Workshops will help women interested in serving on Pittsburgh's civic boards

More than 60% of the people who serve on civic boards and commissions in Pittsburgh are female.

“That is exceptional. We absolutely commend Mayor (Bill) Peduto for that progress,” United Women’s Empowerment President and CEO Wendy Doyle said.

But it isn’t good enough, Peduto said.

The mayor’s office announced Tuesday it will partner with the Kansas City-based organization to encourage more women to become involved in civic affairs.

“Our partnership with United WE and Appointments Project will help us do even better to increase the number of women, including women of color, who are at the decision-making table of their communities,” Peduto said.

The Appointments Project started in 2014 in Kansas City, where there was a 10% increase in the number of women who became involved in civic boards in three years, Doyle said.

Many municipalities don’t even keep track of the composition of their boards, Doyle said.

United WE is changing that and has worked with 28 municipalities in Kansas and Missouri and is expanding to Forth Worth, Texas, Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh.

The project sponsors training events that explain the importance of service on these boards, how to apply to be on them and what to expect when someone is named to a board, she said.

The idea is to create a larger group of women from diverse backgrounds who are prepared to become future leaders, Doyle said.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engages because they weren’t being asked,” she said.

These events help guide women through the process of seeking to serve.

Two workshops are being held at noon on Dec. 7 and Jan. 13. For more information about how to sign up, click here.

The city partnered with Chatham University’s Women’s Institute, Gwen’s Girls and the Executive Women’s Council of Greater Pittsburgh to schedule the events.