Fairfax County, VA is a hub of activity for organizations dedicated to advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls. The Fairfax County Women's Commission, established in 1971, is one such organization that works to advise the Board of Supervisors on how to promote gender equality. The Commission is part of a national network of state and local commissions for women and collaborates with Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) to provide emergency shelter, counseling, legal defense, support groups, and educational programs through their 24-hour hotline (703-746-4911).Helen Tautges is a recent graduate of Ohio University with a degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in industrial organizational psychology from Capella University. She has been involved with the National Association of Commissions for Women as secretary and vice president, the State Advisory Committee on Child Support, and the Virginia Supreme Court Working Group on Gender Bias in Virginia Courts.
Helen has also served on the board of directors of Kids-R-First, an organization that provides school supplies to low-income families in Fairfax County schools. She is now ready to continue her public service by exploring new opportunities and looks forward to serving as a commissioner on the Fairfax County Women's Commission. In addition to her work with the Women's Commission, Helen has been part of the Fairfax County Region I Area Resource Team which works to prevent domestic violence and coordinate services with local government agencies, the court system, area nonprofit organizations, and local businesses. She has also connected with other LGBTQIA+ organizations in Fairfax and Prince William counties as well as activists across the state. Through her work, she hopes to continue expanding the Commission's work by partnering with other organizations and deepening its impact across the county. The Fairfax County Women's Commission is just one example of an advocacy campaign or initiative led by women's organizations in Fairfax County.
Other organizations include Alexandria National Commission of Women's Commissions, Arlington Women's Commission on the Legal and Social Status of Women of the City of Fairfax, Loudoun Women's and Girls Commission of Loudoun Montgomery County Women's Commission (Maryland), Montgomery County Women's Commission (Maryland), and Virginia Democracy Forward. These organizations are devoted to achieving full equality for women and girls in Fairfax County through a variety of initiatives. From providing emergency shelter and counseling services to working with local government agencies to prevent domestic violence, these organizations are making a positive difference in the lives of women in Fairfax County.
