CONGRATULATIONS VICE MAYOR FELICIA BRUNSON FROM THE CITY OF WEST PARK! THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE “EMPOWERING WOMEN” AWARD!

At the beginning of 2010, Women Elected to Municipal Government adopted a new motto: “Empowering Women for Florida’s Future”. This motto has become the driving force behind our mission and goals of helping women achieve in local government and leading the charge for effective policy and legislative change for women throughout Florida.

As part of our new focus, each year at our luncheon we will be honoring one of our members that embody this mission and has made a positive, impactful difference in the lives of women in her community.

Nominated by her dear friend and Mentor, Ronenia Jenkins, Ms. Jenkins stated, “I am nominating Vice Mayor Brunson because of her continual dedication to empower young ladies to be all that they can be.”

Vice Mayor Brunson is a champion for the people in her community, and decided early in life that she was going to be the change she wanted to see in her community and world.

An advocate for youth, senior citizens, quality education, access to social services and affordable healthcare, she has earned the reputation as a voice for the young and young-at-heart.  The founder of a non-profit organization Visions and Images, Vice Mayor Brunson is dedicated to bridging the intergenerational gap between youth and senior citizens.

Each year she also provides a well-balanced summer female youth development program for young girls aged 12-18 entitled Precision in the City of West Park. This program promotes self-esteem and the development of leadership skills in an environment safe for young girls to embrace their own uniqueness and develop a sense of individuality that will enable them to realize their dreams.

For the past five years this 8-week course has consisted of classes that teach the young ladies proper etiquette, choosing a career path, how to dress properly, how to apply make-up, the importance of attending school and believing in themselves. Each young lady has to complete a variety of community projects and participate in field trips during the summer.

Vice Mayor Brunson hopes to leave a legacy for many youth to emulate. Her love of service is equal to her love for all the people she serves in the community of West Park, Broward County, the state of Florida and the world. For she realizes her zealous work is dedicated to the urgency of the writer and environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams, "The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time."