Friday, August 26, 2011
MA Treasurer Steve Grossman Celebrates Women's Equality Day
GROSSMAN MARKS WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY, ANNIVERSARY OF VOTING RIGHTS
Pledges to Continue His Drive to Expand Opportunities for Women in the Workplace
Highlighting the 91st anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote, Treasurer Steven Grossman today pledged to continue his efforts to expand opportunities for women in the workplace.
“In my private sector career and in public office, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous leadership role that women play in a well-run, effective organization,” said Grossman. “We are a much better community because of the dynamic presence and contributions of women in the workplace, and Women’s Equality Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on our progress in the past and our significant goals for the future.”
At the Treasury, Grossman has appointed a number of women to senior leadership positions, including First Deputy Treasurer Katherine Craven, Chief of Staff Kathryn Burton, and Director of Legislative Affairs Barbara L’Italien. Noting their meaningful contributions, the Treasurer said that these individuals have helped shape public policy and have been an integral part of an effective management team.
Grossman has also created programs and initiatives to increase business opportunities for women. The newly created Small Business Banking Partnership, which deposits Treasury cash reserves in Massachusetts community banks to leverage loans to credit-worthy small businesses, has a component encouraging banks to lend to women-owned enterprises. The Treasurer noted that a ceremony today designating the Public Garden Swan Boats as a historic Boston landmark taps into the sentiment behind the Partnership, as one of the original Swan Boat operators, Julia Paget, had to overcome significant obstacles to be granted permission to run a women-owned enterprise in the 1870s.
“Julia Paget was all-too-familiar with the unreasonable barriers that confronted women of her time from owning and operating a successful business. Today, it is both imperative and economically beneficial that we find ways to make capital more available to credit-worthy, women-owned companies, and the Small Business Banking Partnership does just that,” said Grossman.
Under Grossman’s leadership, the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, which he chairs, recently implemented new proxy voting guidelines covering stock holdings of the Commonwealth’s pension fund aimed at promoting the inclusion of more women in the corporate boardroom and in the executive suite. Grossman emphasized that the overall goal of enhancing shareholder value should also reflect the values of the people of Massachusetts.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
MWPC Commends Joint Committee on Redistricting on Efforts for a Just, Transparent Process
In the same piece, Representative Moran states that maintaining the majority-minority status of districts in the Boston area is a top priority of the Committee. With significant population shifts throughout neighborhoods, such as Dorchester and Mattapan, this is certainly no easy or enviable task. However, given the numerous sit-down meetings Chairman Moran and Chairman Rosenberg (D-Amherst), of the Senate, have had with constituents and interest groups, the public hearings the Committee has held throughout the state, and these meetings with elected officials, it is apparent that this Redistricting Committee is deliberating carefully about where to draw lines this fall.
This public outreach and involvement also shows a distinct commitment to transparency in this process, which is crucial for drawing lines in a just way that accounts for minority representation.
As an organization dedicated to increasing the political empowerment of women of color, the MA Women's Political Caucus commends the Redistricting Committee on its earnest efforts to make the redistricting process a transparent one and for its efforts to maintain the majority-minority districts.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus Applauds the Efforts of Those Involved in an Act Relative to Safe Harbor for Exploited Children
The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus (MWPC) applauds the efforts of all those involved in today's unanimous passage of the Act Relative to Safe Harbor for Exploited Children in the House of Representatives. In particular, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Representative Martin Walsh, Representative Liz Malia, and District Attorney Dan Conley for filing this bill; Attorney General Martha Coakley for her unwavering and outspoken support; all of the bill's co-sponsors; and Speaker Robert DeLeo and the House for voting in favor.
In cases of human trafficking, young girls and women are often held against their will and forced into prostitution and, as a result, often develop drug habits and other self-destructive behaviors, end up in violent and abusive situations, and suffer psychological damage. Massachusetts is currently one of just four states that does not have any anti-human-trafficking legislation on the books. As a result, victims of this crime have been treated as criminals rather than victims. Once such legislation is passed, the Attorney General will be able to prosecute trafficking crimes and the victims can receive the just treatment, rehabilitation, and rights they deserve. This bill has been a very long time in the making and MWPC praises the Massachusetts House of Representatives for taking this first step towards justice for these exploited young women.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
MWPC Board Members in the News
Victims, Not Delinquents
Yvonne Abraham
Boston Globe May 29, 2011
http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-29/news/29601465_1_aya-bodies-arlington
Friday, May 20, 2011
New Legislation Seeks to Curb Political Influence in Hiring Process
The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus extends our sincere gratitude to Senate President Therese Murray, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Governor Patrick and everyone involved in the creation of this new legislation. Such legislation is important to the status of women in government and public policy in Massachusetts as it will help break through the networks of political influence that have proven a major barrier to women increasing their numbers in those positions. We look forward to the beginning of a more transparent hiring process and the equity that it will bring.
Senate Tackles State Job Patronage
Noah Bierman, The Boston Globe May 20, 2011
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