ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University’s ZaDonna Slay of the social work department is part of the second class of the United State of Women’s (USOW) Ambassadors who will undergo training to take action toward gender equity in their communities.
Eighty ambassadors from 40 states were accepted into the one-year program. Ambassadors will work with USOW staff to bring together a wide range of stakeholders in their community interested in achieving a more united state of women.
Slay is one of three South Carolina women selected for the honor. She came to Winthrop in 2016 and is an instructor and coordinator of the Master of Social Work program. Her advocacy efforts include voting rights and empowerment, and gender and racial disparity.
“It is a pleasure to serve as an ambassador for the state of South Carolina,” Slay said. “I look forward to utilizing my skill set to advance the policy issues of gender equity. This experience allows me to combine my research interests along with my previous social work practice experience.”
In their new roles, ambassadors will build and support coalitions with community leaders, organizations and fellow activists who are working towards gender equity in their communities as well as amplify the work happening in their community through USOW’s national channels.
The expanded second cohort is due to the incredible work of the inaugural class of USOW Ambassadors. From pushing for the Tallahassee City Commission to adopt gender-neutral language in the city charter to supporting the launch of the Sacramento County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, USOW Ambassadors are galvanizing communities across the country.
“At USOW, we recognize that local organizers are already leading gender equity movements in their communities. Our goal is to amplify the phenomenal work of these activists by providing them with the tools, access and connections that are necessary to enact change,” said Jordan Brooks, executive director of the USOW. “We believe that when those who know their communities the best are supported in their efforts to create change, we can make great strides in the fight for gender equity.”
Throughout the year, the USOW will offer ambassadors training sessions on key organizing skills, provide hands-on strategic support for projects, and connect them with experts and veteran organizers for guidance and mentorship.
The United State of Women is a national organization dedicated to convening, connecting and amplifying voices in the fight for full gender equity. Born out of the Obama Administration’s White House Council on Women and Girls, USOW works in the intersection of politics, community engagement, culture change and leadership development.
For more info, visit www.theunitedstateofwomen.org, follow @USOWomen on Instagram and Twitter and check out @TheUnitedStateofWomen on Facebook.
