Recognizing May 10, 2017 as "50/50 Day" in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Vision 2020 is a national coalition of individuals and organizations working to achieve economic, political, and social equality in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Headquartered in the City of Philadelphia at Drexel University’s Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership, Vision 2020 connects, convenes and communicates around the unfinished business of women’s equality; and

WHEREAS, As a national ally of Vision 2020, Tiffany Shlain, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and founder of The Webby Awards and her team at Let it Ripple Film Studio, created “50/50 Day”, a global day of film screenings, discussions, and action around gender equality in leadership; and

WHEREAS, On Wednesday, May 10, 2017, Vision 2020 will commence the first 50/50 Day in the City of Philadelphia. Vision 2020 and its 50/50 Day participants will join thousands of organizations, companies, schools, museums, libraries, and homes in a global conversation about what it will take to get to a more gender-balanced world in all sectors of society: business, politics, culture, and home; and

WHEREAS, Women account for more than 50% of the U.S. population, yet make up less than 6% percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies. Women hold fewer than 20% of board seats at those companies and hold fewer than 20% of the seats in Congress; and

WHEREAS, As part of the day, Vision 2020’s 50/50 Day celebration will include a screening of the film, “50/50: Rethinking the Past, Present & Future of Women + Power”, followed by a panel discussion with some of the City’s leading business and government executives. Speakers will explore topics related to the importance of shared leadership among men and women; and

WHEREAS, One of the centerpieces of 50/50 Day is the film, “50/50: Rethinking the Past, Present & Future of Women + Power”, directed by Tiffany Shlain. The film examines the 10,000-year history of women and power, and what it is going to take to get to 50/50 equality; and

WHEREAS, 50/50 Day is based on the model of the annual Character Day, which had over 93,000 events in 125 countries and all 50 states in 2016. To date, 50/50 Day currently has more than 8,000 events planned in 42 U.S. states and 36 countries; and

WHEREAS,

50/50 Day is about bringing the conversation about the benefits of gender equality to where change needs to happen

, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize May 10, 2017, as 50/50 Day in the City of Philadelphia,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Lynn H. Yeakel, Founder and President of Vision 2020 at Drexel University’s Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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