North Miami panel cites housing, health and violence as top threats to women; commission votes to host countywide summit

The North Miami Commission for Women heard a data-driven overview of the status of women and girls in Florida and approved a proposal to host an annual Miami‑Dade Women’s Leadership Summit.

Dr. Rosario Concha, research associate at the University of Miami School of Law’s Human Rights Clinic, summarized results from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women survey and local studies that she said show three recurring concerns for women: economic security, health care and violence. "Black women are 4 times more likely to die in delivery related complications than white women," Dr. Concha said, citing maternal‑mortality rates and racial disparities.

The presentation placed the statewide findings in a Miami‑Dade context: the federal poverty rate for women in Florida is cited at about 13.6 percent (higher in Miami‑Dade at about 16.3 percent); median wages for female‑dominated jobs and local rents create affordability gaps; and preliminary Miami‑Dade Safety Project figures show elevated maternal mortality and significant demand for emergency housing and survivor services. Francesco Duberly, founder and CEO of…