Norwalk Gender Equity Commission narrows to three priorities, chair to step down in December

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Commission on Gender Equity settled on three main goals for the coming year at its Sept. 14 meeting, and Chair Kristina Testa-Buzzee told commissioners she plans to step down in December, though she will remain on the commission.

Commissioners had been asked to rank 10 possible priorities in a survey ahead of the meeting. The top-ranked item, reviewing progress and helping eliminate gender-based discrimination, is written into the ordinance that created the commission. Commissioners agreed it works better as the group’s overall mission than as a stand-alone priority.

After discussion, the commission settled on three working priorities for the next year:

• Studying conditions and doing research
• Public engagement and hosting forums
• Advising city leadership and recommending policy

Commissioner Jasmine Prezzie said the survey results leaned toward data collection and review, work she said the commission has already spent two years on.

“I don’t know that we need to spend a lot of time to confirm the lack of equity and gender in Norwalk,” Prezzie said, adding she favored priorities she saw as more likely to lead to change.

Commissioners plan to pair up, with one or two people leading each priority. Each team will pick one or two concrete activities for the year and build in a way to measure whether the activity worked.

Testa-Buzzee told the commission she expects to be busier at work starting in December and plans to step down as chair at that point, while remaining a commissioner. A motion to nominate a vice chair was tabled until the next meeting because two commissioners were absent.

The commission has two vacancies. City liaison Brandalyn Williams said one applicant is in the final stage of vetting and another is in the pipeline. Residents interested in serving can apply through the Boards and Commissions page on the city’s website.