Mayor shines a light on equal rights for women and girls
The Mayor of Dudley has become an honorary member of Soroptimist International following a visit from the organisation’s Stourbridge and District President.
Councillor Anne Milward, The Mayor of Dudley, welcomed President Linda Sanders, to Dudley Council House last week.
The two discussed the many issues facing women and girls, including equal access to education and opportunity as well as the vital work the Soroptimist International movement plays in opening doors for people across the world.
It is an international organisation with 75,000 members across 3,000 clubs in 124 countries, grouped into five federations.
Members work to educate, empower and enable women and girls to improve their lives and reach their potential by carrying out local, national and international projects
Last year the Stourbridge and District branch, which has 34 members, raised over £7,000 for causes benefiting women and girls across the world.
The Mayor of Dudley Councillor Anne Millward said:
It was fascinating to meet with Linda today and to talk about some of the issues facing women and girls today on a local, national and global scale.
I am proud to become an honorary member of the Soroptimists and I will continue to use my platform to bang the drum for the rights of women and girls to access better education and equal opportunities.
Linda Sanders, President of the Stourbridge and District Soroptimists, said:
We are delighted to welcome The Mayor of Dudley as an honorary member to our organisation, as a local woman in a civic role she shares in our vision that women and girls must have an equal voice in the world.
By working together, Soroptimists believe that we can create strong peaceful communities across the globe, and we are determined to do all we can to play our part here in Dudley borough.
It is the Soroptimist Centenary year with the first branch having been founded in 1921 in the USA. The Stourbridge and District group has commissioned a sculpture at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire to mark the 100 years, and this will be unveiled at an event on 18 September.
The Stourbridge and district group of Soroptimists meet every first and third Wednesday of the month. They will celebrate their 75th anniversary next year.
People can find out more at www.sigbi.org/stourbridge/ or by calling 01384 397565.