Commission For Women
| Brookline Commission For Women |
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CHILDCARE FORUM - April 17th at 6pm The Brookline Commission for Women is hosting a Childcare Forum on Wednesday, April 17th from 6-7:30pm at the Brookline Main Library, Hunneman Hall, 361 Washington Street. Panelists will speak on the benefits and challenges of various types of daycare options that are available for families with children in the birth to 5 age range, including daycare centers, family daycares, au pairs and nannies. Representatives from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Brookline Health Department and the Brookline Police Department will discuss safety, proper licensing and background checks. There will be a question and answer period following the panel discussion. For more information, please email BCW@brooklinema.gov">BCW@brooklinema.gov or call 617-730-2734. This event is free and open to the public.
The Brookline Commission for Women is honored to announce that Rita McNally has been named the 2013 Brookline Woman of the Year for her efforts to promote cultural, racial and economic diversity and equality in Brookline.
Rita served as a teacher for 25 years and then in 1980 pursued a law degree and began working for the Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Division and then moved on to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office where she worked in the Education/Community Outreach Department for over 12 years. She has served for many years as an elected Town Meeting member, as a volunteer member of the Town's Community Emergency Response Team, as an active Rotarian and currently as Chair of the Brookline Human Relations/Youth Resources Commission. Rita is active with the Brookline Domestic Violence Roundtable, the Jennifer A. Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, Brookline B-Can Advocacy Subcommittee, and numerous other local and county associations. Her efforts are tireless and her commitment to economic and social justice a true inspiration to all who have worked with her! Rita will be honored at the BCW's 21st Annual Women Who Inspire Us Awards ceremony on Monday, March 18th at 6pm, in Hunneman Hall at the Main Library. Nine essay contest winners from the 5th, 6th and 7th grade will also be recognized at the event. The late Estelle Katz, founder and first Chair of the BCW, will be remembered. Please join us for this wonderful community event! The BCW is pleased to annouce the winners of the 21st Annual A Woman Who Inspires Me Essay Contest! 5th Grade: 6th Grade: 7th Grade: Winning essayist, their families and the woman who inspired their essay were honored at the 2013 Women Who Inspire Us event on Monday, March 18th at 6pm at Hunneman Hall, Main Library 361 Washington Street. Thank you to all the students who participated! We really enjoyed reading about the wonderful, inspiring women in your lives.
**The next BCW Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at 7:15pm pm at Brookline Town Hall, Room 111, 333 Washington Street. BCW Meetings are usually held the first Wednesday of each month at 7:15pm at the Brookline Town Hall Room 111. Mission The Brookline Commission for Women strives to support women in all aspects of their lives and to promote the cultural, racial, and economic diversity of Brookline.
Annual Dress for Success Winter Coat Drive - Each year in November, the BCW holds a Winter Coat Drive for Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organization that offers services to underprivileged women entering the workforce. Each client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a week’s worth of separates when she gets the job. Clothing needed includes: winter coats, gloves, scarves, shoes and accessories. WeCan (formerly Women Who Launch) – The BCW, the Brookline Chamber of Commerce and Brookline Economic Development have joined together to bring a series of programming for current and prospective women entrepreneurs.A kick-off celebration & panel discussion was held at Newbury College on March 6th, a workshop for “Effective Networking” was held on October 15th at the Inner Space and a 3rd event was held on April 14th and focused on mentoring.A fourth event is being planned for April 28th on using Social Media to promote yourself and your business (see above for more info). Women Who Inspire Us - Each March, the BCW holds an essay contest among 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Students are asked to write about a “Woman Who Inspires Me.” Students have written about mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, teachers, coaches, Big Sisters and mentors. The essay contest winners and the special woman in their lives are invited to a reception to honor these exceptional women who have impacted so many young people. Woman of the Year - Each March, in celebration of National Women’s History Month, the BCW honors one woman from the community who has made a remarkable impact on the Town and people who live here. Past winners include: Attorney Sue Howard (2006), Domestic Violence Advocate Pat Norling (2007), BEEP Principal Vicki Milstein (2008), Hsiu-Lan Chang (2009) and former Brookline Community Foundation Executive Director Molly Paul (2010). 2011 Woman of the Year is Janet Selcer, Director of Steps to Success. Making Cent$ of Money Management Seminar for Women - Series of financial management seminars sponsored by the Bank of Canton, Jennifer A. Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence and the Brookline Commission for Women.
Past Forums and Events Toxic Bust – Breast Cancer Awareness - In October 2008, the BCW partnered with the Brookline Health Department to show the documentary film, Toxic Bust, which explores the connection between toxic chemicals and breast cancer. Body and Sold Reading – Human Trafficking Awareness - Last year, we co-sponsored a reading of Body and Sold which discussed the intertwined issues of sexual exploitation of teens, child abuse and neglect.This event was held as a fundraiser for the Brookline Teen Center. Status of Women in Brookline - In 2006, the BCW held a “Forum on the Status of Women” to discuss how Brookline women fare in terms of health, politics and business.
Useful resources MA Commission on the Status of Women: www.mass.gov/women Nat’l Women’s History Project: www.nwhp.org Town of Brookline: www.brooklinema.gov Contact Contact the Brookline Commission for Women at BCW@brooklinema.gov You can also follow the Brookline Commission for Women on Facebook.com. |
