How we work to make cities more equitable
In the community
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Build the civic skills and power of individuals who have been historically excluded from civic processes
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Provide training on intersectional feminism, community organizing, engagement and campaigning
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Collaborate with community groups and front-line organizations to advocate on equity issues
At the systems level
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Develop resources to support civic engagement and democratic participation
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Amplify priorities of equity-deserving communities in city halls
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Challenge local policies and decisions that harm communities that are made marginalized
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Collaborate with government officials to champion equity-driven policies
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Create tools and resources to accelerate action on critical equity issues
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Hold electeds accountable to follow through on their commitments to equity-deserving communities
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Conduct research to understand and amplify systemic barriers to participation and progress
About Women Transforming Cities
WHERE WE WORK
We work in cities, towns, local communities, and neighborhoods. We collaborate locally, nationally, and globally as part of a movement to transform cities.
WHO WE WORK WITH
We work with equity-deserving genders, including women, girls, trans, genderqueer, non-binary, Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA++ and allies. We are committed to continuing to learn and evolve our understanding, language, and actions around gender inclusion.
Why Cities?
Municipal government is the closest level of government to communities. Local governments make policy decisions every day that directly impact equity-seeking genders - including transit, housing, childcare, land planning, use of public spaces, community safety, reconciliation and decolonization.
Cities, towns, local communities, and neighborhoods are an important and often overlooked site of resistance and action in our pursuit of gender, racial, and social equity.
How We Do It
Using an intersectional feminist lens*:
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We educate through workshops, mentorship, and knowledge sharing.
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We investigate the systemic barriers that prevent equitable civic action and participation.
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We advocate for radical policy change that addresses all forms of inequity.
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We organize to create a more inclusive and representative local civic system.
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We collaborate to strengthen our impact.
*We credit Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw with the term and theories of intersectionality, a groundbreaking scholar and writer on civil rights, critical race theory, Black feminist legal theory, race, racism, and law.
Our Principles
We seek to be accessible and in solidarity with disabled community members and community members with disabilities.
We are 2SLGBTQIA++ positive, SOGI education affirmative, and strongly advocate for sexual and reproductive freedoms and rights, including pro-choice.
We support the rights, health, safety, liberty, fair-wage, well-being, and equal protection of all sex workers. Recognizing the distinction between human trafficking and consensual sex work, we advocate for the decriminalization of sex work.
We are an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-colonial, and anti-neo-liberal organization.
