10-year-old girl's letter gets city to remove 'Men Working' sign

"Kids can make a difference," mom Mary Anderson told "GMA."

10-year-old girl's letter gets city to remove 'Men Working' sign
Mary Anderson
ByNicole Pelletiere via GMA logo
October 8, 2020, 4:34 PM

A little girl has made a big change in her city by writing a letter to officials requesting more inclusive signage near construction zones.

Vivian Anderson, 10, a fourth grader from Tampa, Florida, mailed her inquiry to Mayor Jane Castor, last December after seeing a "Men Working" sign while in the car with her mom.

"We were in traffic and she said, 'Mom, why is there a sign that says 'Men Working' but men and women are both working?'" Vivian's mother, Mary, told "Good Morning America." "She said, 'That's no fair. How do we fix that?'"

"I told her, 'As luck would have it, we happen to have a new mayor who happens to be a woman. Maybe she will like your idea,'" her mom said.

PHOTO: Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers.
Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers.
Mary Anderson
PHOTO: Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers. On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and two signs.
Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers. On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and two signs.
Mary Anderson

On Aug. 21, Vik Bhide, the city's mobility department director, replied to Vivian's letter agreeing that the sign should be more inclusive. Bhide also noted the workers may have been private contractors and not a city crew.

PHOTO: Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers. On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and two signs.
Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers. On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and presented with two signs. One read, "Workers Present" and the other, "Vivian M. Anderson Way"--which hangs in her bedroom.
Mary Anderson

And on Sept. 30, Vivian received an invitation to city hall to meet with Mayor Castor.

Vivian was given a hard hat and presented with two signs. One read, "Workers Present" and the other, "Vivian M. Anderson Way"--which now hangs in her bedroom.

Vivian was accompanied by her mom, dad Keith, and older brothers Joe, 16 and Will, 15.

PHOTO: Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers.
Vivian Anderson, 10, wrote a letter to Jane Castor, mayor of Florida's city of Tampa, when she noticed construction signs weren't inclusive of both male and female workers.
Mary Anderson

"She was very excited," her mom said. "I think it gave her a lot of confidence that people will listen to kids. Kids can make a difference."

Vivian told "GMA," "It's a little overwhelming but I really liked meeting the mayor and I do really like how my sign made a change."

PHOTO: On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and presented with two signs. One read, "Workers Present" and the other, "Vivian M. Anderson Way"--which hangs in her bedroom.
On Sept. 30, Vivian Anderson was given a hard hat and presented with two signs. One read, "Workers Present" and the other, "Vivian M. Anderson Way"--which hangs in her bedroom. Vivian was accompanied by her mom, dad Keith and older brothers Joe, 16 and Will, 15.
Mary Anderson

When she's not advocating for inclusiveness, Vivian said she enjoys playing soccer.

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