"Blow your horn, dim your lights, yell, shout – empower each other!" These are the instructions of Stephanie Scott-Williams to the territory's women for Thursday's Hold On To Your Money Day, which she has proclaimed on all three islands.
Scott-Williams is the voice behind Women for Positive Change, a group she has formed to encourage women to vote, and to realize their own power. According to latest figures from the Board of Elections, women represent 57 percent of the territory's voters at 29,500.
Scott-Williams said, "I want women to realize their economic power, to exercise it." Asked how she planned to monitor Thursday's activity, she said, "I'm not monitoring anything – that's not what it's about." She stressed it's about women stopping to think, "Oh, I can go without buying the paper today, or eating out." Scott-Williams reiterated her main concern – she wants women to be part of the community and utilize their power. She wants it to be a "fun day."
On a lighter note, Scott-Williams said she had talked to one man who thought it was a marvelous idea, "I wish my wife would never spend money," he had said.
Last Saturday the group distributed surveys asking women to prioritize their 10 most important community concerns, such as health, education or the economy. Scott-Williams said they had a good turnout, in spite of inclement weather. They collected about 600 or so surveys which are now being compiled at the University of the Virgin Islands statistics office.
Once all the surveys are completed and the statistics compiled Scott-Williams said she hopes to go to new Legislature with the "people's mandate."
To access and complete a survey click here.
The group can be contacted at (340) 774-6683 or by e-mail at YMEN4POSCHANGE@aol.com
