On Feb. 20, the RTI Global Gender Center (RTI GGC) is hosting WomenNC’s 11th Annual Local to Global Forum. The event, which will be held in the William M. Moore Jr. Collaboration Center in Horizon Building, is open to all RTP staff, guests of staff and WomenNC members. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

Under the direction of Wendee Wechsberg, RTI GGC director, FEMtors assist the scholars throughout the research process and provide insight on topics including developing and approaching research questions and following program timelines. FEMtors also provide feedback and guidance to the scholars by reviewing prepared papers and presentations. For the second year in a row, the GGC has matched local young scholars with GGC affiliate mentors, or the newly coined term FEMtors, for the Juanita M. Bryant Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) Local to Global Leadership Training Program. This nine-month program provides N.C. college students with an opportunity to complete an original research project, receive training relative to the research process and present their findings to local and global communities. At the end of the program, scholars complete a capstone research project focused on gender- related issues females face in N.C., with an emphasis on communities in Durham.

After presenting at RTI, the scholars will take their findings to the United Nations CSW session for UN Women in March. The reports will also be used to educate the local N.C. government and advocate for policy changes and budget allocation with help from, the Durham County Women’s Commission, Durham Mayor’s Council for Women and the Wake County Commission for Women.

Attendees at this event will include:

• Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State


• Cynthia Ball, North Carolina Representative


• Jessica Holmes, Wake County Commissioner.

For more information, contact Brittni Howard