Who We Are

Established in 1975, the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women originated in the women’s movement thanks to the strong advocacy of leading local feminists. The 1994 City Charter created the Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) and entrusts the agency with monitoring the status of women and girls throughout San Francisco, investigating inequalities and proposing remedies.

Working at the intersection of health, safety, socioeconomics, politics and gender, today’s DOSW has an expanded portfolio that prioritizes improving the whole lives of women through: Health & Safety, Economic Security and Civic Engagement & Political Empowerment.

We serve as the City’s Watch Dog on all issues related to gender parity; Chief Advocate for equity in service delivery, employment opportunities, leadership development and budget allocation; and Community Convener - bringing people together inside and outside the City to collaborate on ideas, strategy and impactful action to help us transform into a fully gender equitable City. Everyone has a role to play to ensure we apply a gender lens across City operations to actualize this goal.

Mission/Programs/Vision

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Mission/Programs/Vision
Mandate
Executive Summary
Our Staff

Our Mission

Tasked with helping to transform San Francisco into a fully gender equitable City, we champion the equitable treatment and advancement of women and girls across social, economic and political indexes through policies, programs and legislation, both within City and County government and in the private sector.

Our Programs

We use a human rights framework to guide our policies and programs. Our portfolio includes programming in the areas of health and safety, economic security, civic engagement and political empowerment, anti-human trafficking and eradicating all forms of gender-based violence.

Our Vision

We envision a world where equality for women, girls and nonbinary people is woven into every fabric of our society. We have full agency and autonomy over our bodies and the power to shape and control our futures and our livelihoods.

Our Mandate

The City Charter entrusts us to monitor the status of women and girls throughout San Francisco, to investigate inequalities and to propose remedies.

Executive Summary

This executive summary outlines the strategic objectives and initiatives that guide our work. The Department’s approach has been endorsed by the Commission and aligns with the Mayor’s budget and policy priorities.

Download the Executive Summary

Kimberly Ellis, J.D.
Director

Dr. Joe Macaluso
Deputy Director / Chief of Staff

Dominique Blakely
Executive Management Assistant
Email: dosw@sfgov.org
Phone: 415-252-3205

Dr. My Lan Do Nguyen
Finance and Administration Manager

Naz Rydhan-Foster
Senior Program Manager

Dr. Alfredo Huante
Research, Data, and Evaluation Analyst

Hannah Cotter
Program Manager, Health and Safety

Denise Heitzenroder
Project Manager for Strategic Initiatives

Febbie Valderrama
Grant and Fiscal Associate

Our Role

To transform San Francisco into a fully gender equitable City, we will unlock the potential of the City and County of San Francisco to better serve women, girls and nonbinary people by incorporating a strong gender lens in City government’s internal operations and policies as well as the City government’s external policies, programs and partnerships.

Watchdog

We serve as a watchdog and accountability partner to all CCSF departments and agencies as it relates to our commitment to gender equity across all indexes.

Chief Advocate

We advocate for equity in service delivery, employment opportunities, leadership development and budget allocation and champion policies that best support women, girls and nonbinary people to thrive.

Community Convener

We work in close partnership with the Mayor’s Office, the Board of Supervisors, City agencies and other stakeholders, bringing people together to collaborate on ideas, strategy and impactful action.

Our Commission

The Commission on the Status of Women in San Francisco ensures equal opportunities for women and girls across economic, social, political, and educational domains.

Established by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1975, it continues its mission through the City Department on the Status of Women, created by voter-approved Proposition E in 1994.

Visit the Commissions' website to find out more including, members, upcoming meetings and past meetings recordings.

Commission on Status of Women