Mayor David Briley Executive Order Number 010

THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY

David Briley, Mayor

Subject: Council on the State of Women

I, David Briley, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct and order the following:

I. Background

1. August 18, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing and protecting the constitutional right of women to vote.
2. The City of Nashville and the State of Tennessee played critical roles in the adoption of the 19th Amendment, since Tennessee provided the 36th and final state’s vote needed to ratify this landmark amendment to the Constitution. Leading suffragists organized events and marches in Nashville during the summer of 1920 to lobby Tennessee lawmakers.
3. In recognition of the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting and proper that a council be formed to increase civic engagement and access to opportunity for women throughout and beyond the year from August 18, 2019, to August 18, 2020.

II. Establishment, Composition and Responsibility

1. There is hereby created and established for the Metropolitan Government the Mayor’s Council on the State of Women (the “Council”).
2. The Council will consist of 30 members to be appointed by the Mayor.
3. The Council’s work will culminate with a Women’s Summit on August 18, 2020. During this centennial year, the Council will also support the work of the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration collaborative.
4. The co-chairs of the Council will be appointed by the Mayor. The membership of the Council may elect such additional officers as it finds necessary and appropriate.
5. Members of the Council shall serve without compensation.
6. The membership of the Council shall establish subcommittees responsible for the following activities:
   1. Policy: Develop policy recommendations that increase access to opportunity for women. This work will build from the Gender Equity Council’s agenda and priorities. This work will directly inform the content of the policy conference on August 18, 2020.
   2. History and Education: Support for and input into events that elevate the history of and educate the public about the instrumental role Nashville played in the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Nashville Public Library’s (NPL) permanent exhibit illustrating this history will open in February 2020 and will serve as a major cornerstone and significant resource for all of the group’s work related to history and education.
   3. Arts and Culture: Celebrate women in the arts through a lens of women’s rights. This work could include, but is not limited to, promotions for and participation in existing events, as well as programming new events and activities.
   4. Civic Engagement: Develop opportunities for increasing civic engagement, including voter registration, civic education and efforts to fight voter suppression. The NPL exhibit and related projects will serve a significant role here as well.
   5. Communications: Produce and distribute branding materials for the summit. Help coordinate communications across the city related to this campaign. Handle all internal and external communications related to Council activities and to the summit.
7. The Mayor’s Office shall provide staff support for the Council.

Ordered, effective, and issued:

David Briley
Metropolitan County Mayor

Date: August 15, 2019