Good evening, everybody. It is May 21st, 2026. This is the Monroe County Women's Commission. I will
call this meeting to order. It's Maria. She's not. I know Jody's on her way.
We do have 2, 4, 5 people here, so that is quorum. The commission shall serve in an advisory role to
assist residents, businesses, and the government of Monroe County in addressing issues of gender equity.
The mission is to advance the status of women in marginalized genders in all areas.
You sent out the minutes, every one, I saw one adjustment was asked for. I adjusted and sent back out.
Perfect. Do I have a motion to accept the April minute? I make a motion to accept the April minutes.
Second. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes from our April meeting. We'll do a
on. Is Maria on? Yeah. Okay, cool. Julie Hardesty. Yes. Tiana. Yes. Rose. So close. Not even.
Jennifer Belton. Present and accounted for. No, you're agreeing. Oh, I agree. Or disagreed for the minutes.
I said, okay, I'm the one that did the minutes. So of course I agree. Molly Otto. I agree.
Yes, and Maria Douglas. We're making them approving the minutes from April. I saw that he did. I didn't.
I don't see her. I don't see her on there. She's here. She's in the waiting room. Well.
We'll accept the minutes for April. Commissioner updates. Commissioner Otto, do you have any updates
in our older ongoing business? No, we have updates in the subcommittee. Perfect. But other than that,
I don't accept. There was one thing that I saw regarding May being mental health. There was a conference
or something held
by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Wellness Council of Indiana in Minneapolis
on women's wellness at work. And I was not aware of it, so I did not attend. But I just saw some of
the things about it. So I want to do a little bit more research and see if there are some data and statistics
from that. But I don't have anything to present right now. Commissioner Belton.
No updates. Commissioner Roje. No updates. She was and now she's gone again. Yeah, she keeps going.
Well, if we ever get her in here, I will. Commissioner Hart, outside of Oldenham.
She's saying, I think she's saying she gets connected and she's getting kicked out. So it's something
going on, but she's trying. I don't have any updates. I don't think in the Freedom Schools Steering
Committee, I'm co-chairing. Maria was mentioning it last month. That's continuing and I have a co-chair
now. So there's kind of forming up a little bit more and we're working on
working on deciding on curriculum and that sort of thing and what direction we're gonna be able to take
that and hoping for something, aiming for something in the fall, we'll see what happens. So there's
a lot to do, but yes, it is kind of sort of warming up, so yay. Oh my goodness. Welcome. I'm just gonna
give my update and then we'll introduce,
the commissioner. That's a little early council person. The only thing that I have that I heard today,
I watched the commissioner's meeting was that it is the Bloomington, I don't know what it is exactly,
but the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is looking for a woman's award recipients. So does any outstanding
community member, female, women, community members that would
made an impact, I would look into that. Other than that? Who was looking for it again? The Better Prism
Bureau. The Greater Chamber, sorry. It's their Women Excel Bloomington Award that they do every year.
And it's on their website, the application for it. Okay, sorry, thank you.
That's all I have, right? All right. Hi, welcome. Hi, everybody. I mean, I don't know, you've never
been, right? I mean, in person. Years ago. Yes, in person. Do you want us to introduce ourselves? Do
you want anything to... If everybody wanted to say their name, they'd go around. I think that'd be awesome
for me, but don't let me distract from your meeting.
Well, I will say what's interesting here except for Commissioner Belton is that we have all, and it's
been two years, we've all been on the commission for at least four years, which is crazy to think about.
And Maria Douglas is working on it. She was trying to get online and she keeps getting kicked out, but
she's usually here as well. My name is Susan Hingle and I'm the chair of the Women's
I'm a glutton for punishment. I'm the secretary. Nice to see you here. Jennifer Belton. Yanni Rose.
Nice seeing you again. And I'm Julie Hardesty. I'm the vice chair. Yes. So we just did approval minutes,
commissioner updates. And then we are moving to old and ongoing business, which
We will start with outreach or the outreach committee, which is the purpose to elevate the profile of
the Monroe County Women's Commission programs that support our mission. Any updates or?
We do. Yeah. Yeah, go ahead, Molly. We're excited about our updates. So previously, Commissioner Belton
reported on a mini mission to pass out feminine products. And we went again today to Seminary Park just
to pass out to those in need. So we are going to continue that program, putting our logo in there. But
we made a plan for it. We're going to do it every other Thursday around the same time.
depending on weather permitting. But we've made a list of 10 nonprofits that help support unhoused.
So we're going to hit those strategically to make sure that they do have a program in place to get menstrual
products, and then just kind of let them know what we're doing. And if they don't, we can help.
