The New England Women’s Policy Initiative (NEWPI) is a long-term, nonpartisan effort to advance economic security, health, and wellbeing of women and their families. NEWPI is spearheaded by the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy and co-convened by regional partners including Women’s Commissions, Women’s Funds, and nonprofit organizations serving women, and particularly women of color, in the six New England states.

On December 2-4 join us for a virtual event, entitled “The Time is Now: Gender Justice, Antiracism, and Systemic Change” seeks to utilize an intersectional lens taking into account inequities related to race, gender, ethnicity, class, immigrant status, and other social identities, to address the economic security, health, and wellbeing of women, their families, and their communities. Our vision is to make this year’s New England Women’s Policy Conference an engaging collaboration to imagine together how we can transform inequitable systems in New England and beyond.

Conference Program and Summary

2020
Wednesday, December 2nd
9:00 AM

Welcoming Remarks and Opening Plenary: “Women Leading Change: Perspectives and Policies from Elected Officials”

María González-Albuixech, Director of Communications and Immigrant Health, Health Care For All
Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, Director, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston
David Cash, Dean, John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
Charlotte Golar Richie, Former Massachusetts State Representative and Interim Chair of the Board, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (Moderator)
Jillian Gilchrest, Connecticut State Representative, Connecticut General Assembly
Samantha Perlman, City Councilor At-Large, City of Marlborough
Kesha Ram, Senator-Elect, Vermont State Senate

Online

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
10:15 AM

Breakout Track: Childcare and Education

Aly Richards, CEO, Lets Grow Kids (Moderator)
Sheryl Battles, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement, Pitney Bowes Inc.
Beth Bye, Commissioner, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison, Doctoral Candidate, Brandeis University
Jynai McDonald, Family Child Care Coordinator, SEIU Local 509

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Breakout Track: Health and Healthcare

Maria Madison, SCD, Associate Dean, The Heller School, Brandeis University (Moderator)
Kirsten Durzy, MPH, Evaluator, New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services
María González-Albuixech, Director of Communications and Immigrant Health, Health Care for All
Chien-Chi Huang, Executive Director, Asian Women for Health
Lolita McLean, DrPH, JD, MPH, Public Health Analyst, Department of Health and Human Services

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Breakout Track: IGNITE: Amplifying Young Women’s Voices to Champion Policy Change

Ysabel Garcia, Suicide Prevention Educator, Estoy Aqui
Andrea Gonzalez Sanchez, Educator, Young Voices
Noel Riby-Williams, Racial Justice Advocate

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
11:50 AM

Closing Remarks (Day 1)

Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, Director, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston

Online

11:50 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday, December 3rd
9:00 AM

Welcoming Remarks, Keynote from Ayanna Pressley, and Discussion

Rita Kiki Edozie, Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Conflict Resolution, Globa Governance, and Human Security, John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
Jill Ashton, Executive Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
Celia Blue, President and CEO, Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition; Deputy Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Rhode Island Department of Human Services
Ayanna Pressley, Congresswoman (MA-07), United States House of Representatives

Online

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
10:15 AM

Breakout Track: IGNITE: Paths to Political Power

Anna del Castillo, Boston Fellow, IGNITE National
Juana Matias, Former Massachusetts State Representative (16th Essex)
Jessica Weaver, Board of Education Member, Newington CT
Hope Williams, Organizer, Iowa Democratic Party

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Breakout Track: Low-Wage and Essential Workers

Kiah Morris, Movement Politics Director, Rights and Democracy (Moderator)
Rachel Flum, Executive Director, Economic Progress Institute
Georgia Hollister Isman, State Director, Rhode Island Working Families Party
Eva Millona, President & CEO, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Breakout Track: Policing Women of Color and LGBTQ+ Communities

Callie Watkins Liu, Visiting Research Scholar, Brandeis University (Moderator)
Liz Miranda, Massachusetts State Representative (5th Suffolk)
Angelina Resto, Black and Pink
Joyce Wise, Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC

Online

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
11:50 AM

Closing Remarks (Day 2)

Jill Ashton, Executive Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women

Online

11:50 AM - 12:00 PM
Friday, December 4th
9:00 AM

Welcoming Remarks, Takeaways and Calls to Action from Breakout Tracks, and State Report-Outs

Cary Brown, Executive Director, Vermont Commission on Women
Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, Director, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
Lorna Rivera, Director, Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
Sara Guillermo, Executive Director, IGNITE National

Online

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
11:45 AM

Closing Remarks (Day 3)

Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, Director, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston

Online

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM