Our History Our Organization evolved out of the regional Minority Women's Employment Conference held in Chicago in 1980. The first Wisconsin Minority Women's Employment Conference, in 1982, was sponsored by the state Department of Employment Relations with the assistance of the Region V Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor. Beginning in 1986, WWOCN broadened its programs beyond the annual conference, defined its membership more formally, and established a dues structure.

Organizational Structure

WWOCN has an 11-member governing board with staggered terms. Five board positions are elected every year. Candidates for the board are nominated by the Nominating Committee that assures representation from each of the major ethnic groups.
The standing committees of the board are:

• Program
• Membership
• Public Affairs
• Awards

While each committe is headed by an elected board member, non-board members may also participate on these standing committees. WWOCN is an incorporated, non-profit organization and is recognized as being exempt from Federal income tax as a 501(c)(3) organization.

What We Do

WWOCN brings women of color together through a variety or regular and special programs held around the state. Quarterly, we sponsor presentations and activities to acquaint members and friends with the accomplishments, talents, potentials and issues of women of color. Each event focuses on a particular ethnic group. Annually, we hold a statewide networking conference. This is an opportunity to meet women of color at different stages in their careers and from a variety of disciplines. It is also a time when we recognize the accomplishments of outstanding women of color through the conference awards ceremony. Upon request from public and private organizations, we assist women of color in gaining experience and recognition through referrals for speaking engagements, recognition awards, committee or board appointments and employment. We expand our networking beyond the confines of our state through participation in the Region V Minority Women's Employment Conference. The regional conference draws participation from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Traditionally we have put our efforts on personal growth and career development. Recently, we have initiated the Wisconsin Women of Color Network's Women Fund to provide financial support for the educational and entrepreneural pursuits.

Vision Statement

The Wisconsin Women of Color Network will increase participation in the WWOCN and enhance education of its membership. The WWOCN will be led by a Board that is responsible to its members and accountable in all aspects of its work insuring a sound and viable statewide organization that promotes inclusiveness representative of all women of color in Wisconsin.

Mission Statement

The Wisconsin Women of Color Network, through statewide collaboration, assists women of color in accessing educational resources, healthcare, social services and political participation to promote leadership, cross-cultural awareness, and the spiritual and economic well being enriching the lives of women of color, their families and their communities. The strategic direction for the WWOCN for the next five years are as follows:

Strategic Direction: Economic Self-sufficiency as it relates to women of color, their families and communities.

Goal 1: Economic Development

• Plan and implement an annual Employment and Training Conference
• Identify and provide services for career planning and job counseling
• Identify resources to help women of color in entrepreneurial endeavors
• Patronize Minority vendors
• Patronize women of color owned businesses
• Continue to develop the Scholarship Fund
• Continue to develop the Women's Fund

Strategic Direction: Diversity

Goal 1: Provide leadership in forming networks inclusive in socioeconomic status, age, and education

• Establish different forums (seminars, roundtable discussions) for sharing and creative awareness of women of color's similarities and strengths

Goal 2: Improve communication both internally (the Board members amongst themselves and between the Board and WWOCN membership) and externally (the WWOCN to other organizational entities)

Strategic Direction: Leadership

Goal 1: Support and create leaders among women of color

• Identify resources (people/organizations) with the expertise to deliver leadership training
• Provide leadership training, development, and opportunities for women of color at regional sites throughout the state including, but not limited to, conferences, seminars, workshops, and presentations that could be delivered in conjunction with the Employment and Training conference and Quartlerly meetings
• Identify mentors for Network members

Goal 2: Provide youth leadership development, involvement and representation

• Encourage young people to do goal setting: Demonstrate by example, mentor-ships, development of goal setting skills, and related activities
• Be a role model, being educated, hard working and creative for younger women. Provide mentor-ships and have people to recommend (including yourself) for different positions at the workplace
• Visit your children's/grandchildren's schools to talk about your own groups
• Develop leadership skills conferences for young women of color (middle school, high school, universities and colleges) to begin process of coalition building and skill development
• Involve youth in the planning of activities
• Participate in Career Days to talk about individual careers
• Develop youth track at annual Employment & Training Conference

Goal 3: Provide financial and human resources for training of women of color in leadership roles and those running for public office.

• Develop mechanism for generating funds
• Identify resources (people and organizations) with the expertise to deliver training on political campaigns
• Provide training for women of color running for public office
• Develop strategies for working on political campaigns

Adopted at the December 1998 Membership Meeting

Wisconsin Women Of Color Network (WWOCN)
P.O. Box 2337, Madison, WI 53701-2337