Leading with Purpose, Part 2: Implementing Policy with the LA County Women and Girls Initiative

Written by Hayley Sayrs | Edited by Danielle Bissonnette

At Sayrs Consulting, our dedication to community impact continues to grow, with a particular focus on empowering women and girls. Our work is not only about meeting immediate needs but also about establishing a foundation for lasting change and resilience. Building on the success of initiatives like Project Safe Haven (which you can read more about here), we continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact in Los Angeles County.

Sayrs Consulting + Los Angeles County Women and Girls Initiative (WGI)

Our founder, Hayley Sayrs, remains at the forefront of advocating for systems change, driven by the conviction that creating equitable policy begins at the grassroots level. In her own words, learn more about Sayrs Consulting’s involvement in the LA County Women and Girls Initiative (WGI), and the ways in which our community-driven solutions lead to broader societal progress:

As one of the lead consultants for the CEO of Los Angeles County, Sayrs Consulting has worked directly to advance the interests of women and girls, focusing on key policy implementation areas.

Currently, Sayrs Consulting is in the process of finalizing two implementation reports: the 1) Gender Impact Assessment Program 2024 Progress Report and 2) Charting Progress: A Comprehensive Review of Systemic Change for Gender Equity in Los Angeles County. Both reports highlight how investments directed by the Board of Supervisors have enshrined lasting protections for women and girls in LA County. Our collaborative efforts have addressed a variety of critical issues both within and across Los Angeles County in the following ways:

1. Workplace Equality: Advocating for equal pay, tackling workplace harassment, and promoting career advancement opportunities across all 39 departments and affiliates agencies.

2. Paid Family Leave: Ensuring job security while balancing caregiving responsibilities for economic stability.

3. Gender Equity in Recruitment: Implementing bias-free hiring practices to ensure fair opportunities for women.

4. Breaking Gender Barriers: Encouraging women in tech, trades, firefighting, and policing for expanded career options and support in non-traditional roles.

5. Family-Friendly Policies: Supporting flexible scheduling, childcare, and parental leave to balance work and family.

6. Economic Empowerment: Partnering with community based organizations to uplift entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and access to capital for women-owned businesses.

7. Healthcare Advocacy: Addressing reproductive and mental health needs to support women and girls who are most vulnerable to changes in access to care.

8. COVID-19 Response: Mitigating pandemic impacts on women through targeted support and advocacy and a series of town halls and direct partnerships.

9. Support for Vulnerable Women: Working with key partners to expand housing assistance, hygiene access, and sports participation for women and girls.

10. Education and Civic Engagement: Programs to divert Black girls from the school-to-prison pipeline and enhance voter registration among women.

11. Community Leadership: Creating opportunities for women in decision-making roles and integrating gender impact assessments into policymaking.

    
    

Discover how we’ve implemented gender-responsive service delivery in Los Angeles County by reading a preview of the Gender Impact Assessment Program 2024 Progress Report below.

Our progress demonstrates a comprehensive approach to overcoming barriers, promoting equity, and implementing policies that shape the outcomes of women and girls across their lifetimes. As the Women and Girls Initiative concludes in 2024, here are some of the ways Los Angeles County now stands at the forefront of gender equity on a national level:

• The Women and Girls Initiative (WGI) has been recognized by the UN’s Gender Equity workgroups, including Cities for CEDAW for our practical yet innovative implementation processes.

• The WGI team was invited to present our findings to the White House Gender Equity Council.

• In March 2024, WGI presented the County’s progress in advancing gender equity at five sessions during the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York City.

• In 2023, WGI received two NACo Achievement Awards:

  • Category: Health, Senate Bill (SB) 1245 SHAP Program, which provides reproductive and sexual health care services in partnership with the the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH).

  • Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training, Gender Impact Assessment Program led by Caroline Torén at Refolda Consulting.

WGI was invited to present findings to the White House Gender Equity Council and the progress made in Los Angeles towards advancing gender equity at the United Nations.

In June, WGI invited our closest partners and colleagues to a Sunset Soirée, where we premiered our documentary on WGI’s lasting impact on LA County residents. While we have accomplished so much, our work is not done yet, though the momentum is palpable. The Soirée event at the Level Los Angeles Penthouse had a special feeling, as we were able to honor those who contributed to to the initiative from inception to implementation but who also had to pivot during planning phase of the project, where the work lived virtually. The celebration in the heart of downtown was the first time we actually had all of our partners and colleagues together in one place.

Additionally, Level Los Angeles was one of the many private hotel partners that collaborated with Project Safe Haven to provide housing when shelters were shut down. As well, some of the youth interns who have worked with us on previous projects, such as Kiara Humphrey and Marigrace Buendia, who were in attendance and got to celebrate their hard work and contributions over the years.

Hayley Sayrs with Kiara Humphrey and Marigrace Buendia, Women and Girls Initiative Sunset Soiree

Looking back on how far we have come and documenting the implementation of the Women and Girls Initiative feels like a full-circle moment for our team. We are proud of the work our interns have accomplished and continue to be impressed by their performance with clients and representation of our firm in the field. If you are interested in tapping into our special program, learn more about Social Startups and how we offer cutting-edge services to our partners, including training and mentorship for entry level positions.

If you are interested in tapping into our special program, learn more about Social Startups and how we offer cutting edge services to our partners through training and mentorship.

My personal experience with mentorship strengthened my commitment to creating professional development opportunities within my organization. Sayrs Consulting prides itself on building paid internships and entry-level work opportunities into every program and partnership we establish. Providing these opportunities to first-generation students and those from under-resourced neighborhoods is essential for the sustainable growth of Los Angeles County. Young people need paid opportunities to develop their skills and engage in work that drives them to transform the systems and policies shaping their lives, so they can effectively emerge as the leaders of tomorrow.

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