Tennessee Economic Council on Women

Preventive Healthcare Report

There is no greater imperative in American health care than switching from a treatment-oriented society to a prevention-oriented society. Right now we've got it backwards. We wait years and years, doing nothing about unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity until people get sick. Then we spend billions of dollars on costly treatments, often when it is already too late to make meaningful improvements to their quality of life or lifespan.

—Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General
of the United States

Women across State Say 2007 Summit a Resounding Success

Over 400 people from across the State joined together for a fantastic day of information and inspiration.

“The positive feedback has been remarkable,” said Yvonne Wood, Summit Coordinator.

In addition to the extraordinary keynote speakers, Karyl Innis, Patricia Schroeder and Marie Wilson, Summit attendees also had the opportunity to hear such notable speakers as Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Coach Melanie Balcomb, Kim McMillan, Senator Rosalind Kurita and State Representatives Janis Sontany and Nathan Vaughn, among many more.

“It’s fairly easy to identify the economic issues that women face today,” said Carol Berz, Co-Chair of the Summit and Chair of the Council and Foundation. “It can be more challenging to find speakers who can take the next step and offer information that can be used in finding solutions.”

Other highlights of the 2007 Summit include: the annual Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus meeting and the opportunity to become a member of the Caucus; presentation of the “E” Awards to Rosalyn Carpenter, Agenia Clark, Sen. Thelma Harper, Mary Jinks, Rep. Sherry Jones and Deborah Reed; release of the Economic Council’s newest research on the Economic Impact of Women’s Political Participation; and the awarding of six college scholarships.

Women’s Economic Council Foundation 2007 Scholarship Winners

The Women’s Economic Council Foundation announced this year six $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to both a traditional and non-traditional female student from each Grand Division of Tennessee. The scholarships were formally presented by Melanie Balcomb, Vanderbilt University Head Women’s Basketball Coach, on October 22nd at the 2007 Economic Summit for Women.

The scholarship winners from each Grand Division are:

West Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Sharon Denise Hyman Beasley, Memphis, TN
High School: Paulita Edmondson, Gates, TN

Middle Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Billie Hieatt, Baxter, TN
High School: Alyse Ray, Gallatin, TN

East Tennessee
Non-Traditional: Betty Dowdy, Pleasant Hill, TN
High School: Anjali Bisaria, Knoxville, TN

Council on hand for signing of Health Insurance Continuance Bill

July 21, 2006

East TN Advisory Council Community Survey

You have an opportunity to shape the economic development for women in your local community and in the region. We want to know what you observe and experience as barriers to the economic success of women. Our goal is to hear issues regarding women from across the age span, women who live alone as well as those who have families and from women of varying socio-economic levels who for whatever reasons are at risk for financial difficulties. Our hope is to influence the quality of life for women today in order to bring hope to our young girls and the women of tomorrow.

For more information, contact Wendy Pitts Reeves, TECW member or Phyllis Clingner, Advisory Council Chair

Click here to take survey

Domestic Violence Costs

Over the course of the past two years, the Economic Council on Women has undertaken research to determine the economic impact of domestic violence in Tennessee. In that time, there have been changes in two very telling statistics. First, we’ve gone from 7th in the Nation to 5th in the number of women who are murdered each year – usually by an intimate partner and usually with a gun. Also in that time, the Center for Disease Control has increased its estimation of the occurrence of domestic violence from 1 in 4 families to 1 in 3.

Dealing with domestic violence has become a multi-million dollar business. Between the money expended to imprison the offenders to the increasing costs of maintaining a safe work environment or pay-ing the litigation expenses of not doing so, domestic violence is making a significant negative economic impact.

Read Report

More TECW Headlines

2006 Economic Summit for Women set for October 23rd

Technology helps state group fight gender inequity and make history. Read more

TECW Interim Executive Director teaches financial literacy program to high school girls.
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