A Michigan Municipal League project.
Made possible with support from the MML Foundation.
The 16/50 Project seeks to remove barriers and provide training to increase the number of women in leadership roles in local government. Only about 16 percent of local chief administrative officers are women, even though they make up more than half the population. The 16/50 Project is supported by the Michigan Municipal League Foundation.
The 16/50 Project is a Michigan Municipal League initiative aimed at increasing the representation of women in local government manager positions in Michigan. Launched in 2018, the project was named for and born out of the stark reality that only 16% of local government managers in the state were women; a startlingly low number considering that women are around 50% of the general population. The 16/50 Project is empowering more women to achieve the top municipal spot – the local government manager – and working to make gender balance a reality for local governments in Michigan.
The project employs a three-pronged approach to accomplish its goals: The 16/50 Project offers programs and resources to combat implicit bias – a major factor holding women back from local government manager positions.
Elected officials make the ultimate hiring decision when appointing the chief administrative officials of their communities. The 16/50 Project offers programs and resources designed to address implicit bias, a significant obstacle preventing women from securing these leadership roles. The project equips elected and appointed officials with the tools to eliminate bias in the hiring process and implement solutions to remove barriers for women in the workplace.
The 16/50 Project provides professional development, tools, and resources for women aspiring to be local government managers.
Tapping into municipal & leadership experts, the Women’s Municipal Leadership Program brings together lectures, panels, and interactive experiences – and offers a comprehensive 5-month curriculum that prepares aspiring women to make bold moves forward in their careers.
Participants explore topics including municipal budgeting & finance, economic development, council-manager relations, and interviewing and negotiating; dialogue with experts and veterans in the field of municipal management; build leadership expertise through executive coaching; and participate in a mock interview experience with immediate feedback from seasoned managers.
With the support of the MML Foundation and donors like you, the program is offered for free to all accepted participants.
The 16/50 Project brings young women together to build the leadership pipeline of the next generation for Michigan communities.
The 16/50 Project actively engages young women through initiatives like interactive panel discussions at universities and an ambassador program that connects aspiring leaders with women currently in top municipal positions. The project aims to inspire and support a new generation of women leaders ready to take the helm in their communities.
Through comprehensive leadership training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the 16/50 Project drives systemic change and empowers women to lead in local government positions.
