Women leadership conference with the lieutenant governor

Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson visited Cache Valley on Feb. 16 to have a luncheon with women who are leaders in the community at the Ellen Eccles Theatre.

While tables of community leaders dined around her, Henderson spoke to all in attendance about some of her initiatives as lieutenant governor, her admiration for women leading in the community, and the importance of multiple perspectives in governing and decision making.

Henderson also talked about the importance of visiting the communities of her constituents.

“I always say you can’t govern from Capitol Hill,” Henderson said. “You have to get out in the state, get out in the communities and understand what you’re making decisions about.”

Henderson made a point to emphasize her focus on removing unnecessary barriers from disenfranchised groups.

“One of the things that is very, very important to me throughout my time as a state senator and especially now as I’m in a statewide role is identifying and removing barriers for people,” Henderson said. “I see sometimes that the government erects some arbitrary barriers where there might be people that haven’t as much opportunity as others, and I love to take those issues on.”

Henderson also explained one of the programs she started — Return Utah.

The initiative allows for residents of Utah who have been out of the workforce for extended periods of time to participate in returning internships to sharpen their skills.

One of the participants of this program, Terri Okey, said her part in Return Utah has given her the experience and confidence that she feels she needs to return to the workforce.

“You get experience doing different things and they ask you what you like and where your interests are,” Okey said.

After her interview with Return Utah, she was excited to be involved in the program.

“I came home and said ‘I don’t care if I get the job or not, it doesn’t make any difference to me. That was the best interview I’ve ever had.’ And my husband was like ‘what do you mean?’ And I said ‘that’s the kind of place I want to work in.’”

Among the things she told leaders at the luncheon was the story of Kanab’s 1911 all women council.

In 1911, men in Kanab filled out a ticket composed entirely of women for the positions of mayor and council members. The women, who didn’t even know they were running, won the election by a landslide, but were mortified, humiliated and nervous to fulfill their elected appointments.

“But some of their fathers and their husbands were very encouraging and said no you’ve been given this opportunity, you need to step into that space, and take the opportunity, and those five women did. They stepped into that space and they totally cleaned up the town,” Henderson said.

Henderson said the women are great examples to her of how crucial it is to step into those roles.

“We’re given opportunities for a reason and it’s important for your voices to be heard,” she said.

Women in attendance at the luncheon appreciated Henderson’s words. Lyndsay Peterson, the mayor of North Logan, said she could relate to what was said because she’s encountered similar hurdles.

“I think, specifically, when she talks about women having a voice, it really is not something that you can accomplish artificially, you just need women at the table,” Peterson said. “There’s just no other way to make sure that all aspects of the group are heard and understood and I think you really do get the best results when you have diversity in representation.”

Emilee Schmidt, a member of the North Logan City Council, also appreciated Henderson’s efforts to be inclusive.

“I’m really grateful to see more representation,” Schmidt said. “I was really impressed with her efforts to go through the state and make sure that we’re representing those who are not getting the loudest voice.”

Henderson also gave a message to women attending Utah State University with the hopes of breaking into leadership positions.

“Don’t take counsel from your fears. Even if you’re maybe afraid to do something, jump in. You can learn as you go,” Henderson said. “I think one of the things that hold women back sometimes is this idea that they have to know everything about something before they decide to do it, and that’s just not the case, they can learn it along the way, and that is the lesson that I have learned over and over in the leadership positions that I’ve had.”

-Brock.Marchant@usu.edu

Featured photo from: Utah State Office of the Governor