And if not, making those contacts for any other projects we would be able to help with, sweat equity-wise,
that if it's, hey, we need four volunteers for this, help
recruitment for that or if we can provide those hours, too. So that's what we have in draft notes, but
we'll email out a plan, too. Good day for it. Beautiful. Yeah, it was. It was. Better than yesterday.
How many products do you think we handed? How many? I lost count. 10? Yeah, because the bag is almost empty.
Yeah, about 10. Yeah, if this is something where supply donations are taken, is that like, are you taking
it as the subcommittee? Would we bring them here? Yeah, we will take donations. We haven't got there
yet, but definitely if you would like to donate, because right now it's out of our pockets and we have
at home and we're just. Okay, so this is going to be ongoing, so I can like add this because I wasn't
sure if we were going to keep doing it. I'm like, I keep forgetting to bring things, but next month.
Yeah. Thanks. Thank you. One thing that might be, if you're looking for donations, because we have a
lot of traffic that comes in and out of the building, is there could be a box downstairs for it. And
maybe if you wanted two boxes, we can leave one in here, and then maybe other meetings, they might make
a reference to it, and then one downstairs just for people coming in. OK. Since you're here, I'm going
to ask you this. How would we, I mean, because obviously we're just
technically an advisory body to the commission. And as far as I've ever seen, the county doesn't offer
supply, feminine products, menstrual products in the bathroom. I mean, at IU, they're everywhere. I
can't even imagine how much IU spends on that stuff. But how could we get that? So you mean like in
the county dispensers? I think that's just a policy change by the commissioners.
Well, it would be cost involved because I mean, so it'd have to be a. But probably not the worst for
the county in Detroit. Now, I hear they've got a they got people living there and a massive work for
it. We've got a sizable workforce, but limited buildings. So the budgeting for my council hat would
I don't think so bad. But yeah, I think the first start would be at maybe if the body wanted to adopt a
to the commissioners to the commissioners and then, um. We could look at whatever the cost is. Maybe
health has money for this. Um, but, you know, just kind of thinking through it.
one question. If we did get a box or two boxes, who do we speak with about placing them in places downstairs
or here in this room? Angie? Yeah, I think send a note to Angie just that the Women's Commission would
like to have two boxes or one, whatever we think. But yeah, I just think literally left in the room,
no harm, no foul and downstairs. A lot of traffic in that bottom floor. Thank you. Really?
I mean, it's a beautiful building. I mean, I never know if people come in here or not, so. I think so.
I mean, there's just a lot of business that comes in and out for different needs. It would also be a
great thing to get on their socials and XYZ, presenting that as well. Do we need to, as the Women's
Commission, do we need a motion to get a resolution put together for the commissioners? Do we need to
vote on that? I don't know.
I don't know if the subcommittee wants to do it. I would rather see just one presented, and then we
talk. I mean, chances are I'm going to get dinged for us even doing products without approval. So we'll
have to see. OK. What did you say? What did you say about handing out products? Ding. For what?
Because it's, I mean, it's an activity. It's an activity.
We didn't put anything saying that we're women's commission on products. We're just giving out products.
Not on behalf of the county or? No, not right now. I mean for. Yeah, for outreach. But I think we'll
get there if we need. Yeah, you find out if we need permission, President.
But I think even if the commission, and I was on the commission in 2019, 2020, 2021, we had similar
issues back then, but I think even if the commission wants to say it's from, I think, yeah, they should
be able to, we should be able to say that, so. Yeah. You always have to ask for permission. Well, one
thing's for sure, and two things for certain, we'll get an email about it if we've done something we're
not supposed to, but you can, Commissioner,
Wait a minute, Councilman Decker, you can help us out with that. I'll do my best. Thank you.
That's awesome. I'm reading the steps to attain approval for activities and just trying to see what
that means. I mean, I'm sure if it has a logo on it, but... But we don't have a logo. Yes. There's a
logo. Well, it'd be still great to do it. I mean, eventually if we move to a proposal and collect and,
you know, distribute on behalf of the county, it would be great. Yeah, we're going to continue doing it.
Yeah, because we're community members. So we're going to do it because it's a need in the community.
Clearly there's a need because you're handing things out and people are like, yes, thank you. And even,
well, we had one person that said, well, I can use that for bladder control, which is another piece.
And we had a gentleman take one. We did not ask why, but I'm assuming he may have a female that might
need them too. So that was good to see.
Do we have, okay, so wait, let me sum that up. So I'm gonna make sure we don't, in whatever,
in what way, in the future, if we do want, supported by the commission, if we want the commissioners
getting approval, we are putting boxes for collection in the courthouse, getting notices on county social media,
And then, do you three want to work on a proposal that we could work to present to the commissioners
about supplying mental products to industrial and county buildings? Resolution? Yes. Yes. We got you.
