San Antonio Symposium Recap: Privilege is invisible to those who have it
By LWG Editor
The League of Women in Government was proud to co-host its 2nd Annual Symposium with ICMA in San Antonio on October 21st. The Symposium theme, “InclUSiveness….It starts with Us!” focused on the importance of diversity of all kinds, including gender, in local government. The Symposium was sponsored by ICMA Strategic Partner Siemens. The program was led by Tammy Letourneau, Assistant City Manager, Costa Mesa, CA and Kimiko Black Gilmore, Assistant City Manager, Kansas City, MO (lower right and left in photo collage on the right) and drew more than 250 participants.
The Symposium featured a phenomenal panel of practitioners who shared a variety of ideas and programs that have embraced, supported and increased diversity within their own organizations. The discussion was led by League and NFBPA Board Member, David Ellis, Deputy County Manager, Wake County, NC.(in photo bottom left) and included (from left to right in photo on the top right):
Jelynne LeBlanc-Burley, Executive Vice President & Chief Delivery Officer – CPS Energy
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager – Dubuque, IA
Veronica Briseno, Director, Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, Texas
Past ICMA President and League Board Member, Bonnie Svrcek, City Manager, Lynchburg, VA gave an overview of the League’s growth over the past two years from 100 members in 2015 to over 4000 members today. Svrcek also introduced the League’s Board of Directors (from left to right in photo):
Kimiko Black Gilmore, Assistant City Manager, Kansas City, MO
Bonnie Svrcek, City Manager, Lynchburg, VA
Dan Singer, Former City Manager, Ojai, Goleta, & Poway, CA
Ashley Jacobs, Deputy County Manager, Aiken County, SC
Tammy Letourneau, Assistant City Manager, Costa Mesa, CA
David Ellis, Deputy County Manager, Wake County, NC
Ted Staton, City Manager, Upper Arlington, OH
Pamela Antil, Assistant City Administrator, Santa Barbara, CA
Susan Thorpe, County Manager, Yuma County, AZ
The keynote speaker at the half-day symposium kept the audience engaged through a discussion of why gender equality is good for everyone, including men using not only data and research, but light humor as well. The Symposium was followed by a networking reception at the Rio Plaza on the San Antonio Riverwalk.
The League is compiling an album of additional photos from the event and the networking reception in San Antonio. If you’d like to submit photos to share on our website, email them to INFO@LeagueOfWomenInGovernment.org.
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If you’d like to purchase a League travel laundry bag, supporting the women’s small business @atolyekoza_ddere in Turkey, email INFO@LeagueOfWomenInGovernment.org and we will send you the link the purchase! The bags are made of cotton muslin fabric, measure 14″ x 17.5″ and feature a cute hand-sewn bikini top and bottom. A variety of colors and patterns are on hand and available for purchase.
Bags are $25/each or 2 for $40. Proceeds from the sales of the travel bags will be donated to @atolyekoza_ddere. Check out their amazing hand-sewn work on Instagram HERE.
