Links
Address
Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-796-1000
TDD/TTY 617-796-1089
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday
8:30am- 8:00pm
Women's Commission
Past Activities:
The Newton Women’s Commission was established in 1997.
RESEARCH: In 1999, the Commission researched topics of concern to women in the City of Newton including Health Care; Finances and Employment; Housing; Family Care; Education &Training and Community Involvement.
For each topic, the Commission organized a series of briefing in which it invited professionals to inform them about these issues as they affect the women of this community. The Commission gathered data and identified some of the needs of women through these briefings. Many of these findings became the basis for workshops at the March, 2001 Women’s Conference.
The Commission invited Nancy Ryan, the Director of the Cambridge Women’s Commission to meet with the Newton Commissioners to share information about programs, resources and ideas.
OUTREACH: In 2000, the Commission engaged in outreach to the community. The Commission developed a Survey for Newton Women which is distributed at the Harvest Fair. The results of this survey also helped define the issues of interest for the March Conference. (to fill out a survey, link to Women’s Survey)
In September, the Commission participated in the Mayor’s weekly press conference with a representative of the Gerontology Institute at UMass to help publicize the release of a booklet What Every Women Needs to Know About Money and Retirement funded by the Teresa Heinz Foundation.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: The Commission also cosponsored a presentation of excerpts of the PBS film "A Midwife’s Tale" at the Library and sponsored the Women’s History Month Portrait Project. (see link Photo Exhibit). Commission members also appeared on Mayor Cohen’s cable television show in celebration of Women’s History Month.
In June, some members of the Newton Women’s Commission participated in a panel on Organizing Strategies at the National Association of Women in Catholic Higher Education panel at Boston College.
A subcommittee began the process to establish a Family Friendly Business Award Program through which local employers would be recognized for family friendly policies.
In July, the Commission held a retreat at which it reviewed its findings and planned the first ever citywide Newton Women’s Conference for March 30, 2001. For details of the conference, link to Women’s Conference.
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