IOC Executive Director Helps Shape the Women Mayors’ Network

IOC Executive Director Helps Shape the Women Mayors’ Network

Katharine Lusk, Executive Director of the Initiative on Cities, traveled to New York last week to help shape the upcoming Women Mayors’ Network, founded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The Women Mayors’ Network, or WoMN, focuses on highlighting women’s’ perspective in mayoral positions in cities around the globe. The network brings international collaboration and kinship, as well as private and public sector professionals to advise on a number of focus areas.

IIC-Members-with-Sandra-Pepera_NDI-Director_WoMN-002
IIC Members Meeting in New York

“When you get a group of women mayors in a room together, there is a remarkable camaraderie,” said Lusk. “There is an inevitable sharing of war stories, but also this really strong affinity for one another and desire to support and build up one another.”

As a member of the 10-person International Impact Committee, Lusk had a hand in influencing WoMN’s first steps, such as deciding membership eligibility criteria, potential partnerships, and shared principles. She joined mayors from cities such as Bangangte, Cameroon, and Gjakova, Kosovo, as well as representatives from organizations such as the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women.

Less than 5% of the world’s mayors are women, according to NDI. Lusk mentioned how Jan Campbell, mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, spoke at the meeting about her isolating experiences of being a woman mayor.

The Initiative on Cities serves as one of WoMN’s core partners; in addition to Lusk’s involvement, the IOC will develop a global survey for WoMN members. Similar to the annual Menino Survey of Mayors, the survey will be reworked for a global, women’s empowerment mindset, in order to assess how women lead differently, from their challenges, successes, and aspirations.

Other Boston-area programs will also provide resources and training for WoMN. The Boston University Executive Leadership Center at the Questrom School of Business will host workshops in executive management, organization, strategic planning, and more. The Office of New Urban Mechanics in the Boston Mayor’s Office will offer technical advising and develop a biennial innovation competition to promote gender inclusion.

WoMN has already built a directory of women mayors across significant urban centers and sponsored speakers at a number of summits and events.The network will issue a call for applications in October, with the program to launch early 2018 and the first summit to take place this June.

Members of the International Impact Committee include:

  • Vera Baboun, Former Mayor of Bethlehem
  • Jane Campbell, Former Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
  • Célestine Ketcha Epse Courtès, Mayor of Bangangte, Cameroon and Co-ordinator African Women Mayors’ Network
  • Mimoza Kusai-Lila, Mayor of Gjakova, Kosovo
  • Katharine Lusk, Executive Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University
  • Dr. Emily Murase, Director of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women
  • Clara Doe-Mvogo, Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia
  • Annise Parker, Former Mayor of Houston, Texas
  • Susana Villarán de la Puente, Former Mayor of Lima, Peru
  • Soon-Young Yoon, Chair of the Board Women’s Environment and Development Organization