Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
- Video: National Movements Highlights
- Winning Hearts and Minds
- Social Marketing
- Be Leaderfull
- Podcast: How Change Happens with Leslie Crutchfield
- Grassroots Gold
- Sharpen Your Vision
- Reckon With Adversarial Allies
- Roles of Business
Conclusion
Utah must do better to ensure everyone thrives. Melinda Gates once stated, “If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.” Our vision is not to lift girls and women at the expense of boys and men—that is the scarcity mentality. Instead, we believe that there is enough for everyone through cooperation and collaboration: the abundance mentality. When we strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women, we can strengthen everyone!