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Conference Program and Summary

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2016
Friday, November 18th
7:30 AM

Registration Opens, Breakfast and Networking

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

9:00 AM

Welcome, Conference Goals and Introduction of Keynote

Honorable Evelyn F. Murphy, Former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, Founding President of the Wage Project, Inc.
J. Keith Motley, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston
Ann Bookman, Director, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
Kristin Smith, Associate Research Professor of Sociology, Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM

Morning Keynote Speaker

Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought, Professor of History, former Chair, US Commission on Civil Rights (1993-2004)

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

10:45 AM

Plenary Session: “From Economic Disparities to Economic Security: Lessons from the Prosperity Together Initiative”

Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, Moderator, President and CEO, Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, Executive Director, Women’s Fund of Western MA
Ruby Bright, Executive Director and CAO, Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis
Dawn Oliver Wiand, Executive Director, Iowa Women’s Foundation

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

11:45 AM

BREAK and Book Signing by Dr. Mary Frances Berry

Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought, Professor of History, former Chair, US Commission on Civil Rights (1993-2004)

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

12:15 PM

Lunch Keynote Speaker

Alison Quirk, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Citizenship Office, State Street Corporation

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

1:00 PM

Track 1: Wages and Income Security – Pathways to Passing Pay Equity Legislation

Tejal Tarro, Moderator. Chair, Rhode Island Commission on Women
Carolyn Treiss, President, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Connecticut, Inc.
Jill Ashton, Chair, Massachusetts Equal Pay Coalition; Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
Julio Thomson, Assistant Attorney General, State of Vermont

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Track 2: Workforce Development and Training – Good Jobs for Women: Getting Business on Board

Susan Moir, Moderator, Research Director, Labor Resource Center, UMass Boston and Co-Convener of the Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues
Jon Barros, Chief of Economic Development, City of Boston
Marcy Reed, CEO, National Grid
Brian Doherty, Treasurer, Metro Boston Building Trades Council
Gail Kinney, Labor Management Consultant (CT)
Sue Mailman, Coghlin Electrical Contractors

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Track 3: Health and Family Leave – Policy Relevant Research on Paid Family and Medical Leave: What Do We Know? What Do We Need to Know?

Kristin Smith, Moderator. Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire
Pronita Gupta, Deputy Director, Women’s Bureau, Department of Labor
Randy Albelda, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Boston
Helen Mederer, Professor of Sociology and Labor Research, University of Rhode Island
Barbara Silver, Research Coordinator, Schmidt Labor Research Center, University of Rhode Island

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Track 4: Early Care and Education – Valuing the Early Care & Education Workforce: Statewide Policy Campaigns

Amy O’Leary, Moderator, Director, Early Education for All
Robyn Freedner-Maguire, Director, Let’s Grow Kids Vermont
Helene Figueroa, Director of the Family Child Care Team, SEIU Connecticut
Queen Freelove, President, Family Child Care Council

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Track 5: Elder Care – Home Health Care Workforce: Improving Wages and Benefits

Amy Gallant, Moderator. State Director for Advocacy and Outreach, AARP Maine
Laura Fortman, Deputy Administrator, Wage and House Division, Department of Labor
Pat Kelleher, Executive Director, Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts
Mollie Baldwin, Home Care Alliance of Maine

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

2:30 PM

Speech by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren to attendees of the New England Women’s Policy Conference

Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator, Massachusetts

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM

Track 1: Wages and Income Security – Considerations in Implementing Pay Equity Practices

Latifa Lyles, Moderator. Director, Women’s Bureau, Department of Labor
Ivy Latimer, Director, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action, Strategic Diversity Management, CVS Health
Evelyn Murphy, Boston Women’s Workforce Council
Tiffany Bluemle, Director, Change the Story

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Track 2: Workforce Development and Training – How Workforce Development Policies Impact Women in New England

Susan Crandall, Moderator. Director, Center for Social Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
Rachel Jolly, Director of Women’s Programs, Vermont Work’s for Women
Catherine Bailey, Legal & Public Policy Director, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
Ruth Lieberman, Vice President, Advocacy, Economic Mobility Pathways

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Track 3: Health and Family Leave – Legislative Campaigns for Paid Family and Medical Leave: Successes and Challenges in the New England States

Mary Stuart Gile, Moderator. New Hampshire State Representative
Gayle Goldin, State Senator, Rhode Island
Karen Spilka, State Senator, Massachusetts
Beth Bye, State Senator, Connecticut

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Track 4: Early Care and Education – Creating a Sustainable Early Care & Education Workforce: Strategies from the Private Sector

Donna Sams, Moderator. Partner, Centered Change
Michelle Kang, Vice President, Client Relations, Bright Horizons
Rebecca Copans, Business Liaison, Let’s Grow Kids
Dee Fitzgerald, Marketing / PR Manager, W.S. Badger Company
Sarah Barkhouse, Administrative Coordinator, W.S. Badger Company

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Track 5: Elder Care – Creating a Stable Home Health Care Workforce: Recruitment, Retention and Career Ladders

Amy Gallant, Moderator. State Director for Advocacy and Outreach, AARP Maine
Dr. Susan Sepples, Assoc. Prof. of Nursing, University of Southern Maine
Lisa Gurgone, Executive Director, Home Care Aid Council
Nicholas Oliver, Executive Director, Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

4:45 PM

Closing Plenary – The United State of Women Presents: Voices of Action: Recruiting More Women for Public Service

Amy Zucchero, Chief of Resource Development & Communications, IGNITE
Erin Vilardi, Founder and Executive Director, Vote Run Lead
Clare Bresnahan, Executive Director, She Should Run
Patricia Tototzintle, Chief Executive Officer, Casa de Esperanza

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM

Cocktail Reception in Honor of “Women Who Dared to Run”

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM