New Year Greetings from the Chair of the 25th Anniversary
Denella Clark
Save the date for our 25th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, June 22, 2023
Dear Friends,
This year, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) is turning 25 – and we’re ready to celebrate!
The MCSW was legislatively created in 1998 as an independent state agency for the purpose of elevating the status of women and girls in the Commonwealth. I’m incredibly proud to say in these 25 years, we’ve done just that.
Since our founding in 1998, we’ve:
Had more than 100 alumnae state commissioners serving communities across the Commonwealth.
Established 11 regional commissions serving all 14 counties of Massachusetts, enabling our most powerful local advocates to fight for solutions to our most pressing issues.
Endorsed 89 pieces of priority legislation, passing more than 36 laws that advance rights and opportunities for all.
As an organization, we were instrumental in passing the historic equal pay legislation that many other states now reference as a model of best practices.
Our Advocacy Day event as brought thousands of people together to fight for policies that benefit us all.
I am proud to have been the first Black woman to Chair the Commission. I truly believe that when our Commission reflects the beauty and diversity of our state, we are better positioned to carry out our mission – to elevate the status of women and girls across the Commonwealth.
As a result of our incredible network of commissioners and partners, we have been able to adapt how we serve our most marginalized populations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You asked, and we listened; our programs, like the Girls Empowerment Leadership Initiative (GELI), have served more than 200 girls since its founding in 2020. We also believe that women deserve special recognition for their work as the unsung Commonwealth Heroines of our community and have awarded over 2000 everyday women with that much deserved recognition.
Thanks to you, we’re stronger, together.
It’s been an incredible 25 years – and together, we’re working to sustain the MCSW for another 25 years (and beyond).
Save the date for our 25th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Ticket sales launch February 1, 2023, and we can’t wait to see you all!
Yours in Solidarity,
Denella Clark
Chair of the 25th Anniversary Committee
Immediate Past MCSW Chairwoman