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Make Your Voice Heard
Dear MCSW Community:
Happy September! It’s hard to believe the summer has flown by so quickly, and we’ve begun yet another school year.
Here at the MCSW, we’ve kept busy all summer – coordinating with our regional commissions, planning for a robust FY26 events calendar, and working in coalition with countless partners across the state to advance an ambitious agenda of priority legislation that advances the rights of all women and girls across Massachusetts.
In addition, we’ve recently extended the deadline for our 2025 data collection. As we reflect on the 5 years since the onset of COVID-19, we’ve released an updated survey to take an updated snapshot of life for women in the Commonwealth 5 years post-COVID-19.
I implore you to take our survey – it's available in five languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Haitian Creole) in an effort to be as inclusive as possible. 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. Read the original report here: Impact of COVID-19 & Related Recommendations to Improve the Status of Women of Color. This data collection will serve as a follow-up to our COVID-19 Series research to bring a more up-to-date picture of the status of women and girls in MA.
Thank you in advance for completing this survey and contributing your voice and perspective to our work. We encourage you to share this survey widely with any networks or partners interested in the status of women and girls in the Commonwealth. 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. We encourage you to share your voice and perspective to our work by completing this survey or by joining us for our upcoming public hearing at BIC Works in the North Adams on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
In solidarity,
Dr. Kimberly Shea, DNP, RN
MCSW Secretary & Chair of Program & Planning Committee
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September 2025 Regional Spotlight: Hampden County (HCCSW)
Every month this year, we’re proudly spotlighting the work of our 11 regional commissions. This month, we uplift the Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women (HCCSW), whose mission is to provide a permanent, effective voice for women and girls in their region.
| | | The Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women represents all cities and towns in Hampden County including: Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Springfield, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, Westfield and Wilbraham. | | |
There’s still time to share your voice with us!
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) invites all women-identifying individuals in Massachusetts to participate in our 2025 data collection. Your responses will help us reflect on the five years since the onset of COVID-19 and capture a snapshot of life for women and girls in 2025.
This data will inform public policy recommendations to advance equity and opportunity across the Commonwealth.
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Haitian Creole. If you have any questions about this survey, please reach out to MCSWPrograms@mass.gov
New deadline: Friday, September 26, 2025
Take the survey: bit.ly/MCSWsurvey
| | Register Now: Berkshire Public Hearing | | |
Join the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) and the Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women (BCCSW) for an upcoming hybrid public hearing focusing on issues affecting women and girls in the Commonwealth – this time at the Berkshire Innovation Center, or
BIC Works @ MASS MoCA!
Your input on issues that matter to you directly informs the MCSW legislative agenda and policy priorities. Join us and make your voice heard!
The event is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Residents, legislators, and other community stakeholders from Berkshire County and the Commonwealth are invited to participate, and testimony is open to any public member, including elected officials. We’re asking anyone interested in issues that impact women, children, and families to share their experiences, to learn from one another, and create change, together. Register to indicate any language or accessibility needs you may have.
What: Berkshire County Hybrid Public Hearing
When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm
Where: BIC Works @ MASS MoCA
Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
| | If you live in Worcester County and are interested in issues pertaining to women and girls in the county, please join our Worcester County Commission at their annual legislative breakfast on Monday, September 14th from 9:00-11:00 pm at the YWCA Central Massachusetts in Worcester. Details and registration information can be found on the flyer above! | | The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women was recently honored by the Springfield Creative City Collective at an event recognizing the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Several organizations and more than 80 women were honored for their significant contributions to civic leadership and empowerment. Together, we work to ensure another 105 years of equal voting rights for all of us. | |
Join our team! The Women’s Caucus appoints six of the MCSW's nineteen volunteer commissioners — each serving a staggered three-year term.
We’re now recruiting a diverse, committed, and service-minded cohort of commissioners to join this important work.
Review expectations on the MCWL website!
All interested women are invited to send a résumé and letter of intent to Seble.Alemu@malegislature.gov by Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
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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.
