March 27, 2010
9:30 am -- 2:00 pm
Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center
Holyoke, MA

 
The Women's Fund wants local women to make an impact on social change by getting involved in civic affairs and even running for political office. To help develop future leaders, the foundation has developed the Leadership Institute for Political Impact  to train area women in developing their civic leadership potential.

Don't miss keynote speaker Jennifer Lawless, Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University, who speaks with energy, humor and first-hand experience about the barriers and stepping stones to women's political leadership.

RSVP by Friday, March 19th to secure your spot. Call (413) 529-0087 x10 or email Julie Holt.

Click here for the March 27th flyer and here for detailed information about the Leadership Institute.

See what the Springfield Republican says about this initiative on the WFWM in the News page.

The Boston Globe, with the research of Jennifer Lawless, examines why we need a critical mass of women making political decisions here.

The Women's Fund is the major funder of MotherWoman's political arm- MomsRising of the Pioneer Valley.  The Leadership Institute for Political Impact dovetails with the mission of MomsRising of the Pioneer Valley which is a organize parents to take action on core family policy issues.

Our Legislators want to know about our postpartum experiences. Can you believe it?
Share your stories with us.  What happened?  What was the worst moment?  What helped?  What didn't help?  How are you now?  We will keep your story anonymous or, with your permission, we will Include your name and town, and send your story to your legislator. Send to Liz. Or you can send your story directly to your legislator. To find your legislator click here.To find a sample letter you can send to your legislators in support of PPD legislation click here.


A reminder of why this is important-- One of our MotherWomen- a low-income, single mother of a very cute baby who has been attending MotherWoman groups for two year- was fired from her job recently because her little boy was sick and she had to stay home to care for him.
 
An Act Establishing Paid Sick Days was voted favorably out of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee!  Thanks to committee members Senator Stephen Buoniconti and Representative Cheryl Coakley-Rivera for working hard to move that bill forward through the committee.

Click to read more ...

Moms in Western Mass are organizing a playdate and Legislative Coffee Hour with our local legislators -and you can join us!

*Can you come join the fun?*  We'll have crafts, snacks and supervision for the kids as well as coffee, tea, pastries, and a chance to make a big difference for everyone.

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Friday March 5, 2010, 6 - 8 PM, Food for Thought Books Collective
* Suggested Donation 5 - 15 at the door

You are invited to a special evening with Tina Reynolds and members of The Prison Birth Project.

Tina Reynolds is Co-founder and Chair of Women on the Rise Telling Her Story (WORTH),  adjunct lecturer at York College/CUNY and co-author of Interrupted Life (University of California Press. January. 2010). She will be joining us to discuss the issues that effect incarcerated mothers and how we can better organize and support them as a community- as well as the success of WORTH in incarcerated moms leading and winning the fight to pass anti shackling legislation in NY.

Click to read more ...