Local chapter started for group aiming to empower younger women politically

Women on the Central Coast have a new opportunity to become involved in their communities and empower the next generation of leaders.

The Younger Women's Task Force, a project of the National Council for Women's Organization, is a grassroots movements to get women in their 20s and 30s to take action on items of interest and advance the rights of females in politics.

Nationally, the effort to form a group for younger women began a year ago with 130 women and six chapters. Now there are 11 chapters across the country boasting a total membership of 2,000.

“I can't believe the change we've seen over the past year,” said Alison Stein, national founder and director. “I feel like we're really creating a new movement, which is exciting.”

Noticing a distinct absence of political activism among young women on the Central Coast, Jaymi Heimbuch just started a local chapter to fill a niche that she hopes will empower her peers.

“There aren't a lot of political activities that are well known for young women to get involved in on the Central Coast,” Heimbuch said. “This chapter will help younger women learn financial business skills, provide a networking community and get women involved.”

The new chapter welcomes anyone, including both genders, all ages and residents of San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara counties, which is an important distinction that separates this task force from many other women's groups.

Many national women's organizations cater to older generations and strictly do not involve men in their activities, a stigma Heimbuch is hoping to shatter.

“Membership is definitely not exclusively for younger women,” she said. “Anyone who is interested in promoting the needs of younger women is welcome. I have 60-year-old men involved.”

At the task force's first meeting, the group identified four goals that it will work to achieve, including creating a networking system for younger women with established businesswomen, an arena for women to have creative outlets, workshops on financial planning, and an increased political consciousness of female issues.

At the next meeting on Feb. 22, Heimbuch said, the group will plan a 2006 calendar of events, so anyone interested in participating will have an opportunity to sign up for different activities.

“I am very excited about our new chapter,” Stein said. “I am just thrilled that Jaymi felt inspired to take the call to action.”

Future task force meetings will be held the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at El Taco Loco on Branch Street in Arroyo Grande.

For more information, visit http://ncwo-online.org/YWTF/CA/

CentralCoast.htm or e-mail Heimbuch at ywtfcc@yahoo.com.

Randi Block can be reached at

347-4580 or rblock@santamariatimes.com.

January 30, 2006