Welcome to the City of Newton, Massachusetts

Newton group to honor women

Community work of 11 recognized

By Globe Staff, 3/21/2002

EWTON - The Newton Women's Commission will honor 11 women for service to the community as part of its annual celebration of Women's History Month on Saturday.

''We really wanted to find women who didn't necessarily reach the top of their corporate world,'' said Amy Stein, Newton Women's Commission member and chairwoman of portrait project committee. ''We wanted women who make a difference in their community by either connecting groups in their community or reaching out to the community.''

Mayor David B. Cohen said the women's work is ''wonderful,'' said mayoral spokeswoman Karen Griffey. ''He's very proud. He thinks they've done important work improving the quality of women's lives.''

The Newton Women's Commission was founded three years ago to promote the needs of women in Newton, highlighted by an annual event. Last year's event was a full-day symposium with workshops including women's finances, juggling a hectic schedule, and body image for adolescent girls.

This year's event is a photographic exhibit of women who embody the broader elements of the community, said Kay Schmidt, cochairwoman of the commission.

''All of these photos are special,'' Schmidt said.

One of the women featured is Emily Marmorek, 17. Rather than taking classes this spring, the Newton North High School senior is working as an elementary school teacher's aide, while remaining active in a student-run organization for women.

''The reason I was nominated I think was my work with the Newton North Organization for Women,'' Marmorek said. ''It's the on-campus group for women and we do all sorts of things for women. We had a big clothing drive for Rosie's Place, and it's an outlet where we can talk about how to help women in the community.''

Another honoree is Josephine McNeil. Back from a recent trip to testify in front of a US House of Representatives subcommittee, McNeil, 61, executive director of CAN-DO, an affordable housing development organization based in Newton, said: ''I was quite surprised and very pleased. I was particularly pleased because not only does it recognize me, but it continues to keep the issue of affordable housing at the forefront.''

The photographs will be displayed from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the New Art Center in Newtonville and through April at the Chestnut Hill Mall.

ANDREW C. HELMAN

This story ran on page W3 of the Boston Globe on 3/21/2002.
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