Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Women2Women in support of the Faces of Courage...Human Empowerment Conference 2026. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to Women2Women to support these efforts, as it does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
Women2Women proposes to implement the Empowering Women… Faces of Courage Human Empowerment Conference 2026, a community-based initiative designed to provide life-skills education, trauma-informed support, and direct access to critical resources for women and families facing poverty, reentry challenges, homelessness, domestic violence, and behavioral health barriers. This initiative builds on over 40 years of service and a proven track record of impact, including serving over 300 participants at the 2025 conference. The 2026 program will expand outreach and deepen engagement through pre-conference workshops, community partnerships, and a culminating empowerment conference in September 2026. The program aligns with local priorities to reduce poverty, improve health equity, and strengthen economic mobility by connecting underserved populations to workforce development, behavioral health services, housing resources, and education pathways.
The program will serve 250-300 women through workshops and a culminating empowerment conference. At least 75% of participants will increase awareness of community resources. 70% will report improved knowledge of behavioral health and wellness supports. 60% will gain understanding of employment and economic opportunities. Over 150 direct connections to service providers will be facilitated. Participants will demonstrate improved life skills, confidence, and self-advocacy. Funds will support program implementation, workshops, resource coordination, and conference delivery. Deliverables include workshops, partner engagement, conference execution, and evaluation reporting. Success will be measured through attendance, surveys, and documented service connections. The program advances stability, healing, and long-term self-sufficiency.
City Council is proposing $12,500.00 for this effort.
FISCAL IMPACT: $12,500.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order to provide immediate funding to Women2Women in time to procure resources for the 2026 Conference.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Women2Women in support of the Faces of Courage...Human Empowerment Conference 2026; to authorize the expenditure of $12,500.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the expenditure of funds for the payment of reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; and to declare an emergency. ($12,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is need to provide support and resources to women and families in need; and
WHEREAS, Women2Women’s mission is to empower and advocate for women, girls, and their families through programming that supports holistic growth, self-sufficiency, and access to critical resources that improve life outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Women2Women proposes to implement the Empowering Women… Faces of Courage Human Empowerment Conference 2026, a community-based initiative designed to provide life-skills education, trauma-informed support, and direct access to critical resources for women and families facing poverty, reentry challenges, homelessness, domestic violence, and behavioral health barriers; and
WHEREAS, Council is proposing support of $12,500.00 in support of this program; and
WHEREAS, $12,500.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's Office in that it is necessary for the Clerk to enter into a contract immediately with Women2Women in order to provide funding in time to provide for the 2026 Conference, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Women2Women in support of the Faces of Courage...Human Empowerment Conference 2026.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $12,500.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance, and that any and all of said expenditure may be spent toward reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages associated with the execution of this grant agreement are deemed to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.