Report on the Brandon’s Wonder Women Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The Brandon’s Wonder Women initiative is a community-focused organization dedicated to advancing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through targeted local action. The group’s primary mission is to champion the success of women and enhance the economic vitality of the community, directly contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

The initiative’s activities are strategically aligned with several critical SDGs:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: By championing the success of women and providing platforms for female leaders, the group actively works to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The focus on impacting economic growth and fostering professional development promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: Through programs led by local leaders that provide actionable takeaways, the initiative supports lifelong learning opportunities and the acquisition of skills relevant for employment and entrepreneurship.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The group’s model of building stronger networks among community members, professionals, and local businesses exemplifies the creation of effective partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

Programmatic Activities: The ‘Power Hour Breakfasts’

The primary vehicle for achieving these objectives is the quarterly ‘Power Hour Breakfast’. These events are structured to maximize impact on the aforementioned SDGs.

1. Inspiring Programs: Led by local women leaders, these sessions provide valuable knowledge and skills, directly supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
2. Curated Vendor Market: Each event includes a market that promotes local, often women-owned, businesses, contributing directly to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
3. Quality Networking: Dedicated time for networking fosters professional connections and collaborations, strengthening the community fabric and building partnerships in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Leadership and Governance

The initiative is guided by a leadership team composed of prominent community figures, ensuring its strategic direction remains aligned with its core mission and contribution to the SDGs. The team includes:

• Liz Brewer: Chair, CEO of Angel Foundation FL
• Amber Aaron: Executive Vice President, Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce
• Liz Montante: Owner, QDOBA Mexican Eats
• Faith Moeller: Sales Manager, The Regent
• Annamaria DiLascio: Detective, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Forthcoming Event: A Focus on Economic Empowerment

The next Power Hour Breakfast invites all community professionals to engage with topics crucial for sustainable development.

Event Details

• Title: Brandon’s Wonder Women ‘Negotiate with Confidence’
• Featured Speaker: Dawn Myers, Attorney at Law
• Objective: To equip attendees with negotiation skills, a critical tool for advancing economic empowerment and closing the gender pay gap, directly addressing SDG 5 and SDG 8.
• Date: Wednesday, August 13
• Time: 8:30-10 a.m.
• Location: The Regent, 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview
• Contact: Amber Aaron at 813-689-1221 or amber@brandonchamber.com
• Registration and Vendor Information: www.brandonchamber.com

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article focuses on “Brandon’s Wonder Women,” a group explicitly dedicated to “championing the success of women.” The initiative aims to empower women through professional development, networking, and leadership programs led by “local women leaders,” directly contributing to gender equality.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The group’s mission is to “impact economic growth” and enhance the “economic vitality of the community.” It achieves this by fostering “personal and professional development” through events like the ‘Negotiate with Confidence’ workshop and by supporting entrepreneurs via a “curated vendor market,” which promotes productive activities and entrepreneurship.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership. The leadership team comprises individuals from a business association (Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce), a private business (QDOBA Mexican Eats), a non-profit (Angel Foundation FL), and a public institution (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office). This collaboration between different sectors of society to achieve common goals is the essence of SDG 17.

Identified SDG Targets

Targets for SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
   • The article highlights a leadership team composed entirely of women in significant roles (CEO, EVP, owner, manager, detective) and features a female attorney as a speaker. The group’s purpose is to foster leadership skills among women in the community.

Targets for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.
   • The inclusion of a “curated vendor market” directly supports local entrepreneurs and small businesses. The focus on networking and skill-building fosters an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and professional growth.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • The upcoming breakfast event, titled ‘Negotiate with Confidence,’ is designed to provide women with actionable skills to advocate for themselves in the workplace, which is a crucial step toward achieving better work conditions and equal pay.

Targets for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The leadership team of Brandon’s Wonder Women is a clear example of a public-private-civil society partnership, with members from the Chamber of Commerce, a private enterprise, a non-profit foundation, and the Sheriff’s Office working together for community and economic development.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions): While the article does not provide statistics, it qualitatively supports this indicator by showcasing a leadership team composed entirely of women in managerial and influential positions, serving as a local example of progress.

Indicators for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Number of women-owned small businesses participating in the vendor market: This is an implied indicator for Target 8.3, as it directly measures the initiative’s support for female entrepreneurship.
• Number of women attending professional development and skill-building events: This can serve as an indicator for Target 8.5, measuring the reach of programs designed to equip women with tools for career advancement and achieving equal pay.

Indicators for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Number and diversity of community organizations collaborating on the initiative: This is an implied indicator for Target 17.17. The article lists partners from civil society, public, and private sectors, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ospreyobserver.com