WESTFIELD – The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and the Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women will host a public hearing on Tuesday, October 24, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The hearing will be held in the Garden Room at Westfield State University, located at 333 Western Ave, Westfield, MA.
The purpose of the event is to give stakeholders in Westfield and the surrounding communities the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns important to women, as well as the gaps or barriers they have experienced in the provision of services. Citizens, government officials, and organizations that advocate for women and families in the region are invited to attend and encouraged to participate in the open public hearing by providing testimony and/or recommendations.
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women serves to advance women toward full equality in all areas of life and to provide a permanent, effective voice for women in the Commonwealth. The October 24 public hearing is one way the Massachusetts Commission fulfills its mandate to survey, review and report on the status of women across the state.
The testimonies provided will be recorded and discussed by the commissioners to consider the impact of policy on women and families in the region. The findings will be cited in the MCSW Annual Report to the Commission’s appointing authorities and to state and local officials. To follow up on the recommendations, the Commission will work with regional organizations and elected officials to assess the impact of legislation.
The Commission will accept both written and oral testimony at the October 24 hearing. Those interested in testifying should sign in upon arriving at the event and will be called upon in order of entry. Oral statements should be limited to three minutes per speaker and should include recommendations to the Commission. Written testimony may be submitted at any time.
The hearing is a public event. For more information, please contact Jill Ashton, at [email protected] or 617-626-6520.
