Zonta VP Shares Insight Into Issues Affecting Women With Rotary Club

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Every 90 seconds a woman is sexually assaulted, and in that same 90 seconds, another woman is the victim of domestic violence. These were some of the shocking statistics shared with the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club from Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva Vice President Kate Sargeant. She, with the backing of Zonta, challenged the Rotarians to all speak honestly and openly to three people about these issues and how we can stop and think for 30 seconds to see if our actions are appropriate.

One of the most important points brought up by Sargeant was if someone confides in you about a sexual assault or domiestic violence situation, to be a good “first responder”, to acknowledge that it happened, that it was wrong and that it matters. The best response is to let them know that you hear them, you believe them and you are here to support them.

Sargeant has been an attorney since 1995. She started her legal career as a criminal prosecutor in Chicago prosecuting sex crimes.

She is currently an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University where she teaches Criminal Law. She also developed and teaches a class called Women & Law that discusses how the US legal system has impacted women and influenced and responded to their roles and status in society throughout history and today

Sargeant has a long history of volunteering at organizations that improve the lives of women. She was a rape crisis counselor for Rape Victim Advocates in Chicago. She developed a child safety program called “Yell and Tell” to prevent child sexual abuse. She is currently the Vice President and Chair of Advocacy of the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva. Zonta is an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois – Chicago Law School.The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary holds hybrid meetings both on Zoom and in person at The Community House. Doors open at 7:30 am, the meeting begins at 8 a.m.