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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 & Below Photos:
MCSW Executive Director Shaitia Spruell joined Hampden County Commissioners Sasha Viands, Vanessa Martinez, Cori Rolland, and Magdalena Gomez for their annual legislative breakfast in June at Holyoke Community College, along with community partners and state legislators.
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Our regional commissions are hitting the ground running as we enter September and begin a new year of fall programming. Some are focused on surveys and community conversations while others are gearing up for their annual legislative breakfast. It’s also the season when we begin interviewing for new regional commissioners as seats begin to open for those commissioners who have completed their service.
Here's a quick glance at what’s happening across the Commonwealth through the work of our regional commissions.
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The Berkshire County Commission held their annual planning meeting on Saturday, September 6th in Pittsfield where they reviewed the results of their community needs assessment survey and discussed fall activities. They also elected new leadership: Chair Meg Arvin, Vice Chair Destiny Easler, Clerk Shela Levante.
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The Bristol County Commission is currently interviewing applicants for open seats and planning a holiday networking event with legislators and community partners where they’ll be presenting their regional priorities.
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The Cape Cod and Islands Commission will be bringing on two fall interns, one focused on regional communications and the other on their second annual CCICSW Girls Listening Circle to be held in January.
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The Eastern Regional Commission will be hosting their annual planning meeting in October where they’ll be reviewing their legislative priorities and electing a new slate of officers.
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The Essex County Commission is welcoming new members to their Ginsburg Initiative this month and will be bringing on a new intern who will assist with their youth programming. They are also wrapping up their community survey and will be compiling those results.
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The Hampden County Commission recently elected new leadership who begin their terms this month: Chair Vanessa Martinez, Vice Chair Nicole Esposito, Clerk Sasha Viands – and will be discussing adding financial literacy to their list of regional priorities.
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The Hampshire-Franklin Commission held their annual planning meeting in August and will be interviewing applicants for open seats on their commission.
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The MetroWest Commission held a summer potlock event with commissioners and Athena Council members to celebrate the good work done in FY25. They’ll also be participating in the annual Purple Passion Walk on September 27th in Framingham.
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The Plymouth County Commission is planning their Women in Trades event scheduled for October 22nd at the South Shore Technical Vocational High School in Hanover.
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The Upper Middlesex Commission continues to host 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 next two conversations are slated for Ashby and Bedford.
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The Worcester County Commission will be hosting their annual legislative breakfast on Monday, September 15th from 9:00-11:00 am in Worcester at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts. They look forward to discussing their regional priorities with state legislators and community partners.
| | Updates from the Coalition Corner | | The Massachusetts Girls in Trades is hosting upcoming conferences and career fairs! Register for the Eastern or Western Conferences. For questions, please reach out to Sarah Adams: Sadams.massgit@gmail.com. | | |
Join us at any of our FY26 monthly committee meetings!
Legislative & Public Policy Committee:
First Tuesday of every month, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Program & Planning Committee:
Second Tuesday of every month, 4:00 - 5:00pm
Finance Committee:
Second Wednesday 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 - 5:30pmV
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Mary-dith Tuitt, Boston
MCSW Chairwoman
Christine Monska, Auburndale
MCSW Vice-Chairwoman
Audrey Hall, Framingham
MCSW Treasurer Finance Committee Chairwoman
Dr. Kimberly Shea, Winchendon
Secretary
Program and Planning Committee Secretary
Tanisha Arena, Springfield
Finance Committee Vice-Chair
Giselle Byrd, Boston
Program and Planning Committee Vice-Chair
Carol Campbell, Amherst
Divya Chaturvedi, Wilmington
Finance Committee Secretary
Guimel DeCarvalho, Natick
Legislative and Public Policy Committee Chair
Jean Fox, Freetown
Allison Goldberg, Marblehead
Leslie-Ann McGee, Falmouth
Dr. Aisha Miller, Mattapan
Dr. Candace E. Peréz, Lynn
Sonia Shah, Natick
Legislative and Public Policy Committee Secretary
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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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