Report on the “Empowering Women in Watertown: Summer Workshop” Initiative

Executive Summary

An upcoming workshop titled “Empowering Women in Watertown” is scheduled for August 2025. This initiative, a collaboration between local business and community groups, is designed to advance gender equality and community well-being. The event’s structure, speakers, and thematic focus align directly with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Event Overview and Objectives

The workshop is a targeted effort to connect, empower, and inspire women within the Watertown community. It leverages the expertise of prominent female public servants to foster dialogue and skill-building.

Logistical Details

• Event Title: Empowering Women in Watertown: Summer Workshop
• Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
• Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• Location: Commander’s Mansion, Watertown
• Keynote Speakers:
  • Officer Kerry Kelley, Watertown Police Department
  • Officer Anna Margaryan, Watertown Police Department
  • Firefighter/Paramedic Kate Boudreau, Watertown Fire Department

Core Thematic Areas

1. Wellness
2. Community Action
3. Communications

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The workshop’s design and purpose contribute significantly to the global agenda for sustainable development.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The event’s primary objective is to “amplify women’s voices,” directly supporting SDG 5. Key contributions include:

• Promoting Leadership: Featuring female officers and a firefighter/paramedic as keynote speakers showcases women in crucial public service and leadership roles, challenging gender stereotypes.
• Empowerment: The workshop is explicitly designed to empower women, a core target of SDG 5, by providing a platform for connection, growth, and inspiration.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The inclusion of “Wellness” as a central theme directly addresses SDG 3. The participation of a Firefighter/Paramedic provides a professional perspective on physical and mental well-being within the community.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

By focusing on “Community Action,” the initiative works towards making Watertown a more inclusive, safe, and resilient community, in line with SDG 11. It fosters a stronger social fabric by connecting women and encouraging their active participation in civic life.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The event supports women’s economic empowerment through professional development opportunities. The option to obtain a professional headshot is a practical tool that aids in career advancement and professional branding, contributing to the principles of decent work under SDG 8.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The collaboration with the Watertown Police and Fire departments strengthens the relationship between public institutions and the community they serve. This fosters trust and promotes responsive and inclusive institutions, a key target of SDG 16.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This initiative is a model for SDG 17, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve development goals. It unites:

• Civil Society/Community Groups: Watertown Business Coalition, Watertown Events Team
• Public Institutions: Watertown Police and Fire Departments
• Private Sector: O’some Café, Natalie Nigito Photography

Organizational and Participation Information

Hosts and Sponsors

• Hosted by: Watertown Business Coalition and Watertown Events Team
• Sponsors: O’some Café (beverages), Natalie Nigito Photography (professional headshots)

Registration

• Online Tickets: $10
• At the Door: $15

Identified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article’s central theme is the “Empowering Women in Watertown” event. Its stated purpose is to “connect, empower, and inspire women,” “amplify women’s voices,” and “lift each other up.” This directly aligns with the core mission of SDG 5, which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The choice of keynote speakers—female police officers and a firefighter—showcases women in non-traditional and public-facing roles, challenging gender stereotypes.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The event features members of the Watertown Police and Fire departments as keynote speakers. These are fundamental local public institutions. By creating a forum for community members to interact with these public servants in a positive, empowering context, the event helps build trust and fosters a relationship between citizens and local institutions, which is a key aspect of SDG 16. It promotes the idea of inclusive and representative institutions.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The initiative is a grassroots, local effort focused on the community of Watertown (“in every corner of our city”). The workshop itself is described as a form of “Community Action.” By creating a safe, inclusive event for women to gather, network, and be inspired, it contributes to the social fabric and inclusivity of the urban community, which is a goal of SDG 11.

4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The event has an element of professional and economic empowerment. It is co-hosted by the “Watertown Business Coalition” and offers attendees the option to “Upgrade your ticket to include a professional headshot session” to “stand out professionally.” This directly links the event to improving women’s professional opportunities and, by extension, their economic standing.

Specific SDG Targets

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 this target by promoting an event designed to “amplify women’s voices.” The keynote speakers, Officer Kerry Kelley, Officer Anna Margaryan, and Firefighter/Paramedic Kate Boudreau, are examples of women in public life and positions of authority. The event itself is a platform for women’s participation in community and professional life.

2. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

   • While not mentioning specific laws, the article implicitly supports this target by showcasing the outcome of non-discriminatory policies. The presence of women as officers and firefighters in the Watertown Police and Fire departments demonstrates that these institutions are inclusive and provide opportunities for women, thereby promoting non-discrimination in practice.

3. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women…

   • The “Empowering Women in Watertown” workshop creates a specific, safe, and inclusive public gathering space (the Commander’s Mansion) for women. The article notes that the event is designed to “connect, empower, and inspire women across Watertown,” directly contributing to the creation of inclusive community spaces.

4. 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 article connects to this target through its focus on professional development. The partnership with the “Watertown Business Coalition” and the offer of a “professional headshot session” are concrete actions aimed at helping women advance their careers and enhance their professional standing, which is a step toward achieving better employment opportunities.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Proportion of women in local public service leadership roles (Proxy for Target 5.5)

   • The article does not provide a number but implies a positive indicator by featuring two female police officers and a female firefighter/paramedic as keynote speakers. Their presence serves as a qualitative indicator that women hold positions of authority within Watertown’s key public institutions.

2. Number of community events promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment (Proxy for Target 5.5 and 11.7)

   • The article describes the “second Empowering Women in Watertown event” and references a previous panel discussion from March. This indicates a recurring series of events, the frequency and attendance of which can be used as an indicator of community action and the creation of inclusive spaces for women.

3. Number of participants in professional development opportunities for women (Proxy for Target 8.5)

   • The article mentions a specific, measurable action: the option to “Upgrade your ticket to include a professional headshot session.” The number of women who purchase this upgrade can be used as a direct indicator of engagement in activities designed to foster their economic and professional empowerment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: watertownmanews.com