Yeah, no, it's fine. We got you. Okay, you're not president. Could be. I shouldn't have went outside today.
we'll have our next steps. Do we have any other? Wonderful information. Only thing that I'm going to
ask again is
get the date and the place and all those things. We're back. So give me more information. So are you
because I know you do step with IU health. So are you saying on county property or will not be on county
property? Okay, I just asked by asking what you're thinking. No, we're going to be on county property.
I haven't figured out a place yet. And a date.
So are you as we would be one of the sponsors, because we would sweat equity, but. It would be sweat
equity. Yes. Okay. Or put on in conjunction with. Okay. Like we're hosting a welfare with IU Health.
Definitely an activity that. That's an activity. So yeah, when we get especially good enough time, then.
advance and we could. I'm looking for that we're looking for the fall. The discussions that have been
on for. That might be something that we can look into when we're hitting these different spot. As last
time we had it been. Yeah, you see it was like some reason why it was some of it here in the courthouse
that you all see the.
here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here.
It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't here. It wasn't
here. It wasn't here.
No, that's easy. I mean, I think one of those things to have in conjunction with, I mean, like, I mean,
handmade markets too soon, but, you know, something like that where there's already something outside
the courthouse, so that inside the courthouse, there was something that you could do that. Yeah, we
would have to use the inside due to our machines.
That's all I got. I'm busy. Policy subcommittee with commissioners Hardesty, Douglas and Yarrow. Elevate
county policy using a gender equity lens is the purpose statement. We have dates. We have, I don't think
we have had a meeting since our last women's commission meeting.
But we do kind of have that priority list of things that we were interested in getting into.
And one of those, I'm seeing that Jody is online and here. So the gender equity rubric that we presented
to the commissioner, the county commissioners, we were interested in following up on that and seeing
what sort of feedback or use
you all as on the council and on the commission are seeing with that. And if there's any sort of feedback
you would have about the rubric in any way that we can potentially make it available online outside
of where it is in the meeting. I think it's the only place that exists right now. So that's one thing
we're kind of wanting to do. Would it be helpful for us
to gather any feedback from our respective bodies and then just bring it back or send it back? Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. So I mean, the commissioners, we presented it to the commissioners. So they have it. But
I'm not sure if that is something that's made its way into any sort of use at all. But I think we're
kind of interested to see what these bodies are thinking about it and if that is something that can
be tried out.
we can certainly assist in that. Awesome. Thank you. I think that's the update that we would have from
the committee until we get to the data committee. Anything else? So committee, this is with commissioners, me and
Douglas, where our purpose is to become a granite and who we serve through data. So as we talked about,
a long time brewing, about the course, the V600 cohort with Dr. Henschel. So we had a meeting yesterday
with Commissioner Madera, Molly Turner King, myself, and
Dr. Hentschel to discuss what the scope was of the project and how that we were kind of ahead of ourselves,
because obviously it needs to be approved. So they are working on fast tracking that. They had some
updates about some language, because we were listed as the, whatever the word is I want. And it should
be, since we are not our own body, we are the commissioners.
to the commissioners. They should be noted as that. But it does look like it's coming forward. Commissioner
Madera, myself, and I believe Maria, as well, are all listed on the course stuff. And I have access
through their teams, which was very strange to see it in teams. Actually, a friend of mine is in the
class, strangely enough. So we are really looking for
that moving forward, it'll move pretty fast, because the class has already technically started. So there
are some people, so it's supposed to be 100% online. They did get some approval to have people in person,
so we do have a couple people. One I think is an Indy, and so my friend is named Santiago Sotomayor.
He is, so,
will be great working on that. I need to forward, I will forward the final proposal or the final syllabus
once I have it updated, but I'm really excited. Look at that. We had, I know I'd send it out when I
found it or we've all looked at the commission on the status of women outcomes when they did that a
couple years ago.
I mean, that was like, I mean, they did that like four, I think four years ago. And when I think I found
it, I don't know, I feel like we have talked about it and shared it many times. So it'll be somewhat
in that with a lot of related to sustainability. I know there's some like transportation questions.
I know there's that kind of information. Actually, I was looking today and
their Qualtrics forum was still live. So I was trying to go through it to see what kind of questions
they asked for, which was home ownership and income and transportation and those kind of things. So
I'll be interested with that. So if I find that again, I'll definitely share it. I know when I talked
on the call yesterday with Dr. Hentschel that she has lost some of the data from the class from four
years ago for whatever reason. So we are trying to get data.
reach out to Marissa Parscott at the city because she was involved with the project. These tables are
still not in the right places. Okay. There's west and north. Okay, sorry. ADHD, what do you want?
I think this is great in progress, and one of the things that they are going to want help with when
they create the students, create a questionnaire, is help getting that distributed to people. Especially
trying to get it into the hands of the population that we're trying to get information from, which again,
if you're out distributing, if we're all out distributing menstrual products in various locations,
opportunity they are gonna before they've done like hard copies and QR codes and you know to try to
reach everybody so that'll be great I think and I'm really I thought this would seem like so far away
you know because it seemed like it was last year you know and then it's like already here so I don't
know what I'm pretty excited
I think a lot of the data disappeared when we had those strange circumstances from IU last
year. Unfortunately, we had course pages go down. Even before the Canvas episode, we had the websites
just disappeared. I think Dr. Henschel said that she lost data then.
That's very unfortunate, but nothing that she could control. And we would be richer for that data. How
long is the class, Susan? I don't know. I have to look. You know, Jody? I think it's summer one. So
I think summer one is six weeks. Yeah, six weeks. Yeah. So fast. Yeah. Super fast.
I did already, I reached out to Marissa at the city today about the project and she already got some
things back to me, but we'll see if it's what she was looking for. I know she was looking for, I think
specifically the GIS data, so we'll see. I think that's,
Yes, that's enough. We did a lot. This is a very productive month. I had nothing under new business,
but we kind of got, I mean, in the committee work, new business with new just projects within our committee.
So we have that.
Anybody want to add anything else? Why? There was, you and I, when we were meeting, doing an executive
discussion, we were talking about the data committee and the policy committee and the work that they
were doing and whether or not... Overlap and joining. Yeah, if that was worth it to consider. I'm not
sure if we really... I don't know if we need to... We were thinking about, because so much of the work
overlaps and since we have
Commissioner Douglas on both, that it would be just as easy for me to just become a part of policy,
flash data committee, and just move forward. Yeah, that's where we get potential for four of us meeting,
making a quorum.
And with the policy committee, the thing that we would be working on that's most associated with what
the data committee is doing is doing the data visualizations from that preliminary data that we gathered
last year. Looking at that yesterday. Yeah. The part that I'd come up with that I just never would.
Right. So I don't know if that's worth it to try and just gather up together what the data committees
put together and what the policy committee was looking at trying to do data visualization for.
at some point, it doesn't have to be right now or anything. And again, because I still don't have access
to the files, I know there's some stuff in the files for our file group, so I don't know. Oh, with the
data under the data subcommittee? No. OK, OK. I know from Kathleen and I that there was already some
information in there, and I'd already been working on a spreadsheet and trying to figure out which kind of
to get what kind of questions to ask, those kind of things. But that does already exist in the files.
I'll take a look at that. The policy committee is meeting next week. Are you thinking of just combining
those committees? I'm not exactly sure, or at least working on that together, potentially. Because the
data visualization that we were doing, it might be helpful to have the data committee be involved or
be informed about what it is that we're putting together as a visualization, especially at this point,
if there's more data coming in.
So to give you a little bit of backstory here, counselor, is that one of the projects that we've always
looked into since we all started, really, was just trying to figure out who we serve. And even like
preliminary looking at the data, it is very hard to, there is no data about who the women in the county
are, who the non-marginalized genders are.
I mean, a lot of the data that, you know, Julie has worked on has been, you know, even, you know, it
goes Indiana or, you know, not even, I don't know how much data you've ever looked at about the county
and it's very hard to, you know, it's very hard to get into that level. So, you know, is one of those
things that we were trying to look into and then trying to come up with a dashboard, you know, on the
status of women and marginalized genders for the county to,
you know, have. So we would, you know, promote or educate people on the website and such. So it is something.
And that's one of the things that this class is going to help us work on is helping us collect some
data on women and marginalized genders in the county. So to see who's here. So what do they have? Yeah.
And we had this, we had preliminary data that was kind of a project that I was doing last year with
the policy committee. And then this year we were going to
do a data visualization. We haven't gotten to it yet. So since we have more coming in from the data
committee, it might just be better to combine all together and work on it. But I don't know if that's
really like a committee's becoming one committee thing. Page is coming to your meeting. As long as there's
not four of us. Yeah. Anything else? Do you have any questions about anything?
No, no, I don't thank you for I'm sorry. I'm late and thank you for welcoming me in it's good to be
back here. We're very busy That's what counselor vital told me earlier today. I said, all right anything
I need to know she goes they got a lot going on and they're We try to be active. So Okay, is there anybody
fast. I call this meeting adjourned at 6 o'clock. Thank you all very much.