Deeds Not Words | Wendy Davis | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Wendy Davis, former Texas state senator and founder of Deeds Not Words, discusses her advocacy for gender equality, the importance of personal storytelling, and the role of men as allies.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] SPEAKER 1: We're so excited to have Wendy here from Austin. I think most of you know her. She has fought tirelessly, first as a Texas state senator, and then in her run for governor, for women's reproductive rights, gender equal pay, LGBTQ rights, justice for sexual assault survivors. Just has an incredible track record. ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍⚕️ Deeds Not Words aims to provide a hub for different organizations working towards gender equality, covering areas such as health, safety, economic opportunity, and leadership.
• 🔨 Personal storytelling is a powerful tool for creating empathy and understanding, and it can help change perspectives and challenge stereotypes.
• 👨‍🚒 Men also have a role to play as allies in the fight for gender equality, and their support and engagement are crucial to creating meaningful change.
• 🧔‍♀️ Creating legislative bodies that reflect the diversity of society, including more women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals, is essential for achieving true gender equality.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Deeds Not Words and why did Wendy Davis start it?

Deeds Not Words is a nonprofit organization founded by Wendy Davis to support and empower young women in advocating for gender equality. Davis started it to provide opportunities for the next generation to engage in activism and make a difference in their communities.

Q: What are the key areas of focus for Deeds Not Words?

Deeds Not Words focuses on health (reproductive rights), safety (sexual assault and human trafficking), economic opportunity (equal pay and family leave policies), and leadership (support for women in politics).

Q: How does Deeds Not Words engage with its audience in the digital space?

Deeds Not Words has a digital hub where people can find a variety of organizations working towards gender equality. They also have a weekly digital newsletter called "The Deeds Digest" and a "Daily Deed" feature to provide specific actions people can take to make a difference.

Q: How does Deeds Not Words empower young women to become advocates?

Deeds Not Words provides tactical training and advocacy work for high school and college-aged young women. They work with lawmakers on issues like sex trafficking of minors and sexual assault reforms, helping young women develop their voices in the legislative process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Wendy Davis started Deeds Not Words as a nonprofit organization to provide resources and support for young women to become advocates for gender equality.

• Deeds Not Words focuses on four key areas: health (reproductive rights), safety (sexual assault and human trafficking), economic opportunity (equal pay and family leave policies), and leadership (support for women in politics).

• Davis emphasizes the importance of personal storytelling and building connections to create meaningful change.