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2006 Commonwealth Heroine Celebrates the Class of 2025
Dear MCSW Community:
Happy June! As a State Commissioner who hails from Freetown, I was first appointed by the Speaker of the House in 2017. I am now at the end of my third term. Prior to that, I served three terms on the very first Bristol County Commission on the Status of Women, sworn in officially in 2009.
This month, the MCSW is announcing more than 125 Commonwealth Heroines as a part of our Class of 2025. As a former Heroine myself, it has been a great honor for me to serve with the MCSW for so many wonderful years, where these issues are front and center among commissioners' priorities. Women and girls have long been a top priority for me personally. Whether as a workforce development professional, a local official, or working for the state, I see that women and girls continue to face many challenges to achieve their full potential.
By day, I am the Director of Public Engagement for the MBTA's South Coast Rail project. I am proud to say that after so many years of engineering, planning, permitting, building and cajoling, the new Fall River/New Bedford Line launched at the end of March this year. Through this work, and other career paths along the way, I chose transportation and education as two key components of economic independence for women.
When you educate a girl, you change a life and the trajectory of that life. When you provide the transit options that allow women and girls to get where they need to be, the benefits are untold. When both of these opportunities are in place, you elevate a community and foster growth, prosperity, and improved quality of life.
Education and transportation require time and investment.
On the education front, it is imperative that the curricula offered meet the needs of the student, and those needs are not static; rather, they are quite dynamic and demand continuous scrutiny and modification. As for transportation, we must acknowledge that there is no more real estate in Massachusetts for additional superhighways, so our rail and bus service must be robust and flexible.
There is always more to do to enhance educational opportunities and pipelines as well as improve transportation across the state. But more than anything, these essential needs require consistent advocacy and persistence. I believe that I have demonstrated both, but the effort must continue, and all of us here at the MCSW will be there every step of the way. It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside all of you.
Congratulations and thank you for a great year,
Jean Fox
MCSW State Commissioner
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June 2025 Regional Spotlight: Upper Middlesex Commission (UMCSW)
Every month this year, we’re proudly spotlighting the work of our 11 regional commissions. This month, we uplift the Upper Middlesex Commission on the Status of Women (UMCSW), whose mission is to provide a permanent, effective voice for women and girls in their region.
| | | The Upper Middlesex Commission on the Status of Women includes the towns of Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Shirley, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester, and the cities of Cambridge, Everett, Lowell, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, and Woburn. | | Share Your Story: Take Our Survey | | |
As we reflect on the 5 years since the onset of COVID-19, we are looking to develop a more current a snapshot of life for women of the Commonwealth in 2025.
This data collection is a follow-up to our COVID-19 Series research. Between 2020 and 2022, the MCSW released a series of reports on the impact of COVID-19 and related recommendations to improve the status of all women in the Commonwealth.
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) invites all women-identifying individuals who live in Massachusetts to take this survey.
The MCSW is committed to improving the lives of women within Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Your responses will inform the development of public policy that intends to advance all women toward full equality in all areas of life and promote rights and opportunities for all women throughout their lives.
Thank you for bringing your voice and perspective to our work by completing this survey. We encourage you to share this survey widely with any networks or partners who may be interested in the status of women and girls in the Commonwealth.
This survey is also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Haitian Creole. If you have any questions about this survey, please reach out to MCSWPrograms@mass.gov.
The submission window is now open and will close on
Friday, August 22, 2025.
We thank you in advance for participating in this crucial data collection.
| | Download Photos: Advocacy Day 2025 | | What a year we’ve had! We’re honored to work alongside all of you in the fight to advance the rights of all women and girls across Massachusetts. Check out our FY25 annual report to learn more about the mission and work of the MCSW state and regional bodies. | | |
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"Massachusetts ranks No. 1 among the best states for women, new study says"
March is Women’s History Month and to celebrate 51% of the population, a recent study compared all 50 states across 25 key metrics. The data set ranges from median earnings for female workers to the quality of women’s health care to the female homicide rate. Massachusetts claimed the top spot as the best U.S. state for women in 2025.
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Local Regionals Advocate for Priority Legislation
Olivia Laramie & Victoria Edwards of the Hampshire Frankling Commission on the Status of Women penned a joint op-ed in support of Bill H.2499, “An Act pertaining to women’s health at midlife and public, medical and workplace awareness of the transitional stage of menopause and related chronic conditions.”
Read the Op-Ed via the Recorder.
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The rising power of women in Massachusetts politics
Is the ‘original boys’ club’ slipping away? GBH News crunched the numbers. Read the Story.
| | | | Massachusetts continues to be well represented at the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW). Two of our very own serve in leadership positions! MCSW Chairwoman Tuitt was elected to serve another term as the NACW President. MCSW Executive Director Shaitia Spruell will also serve a 2-year term as NACW Director-at-Large. Congratulations and thank you for representing Massachusetts at the National level. | |
MCSW Seeking Regional Commissioners
MCSW is seeking candidates to serve on the following Regional Commissions:
- Cape Cod and the Islands
- Hampshire-Franklin CSW
- MetroWest CSW
We always accept applications on a rolling basis for all of our regionals! For more information and to apply: MCSW Regional Commissions.
For additional questions, contact Tina Games, Regional Commissions Director.
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Above:
Upper Middlesex CSW Commissioners Jenna Canfield, Diane Randolph Jones, Jessica Kallin and Julie Laflamme met with community members and state legislators, including Senator Jamie Eldridge to discuss regional priorities and other issues of importance to women and girls in the Upper Middlesex Region.
