Episode 39: International Women's Day & UNCSW with Lois Frankforter
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Today is International Women’s Day, so today we’re going to talk about an upcoming United Nations session focused on women and girls. Our guest is not only an active lay Episcopalian but a leader in a historic and international Episcopal organization serving girls and women.
Lois Frankforter attends Grace & St. Peter’s in Hamden. She is a lawyer at a Connecticut law firm and also a girls varsity lacrosse coach. Lois is a leader in the Girls Friendly Society, GFS, and currently serves as president of the GFS/USA. In addition to serving on the national level, she leads GFS on the local, diocesan, and province levels. |
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Last spring, Lois attended the meetings of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women, sometimes referred to as UNCSW, as the delegate from Province One, the New England dioceses, for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. The event takes place at the UN headquarters in New York City. This year’s UNCSW is being held March 11-22. The gathering will review the conclusions from a prior year’s session, on women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development, and address this year’s theme, which is “social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Charlotte Healy, a youth member of Trinity, Southport, is the Province One delegate this year, and she’s promised to share her experience with us on social media (which we will share on our Instagram @episcopal_ct).
Lois starts our conversations off by telling us a little bit about what the UNCSW is and how this two-week session works. Much like the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, there are delegates and event that are happening specifically for delegates and representations, as well as parallel events happening. People come from around the world to attend this gathering. The Episcopal Church is recognized as a non-government organization, and 20 people at a time are granted access to the session and mingle with ambassadors, delegates, etc., and sit in on the opening ceremony.
Attendees from The Episcopal Church choose topics to follow throughout the two weeks, and try to handout copies of the Presiding Bishop’s statements on various topics. The broad topics of UNCSW highlights how interconnected all topics related to women and girls really is: gender, food insecurity, poverty, environmental concerns, etc.
The work Lois does with UNCSW influences her work with the GFS — always seeking to provide safe space for women and girls to grow. “The mission is global, but the work is local,” was one of the most significant take-aways Lois took from her work with UNCSW.
Lois walks through the application process and what it is like to represent The Episcopal Church at UNCSW. Applications are usually published in September, are chosen in October, and meet regularly on the phone until the gathering in March.
Lois reassures that UNCSW celebrates all the work has done and the progress that has been made in the realm of support for women and girls. The focus is not solely on the work that need to be done. Each gathering, the UNCSW will have a review session on a topic from years past to follow up on what countries, governments, and organizations have done in response to previous years.
Alli asks what it is like for Lois to coach girls lacrosse, a very localized work. Lois says that sports are an incredible way to support women. Coaching, for Lois, is a lot like what she does for the GFS, empowering girls to become good leaders, friends, and well-rounded individuals. Lois reflects on the recent Nike advertisement highlighting women in sports. Lois states how important that ad is as it shows that with great passion comes great emotion.
Lois mentions that there are many commissions in the United Nations on a variety of topics (indigenous peoples, environmental initiatives, etc.) throughout the year and the topic of women and girls is interconnected with many of them. Lois says that it is also important to remember boys when talking about women and girls, that one cannot make progress in gender equality without including men and boys in the conversation. There are men at the UNCSW bringing their perspective as they are in the minority at the commission.
Karin asks if Lois’ participation in the GFS and the UNCSW had an impact on her own personal spiritual life. For Lois, GFS is her personal check-in: if one works with young people working on developing their faith, it requires you to work on your own faith. Lois says that her work has taught her that you can bring a faith-based perspective to the work of social justice.
Lois asks all to pray that people come with an open heart and mind, and for guidance for the commission.
Follow the UNCSW online.
Charlotte Healy, a youth member of Trinity, Southport, is the Province One delegate this year, and she’s promised to share her experience with us on social media (which we will share on our Instagram @episcopal_ct).
Lois starts our conversations off by telling us a little bit about what the UNCSW is and how this two-week session works. Much like the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, there are delegates and event that are happening specifically for delegates and representations, as well as parallel events happening. People come from around the world to attend this gathering. The Episcopal Church is recognized as a non-government organization, and 20 people at a time are granted access to the session and mingle with ambassadors, delegates, etc., and sit in on the opening ceremony.
Attendees from The Episcopal Church choose topics to follow throughout the two weeks, and try to handout copies of the Presiding Bishop’s statements on various topics. The broad topics of UNCSW highlights how interconnected all topics related to women and girls really is: gender, food insecurity, poverty, environmental concerns, etc.
The work Lois does with UNCSW influences her work with the GFS — always seeking to provide safe space for women and girls to grow. “The mission is global, but the work is local,” was one of the most significant take-aways Lois took from her work with UNCSW.
Lois walks through the application process and what it is like to represent The Episcopal Church at UNCSW. Applications are usually published in September, are chosen in October, and meet regularly on the phone until the gathering in March.
Lois reassures that UNCSW celebrates all the work has done and the progress that has been made in the realm of support for women and girls. The focus is not solely on the work that need to be done. Each gathering, the UNCSW will have a review session on a topic from years past to follow up on what countries, governments, and organizations have done in response to previous years.
Alli asks what it is like for Lois to coach girls lacrosse, a very localized work. Lois says that sports are an incredible way to support women. Coaching, for Lois, is a lot like what she does for the GFS, empowering girls to become good leaders, friends, and well-rounded individuals. Lois reflects on the recent Nike advertisement highlighting women in sports. Lois states how important that ad is as it shows that with great passion comes great emotion.
Lois mentions that there are many commissions in the United Nations on a variety of topics (indigenous peoples, environmental initiatives, etc.) throughout the year and the topic of women and girls is interconnected with many of them. Lois says that it is also important to remember boys when talking about women and girls, that one cannot make progress in gender equality without including men and boys in the conversation. There are men at the UNCSW bringing their perspective as they are in the minority at the commission.
Karin asks if Lois’ participation in the GFS and the UNCSW had an impact on her own personal spiritual life. For Lois, GFS is her personal check-in: if one works with young people working on developing their faith, it requires you to work on your own faith. Lois says that her work has taught her that you can bring a faith-based perspective to the work of social justice.
Lois asks all to pray that people come with an open heart and mind, and for guidance for the commission.
Follow the UNCSW online.
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In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli
In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli