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The Colorado Women’s Agenda (CWA) is a non-partisan, social justice network that advocates statewide for economic security, political empowerment and racial equity for all of Colorado’s women. We engage women along a continuum of activism, including grassroots organizing, community education, leadership development and political participation at both local and statewide levels.

In 1986, more than 400 racially and economically diverse women and men from across Colorado came together at a statewide conference with a common vision of achieving social justice by changing spending priorities from military build-up to meeting basic human needs. In 1993, Colorado Women’s Agenda was incorporated into a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and has continued to evolve. Since 2003 CWA has been actively engaged in anti-racism work. In response to feedback from partner organizations and past board members we determined that this was the best avenue for completing our mission and expanding our base. We believe that no real systemic change can occur unless racism and it’s prevailing effects are continually addressed.

The long-term goals of Colorado Women’s Agenda are to: 1) Empower women to take collective action on their own behalf and alter the relations of power; 2) Create a learning community of women leaders who are advocates for progressive social change and build their leadership skills and confidence through personal and political learning experiences; 3) Engage a statewide constituency of women– and their allies – at the grassroots level in the design and promotion of a bold, progressive legislative and policy agenda which ensures economic security and social justice for all women in Colorado; 4) Dismantle institutional polices, structures and practices within our own organization that encourage or perpetuate race, class and culture discrimination; and 5) Build a strong grassroots, woman-centered, anti-racist organization and promote collaboration on these ideals within the progressive community.

Our programs include:

CWA has published it's Inclusivity Blueprint in March 2007. CWA decision-making is horizontal. The Board and key volunteers share policy making and program implementation. Women of color and low income women, as well lesbians make up the CWA Board and volunteers.

To be self-sufficient and afford livable housing, the average worker needs to earn $18.76 an hour and Colorado’s average hourly wage is $19.36. This difference is less than the cost of a can of soda. Even worse, on average, women in Colorado earn $.73 to each dollar earned by men.

CWA is involved with promoting Pay Equity, creating a self sufficiency standard and educating policy makers about the Cliff Effect. For more info click here.

CWA continues to organize in the Old Lowry neighborhood along issues of safety and in coalition with local neighborhood organizations.

CWA continues to advocate for and alongside low income women through its Economic Self-Sufficiency programs. Leadership training, mentoring, job placement and networking are priorities.

CWA co-sponsors several events and trainings to encourage women to become volunteer lobbyists. Every year SINCE 2008, CWA published a Legislative Scorecard of state legislators. To see the 2006 Scorecard click here.