Item:
Title
WomenNC CEDAW Resolution and Student Research Presentation (30min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: April 6, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to receive a presentation from WomenNC. This presentation is intended as a follow-up to the 2017 resolution and as an opportunity to share updated insights while continuing the conversation about how Durham County can build on its commitment to advancing women’s human rights and gender equity locally.
At the time, this resolution demonstrated Durham County’s commitment to pay greater attention to women’s human rights and issues affecting women and girls within the city and county, and we continue to deeply appreciate the leadership Durham showed in adopting it. Durham remains one of the outstanding counties in North Carolina and across the country to take this step, and its leadership has been recognized in broader national and global conversations on local CEDAW implementation. WomenNC has proudly highlighted Durham’s commitment in our advocacy work and through our engagement at national and international levels.
WomenNC has also had a strong and ongoing collaboration with the Durham County Women’s Commission since 2017 and in subsequent years, working together to advance shared goals related to gender equity and women’s rights. This partnership continues today. Most recently, the current Chair of the Durham County Women’s Commission, Tiffani Reeves, has served as a mentor to WomenNC Scholar Noelle Smith, a student at North Carolina Central University. This mentorship reflects the continued alignment between our organizations and the importance of investing in the next generation of local leaders.
As part of resuming our CEDAW-related programming this year, WomenNC Scholars have conducted research on the status of women in Durham County, examining key issues affecting women and girls and identifying policy opportunities aligned with the goals of the original resolution. During this agenda item, students will briefly present their research findings and policy recommendations, with each student speaking for approximately five minutes.
Beth Dehghan, Founder and President of WomenNC, who played a leading role in advancing the original CEDAW resolutions with the City and County of Durham, will introduce the students and provide brief background remarks to contextualize the 2017 resolution and its continued relevance.
Alignment With Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Strategic Plan Goal - Healthy Community and Empowered Community
Resource Persons: Beth Dehghan, WomenNC Founder and President
Student Presenters: Caroline Joo, Duke University: Addressing Oral-Health Challenges for Women and Single Mothers in North Carolina: The Role of Medicaid Insufficiency
Chalina Morgan-Lopez, North Carolina State University: Resource Access for Latinx Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in North Carolina: A Comparative Study Between Mecklenburg, Durham, and Duplin Counties
Noelle Smith, North Carolina Central University: Unmasking Strength: The Impact of the Strong Black Woman Archetype on Health, Coping, and Wellness in Black Women in U.S. Southern Communities
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive a presentation from WomenNC.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________