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Mount Wachusett Community College hosted a meet and greet with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) on its Leominster Campus Tuesday December 19, 2023. Kimberly Shea, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at MWCC and current MCSW Commissioner proposed the central Massachusetts event.
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women was legislatively created in 1998 as an independent state agency seeking to advance equality for women across the states, and to promote their rights and opportunities. The commission works to advance women and girls towards equality in all areas of their lives by being an effective voice for whom they serve; offering recommendations regarding policy that would improve access to opportunities and equality. “We are the bridge between the issues our women face and the decision makers who have the ability to change, alter, or prioritize policy changes to make our lives easier” says Commissioner Shea.
Some of the issues the MCSW is working to reconcile in the North Central area include food and housing insecurity, the lack of public or accessible transportation in rural areas, access to healthcare services, including maternal and mental health services, and access to affordable, safe, and reliable childcare. All of these issues affect our communities, but the burden of impact disproportionally effects women.
“In both my lived and professional experience, education can be the life-changing variable that helps to increase a woman’s social and financial capital and can help alleviate the impact of many of the aforementioned struggles. These struggles, however, are also the reason that education takes a back burner for many women in the Commonwealth, which is the reason that I am so happy that Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and Mount Wachusett Community College are joining forces”, says Commissioner Shea.
The MCSW hosts public hearings offering the opportunity for women in communities across the Commonwealth to be heard and share their lived experiences. “Any subject surrounding issues women face or obstacles that hinder the ability for all women to experience equality are welcome topics”, says Commissioner Shea.
If you would like to learn more about the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women visit their website https://masscsw.org/. Additionally, you can attend their upcoming public hearings January 15, 2024 – Housing Hearing (virtual), March 28, 2024 – Gardener Hearing (hybrid), April 20, 2024 – Girls Empowerment Leadership Initiative (GELI).