The Young Women’s Initiative launched in 2016 as a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota to improve outcomes for young women and gender-expansive people in Minnesota. The initiative brings together nonprofits, businesses, government, philanthropies, and young people to achieve equity in opportunities and improve the lives of young women and gender-expansive people of color, Indigenous people, young people from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ youth, and young people with disabilities.
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The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota was founded in 1983 and is the first statewide women’s foundation in the country. The foundation envisions a world of equal opportunity, safety, and leadership where women, girls, and all people hold the power to create and lead safe, prosperous lives. Through grantmaking, research, and public policy, the foundation drives innovative solutions to create gender and racial equity in Minnesota. Learn more about the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota on its website.
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Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative
The executive council for the Young Women’s Initiative comprises of more than 40 cross-sector leaders from government, business, higher education, philanthropy, and communities across Minnesota. The role of the executive council, in partnership with the cabinet, is to sequence the Blueprint for Action and catalyze resources to move the recommendations forward.
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Young Women’s Cabinet
The Young Women’s Cabinet is comprised of 26 young people and youth leaders between the ages of 16 and 24. The cabinet represents eight communities across Minnesota and is charged with ensuring that the work of the Young Women’s Initiative stays grounded in the lived experiences of the young women, gender-expansive people, and youth from each community and the community-specific challenges and solutions they identified in the Blueprint for Action. The cabinet came up with 20 recommendations for achieving equity in outcomes, access to equal opportunities, and safe, prosperous lives for young people in Minnesota. The cabinet engages in leadership development, policy, and directs nearly $1 million in grants to nonprofits and individuals to advance equity.
The members of the 2022 Young Women’s Cabinet were appointed. “Our young women are powerful. We know that young women are leaders within and outside their communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “This initiative is a demonstration of our commitment to center the voices, stories, and ideas of young women – especially those from Black, Indigenous, and people of color; Greater Minnesota; LGBTQ+; and/or disability communities – in our decisions to build a stronger, more equitable state for all Minnesotans.” Learn more about the appointment announcement online.
