IWDC to Open Cleveland Office

In 1996, when Barbara Ferris started the International Women's Democracy Center (IWDC) in Washington, DC, it was based on her belief that no nation could ever hope to achieve its full economic, social or political potential unless all of her citizens had equal opportunity to fully participate in the democratic process.

In her speech at the City Club of Cleveland on March 14, 2003, Ferris stated that, "Seven years ago, less than 11 percent of elected parliamentarian seats around the world were held by women. Today, of the 40,000 elected parliamentarian seats around the world, 15 percent are held by women according to the Inter Parliamentary Union. If we do the math, at this rate, it will only take democracies 400 years to reach equity!"

Ferris has spent the past 25 years working on economic development and social policy issues in over one hundred countries. Prior to IWDC, her work as the Women in Development Director at the Peace Corps took her to more than 90 countries, where she designed, managed, monitored and evaluated economic development for Peace Corps Volunteers. As the Founder and President of IWDC, she has worked with women leaders around the world to increase their voice in policy and decision making within their own governments. In 1998, the United Nations awarded IWDC Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) which ensures that IWDC can lead delegations to all UN Special Sessions, expert group meetings and global conferences on the topic of women and political participation.

In the fall of 2003, Ferris will be bringing her expertise to Cleveland, where she will launch IWDC's new domestic program - The Pipeline Project.

"The Pipeline Project is an innovative training program designed to teach young women 18-35 how to stand as candidates for political office and how to get engaged in the policy and decision making roles within their own communities," said Ferris. "IWDC has been conducting these workshops in countries around the world with great success including doubling the number of women candidates for parliament and local councils, and increasing the number of women who actively lobby for issues in places such as Botswana, Northern Ireland, Haiti, Kuwait, and Turkey. Committed to bridging global and local actions, Ferris said, "Now it's time that we bring these successes home - and where better to launch this national project than in my hometown of Cleveland."

Ferris grew up on Cleveland's Westside, attending high school at Lourdes Academy and working at Ferris Steak House - her family's restaurant on Detroit Avenue. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Ohio State University in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from American University.

For more information about the Pipeline Project, visit www.iwdc.org or send an email to info@iwdc.org.

-- Sheila Long, Al-Sahafa, June 2003