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Our regional commissions are wrapping up the fiscal year with new commissioners coming on board, leadership changes, community partner conversations, legislative events, and discussions regarding early fall programming. All of our regional commissions were represented at our Semi-Annual Regional Convening on May 7th at the Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield where they engaged with state commissioners for an evening of learning and networking. Here's a glance at what's happening across Massachusetts through the efforts of our regional commissions:
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The Berkshire County Commission met with State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier at their May public meeting to discuss regional priorities and key legislative bills – and will be welcoming two new commissioners over the summer.
- The Bristol County Commission is preparing to interview several applicants for current vacancies – and are planning to attend the year-end celebration for the Women’s Fund Southcoast Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) in June.
- The Cape Cod and Islands Commission is looking forward to a strategic planning retreat this summer – and will be welcoming a new CCICSW commissioner, Zaafirah Robb, at their public meeting in June. They’re also exploring additional bills that focus on the immigrant communities in their region.
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The Eastern Regional Commission is looking forward to their annual Spring Tea where they’ll be meeting with community partners to discuss regional priorities and collaborations on advocacy work in their communities. They will also be welcoming a new commissioner, Camille Cramer, at their June public meeting.
- The Essex County Commission is putting together a Women Running for Office Summit – and is planning a legislative breakfast and a listening session for late spring. They continue to work closely with their Ginsburg Initiative on issues of importance to girls in Essex County and are currently accepting applications for their fall intern position. Their needs assessment survey is still open and offered in four different languages.
- The Hampden County Commission hosted a virtual Women in Leadership panel discussion on May 30th with HCCSW Commissioner Nicole Esposito moderating – and will be holding their annual legislative breakfast with state legislators on June 6th where they’ll engage in conversations regarding their regional priorities. They will also be welcoming a new commissioner over the summer.
- The Hampshire-Franklin Commission is hosting two community coffee conversations, one in the morning and one in the evening, to discuss issues that matter to women in their region - and HFCSW recently published a series of op-eds that support their regional priorities. They will also be participating in the Franklin County and Hampshire County Pride Parades and will have a commission table at each event.
- The MetroWest Commission is planning a film screening and community discussion for early fall – and will be celebrating their Athena Council members who are graduating from high school this month. MWCSW is currently accepting applications for their fall intern position and look forward to another great year with their Athena Council.
- The Plymouth County Commission is working on an updated version of their 2022 resource guide – and PCCSW Commissioners are looking forward to their women in trades event which has been scheduled for early fall. They will be welcoming a new commissioner, Tess Washburn, at their public meeting in June. PCCSW will also be participating in the Plymouth County Pride Parade and will have a commission table at the event.
- The Upper Middlesex Commission has been hosting a series of coffee conversations around the region, engaging with community members, local leaders, and state representatives on issues of concern for women and girls in the region.
- The Worcester County Commission is planning a legislative breakfast for September – and have been hosting a series of conversations with community partners regarding collaborative efforts as it relates to their legislative priorities.
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Above:
Hampshire-Franklin CSW Commissioner Olivia Laramie managed an HFCSW table at the Hampshire Pride Parade and networked with community advocates.
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Above:
Hampshire-Franklin CSW Commissioners Luzed Guzman Romano and Colleen DelVecchio attend a community coffee hosted by HFCSW where they met with community partners to discuss regional priorities.
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Join us at any of our monthly committee meetings:
Legislative & Public Policy Committee:
First Tuesday of every month, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Regional Chairs Meeting:
First Tuesday of every month, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Program & Planning Committee:
Second Tuesday of every month, 4:00 - 5:00pm
Finance Committee:
Second Thursday of every month, 3:00 - 4:00pm
Executive Committee:
Third Tuesday of every month, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Full Commission Meeting:
Fourth Tuesday of every month, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
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Mary-dith Tuitt, Boston
Chairwoman
Christine Monska, Auburndale
Vice-Chairwoman
Tanisha Arena, Springfield
Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair
Dr. Kimberly Shea, Winchendon
Secretary
Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith, Holliston
Immediate Past Chairwoman
Legislative and Public Policy Committee Secretary
Giselle Byrd, Boston
Carol Campbell, Amherst
Divya Chaturvedi, Wilmington
Finance Committee Vice-Chair
Guimel DeCarvalho, Natick
Legislative and Public Policy Committee Chair
Marianne Fleckner, Westford
Jean Fox, Freetown
Program and Planning Committee Vice-Chair
Allison Goldberg, Marblehead
Audrey Hall, Framingham
Finance Committee Secretary
Nina Liang, Quincy
Leslie-Ann McGee, Falmouth
Program and Planning Committee Secretary
Dr. Aisha Miller, Mattapan
Program and Planning Committee Chair
Dr. Candace E. Peréz, Lynn
Sonia Shah, Natick
Legislative and Public Policy Committee Vice-Chair
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The Office of Economic Empowerment - Economic Empowerment for Women
The Office of Economic Empowerment provides several programs geared toward women of the Commonwealth, covering financial literacy, wage equality, and more.
Under Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, the Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) focuses on creating and implementing programs and initiatives that give women the tools to succeed at home and in the workplace. They provide quality workshops and opportunities for women to learn strategies for financial success and free resources.
Mass 2-1-1: This online directory is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help to pay your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals' parents, and families.
Massachusetts Girls in Trades was launched in 2015 by a partnership of educational, governmental and union organizations with a shared goal of supporting and encouraging female career and technical education students and alumnae to pursue careers in the building trades. Directory of Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers in Massachusetts.
Find LGBTQ Youth Resources: A comprehensive list of LGBTQ resources for youth throughout the state of Massachusetts, updated frequently, from our partners at Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
Local Women’s Commissions
There are currently 11 local Women’s Commissions that represent various cities and towns in the Commonwealth. While these Commissions are independent of MCSW, the Commission serves as a resource and partner for local commissions:
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