NORTHAMPTON — A listening session to get feedback on a recently released research report on the status of women and girls in western Massachusetts will be held at Smith College Monday.
The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, joined by the Hampshire-Franklin County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, is launching a four-county tour with the forum, which will be held at 6 p.m. at the Smith College Campus Center, Rooms 103/104, at 100 Elm St.
The Women’s Fund commissioned the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts to establish a new baseline of research on the status of women and girls, measuring women’s and girls’ empowerment and helping the community to understand what areas the region is thriving and meeting challenges.
“To achieve gender equity, we must amplify our capacity to create collaborative solutions with the greatest positive impact,” Women’s Fund CEO, Donna Haghighat said in a statement.
Bonnie MacCracken, an Amherst resident who chairs the Hampshire-Franklin commission, said the regional commission serves as a forum for political advocacy, to provide the opportunity to connect with other women’s organizations and to empower women who do not have the ability to advocate for themselves.
“The Hampshire-Franklin CSWG hopes to use the data compiled in the WFWM research report as a tool to advance women, living in this region, to the promotion and protection of equality for women in all areas of their lives,” MacCracken said.
Legislators, community activists and other community leaders are scheduled to attend the listening session. Registration details for the event are available on mywomensfund.org/event.
