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Dear Women's Caucus Members, Legislative Colleagues, and Partners,

Welcome to the 193rd legislative session! The Women's Caucus is beginning this session with our membership totaling over 30% of the legislature, welcoming one of the most diverse first-year classes. Women have also made historic gains in the Executive Branch and Constitutional offices, and we look forward to working with our colleagues inside and outside of state government this session.

As we begin this new session, as Co-Chairs we are looking forward to working with our colleagues in the Women's Caucus to develop a slate of strategic priorities and legislative priorities. Last session, we successfully moved several pieces of legislation, while raising awareness about the pandemic's impacts on women and racial disparities in health care. We established several new initiatives to empower women in government. We are excited to see what this new session brings, and will update you as the Caucus' priorities develop.

We are proud to lead this unique entity on Beacon Hill. With over 60 members from across the state, Caucus members bring their personal experiences, their diversity, and their communities to the table to work collaboratively to pass policies that will enhance the economic status and equality of women and encourage and support women in government.

We hope that you will take a moment to refamiliarize yourself with our work and encourage you to connect with us. 
All are always welcome to contact our Executive Director, Nora Bent.

Sincerely,

Senator Joan Lovely & Representative Hannah Kane
MCWL Co-Chairs
With the new session, the Women's Caucus welcomes new Co-Chairs and a new Board of Directors. Last session, we made changes to our bylaws to ensure that our Board represents the growing diversity of the Caucus. Following that process, our leadership team for the 2023-2024 legislative session is: 
 
Sen. Joan Lovely (Senate Co-Chair)
Rep. Hannah Kane (House Co-Chair)
Sen. Liz Miranda (Senate Vice-Chair)
Rep. Christine Barber (House Vice-Chair)
Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley (Treasurer)
Rep. Carole Fiola (At-Large Board Member)
Rep. Jessica Giannino (At-Large Board Member)
Rep. Vanna Howard (At-Large Board Member)
Rep. Meg Kilcoyne (At-Large Board Member)
Rep. Joan Meschino (At-Large Board Member)
Sen. Becca Rausch (At-Large Board Member)
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (At-Large Board Member)

Thank you to our Nominating Committee who solicited and reviewed applications last session--Rep. Haddad, Sen. Jehlen, Rep. Ciccolo, Rep. Ferguson, Rep. Minicucci, and Nora Bent. Our leadership team for this session represents the personal and geographic diversity of the Caucus, and this team will help us continue to grow.

Learn more here.
As we begin this new legislative session, the Women's Caucus looks forward to engaging with our members to determine a set of strategic and legislative priorities. These priorities will relate directly to the bipartisan and bicameral commitment of the Women's Caucus, along with our mission to enhance the economic status and equality of women and to encourage and support women in all levels of government.

In the meantime, we encourage you to learn more about some of our past legislative accomplishments. Here are just some of the bills that we have passed together:
 
Women's Rights History Trail (passed 2022)
Ending Child Marriage (passed 2022)
Campus Sexual Assault Prevention (passed 2021)
Banning Female Genital Mutilation (passed 2020)
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (passed 2017)
Pay Equity (passed 2016)
  • The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is hosting a public hearing in Essex County on Thursday, January 19th at 5:30 pm. The hearing will be held in Lynn, and remote participation options are available. You can learn more here, and sign up to attend and/or testify. 
     
  • The Women's Caucus will be hosting our 2023 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, January 24th at 10:00 am. This meeting is open to Women's Caucus members only. Caucus members should check their inboxes for Zoom information and additional details.
     
  • The Caucus will again be commemorating Go Red for Women at the State House alongside the American Heart Association on Tuesday, February 7th at 11:00 am. This annual tradition brings us all together to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women.

     
Please let us know if you have events that you would like to be highlighted in the next newsletter or shared on social media.
The Women's Caucus was thrilled to see a new piece of art currently displayed on the fourth floor of the State House outside of the House gallery. Here is some additional information on this piece:
 

"Recently, Notable Women of Boston, by Ellen Lanyon, was installed on the 4th floor of the State House. The mural features Anne Hutchinson, Phyllis Wheatley, Sister Ann Alexis, Lucy Stone, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen Richards, Mary Morton Kehew, Anne Sullivan, and Melnea Cass. The mural was originally commissioned by the Workingmen’s Cooperative Bank of Boston from Ellen Lanyon in 1980 and was acquired by Simmons University in 1985. The painting is on loan from the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities at Simmons University and will be displayed in the State House until December of 2025."

Thank you to the 
State Art Commission, particularly State House Curator Susan Greendyke Lachevre, for providing this information. And thank you to Lily Stowe-Alekman in Rep. Domb's office for writing this to educate us all about this piece.

  • We congratulate Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, who made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to have women in both the Governor and LG offices. We look forward to working with this historic team!
    • We are also thrilled to see 5 of the 6 Constitutional offices held by women!
       
  • In commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we appreciated this post from Bernice King, reminding us all to also remember the work and legacy of Coretta Scott King. This is a timely reminder, particularly given the unveiling of the beautiful "Embrace" statue.
     
  • January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. You can learn more here, and we will be sharing more information on our Twitter Facebook pages.
     
  • January is also Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. You can learn more here, and we will be sharing more information on our Twitter Facebook pages.

     
Please let us know if you have articles or social media that you would like to be highlighted in the next newsletter or shared on social media.
  • Congratulations to the 60+ Women's Caucus members who took the oath of office to serve in the 193rd General Court earlier this month. Throughout Massachusetts history, only 232 women have been sworn in to serve in the legislature--compared to over 20,000 men. While we celebrate a near-record number of women serving, we also know that there is still work to do. 
    • A special congratulations and welcome to the first-year women who were sworn in this month--we look forward to working with you!
       
  • Caucus Co-Chair Hannah Kane was highlighted by Women in Government for her work on the 2022 Malnutrition Prevention Committee, and for her work to promote food access.

     
Please let us know if you have accomplishments that you would like to be highlighted in the next newsletter or shared on social media. 
Please send relevant articles, upcoming events, social media you would like shared, accomplishments, or other updates that you think MCWL members and our partners would find helpful. All updates should be sent to Nora.Bent@MALegislature.gov
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