| The
National Association of Commissions for Women is a nonpartisan
professional membership organization composed of regional,
state, county and local commissions created by government
to improve the status of women. NACW is committed to
equality and justice for women by increasing the effectiveness
of member commissions and serving as their national
voice.
In 1961, President
John F. Kennedy established the President’s Commission
on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt was the chair
and Esther Peterson of the Women’s Bureau, U.S.
Department of Labor, was vice-chair. The Commission
produced a report containing the recommendation that
each state form a similar commission. Today, there are
approximately 220 state, county and local commissions
for women located in the United States and its territories.
These commissions
are advocates for equality and justice for women, serving
their communities in a variety of ways. Some maintain
shelters for abused women, others have tutorial programs
for teens and adults, others testify before their legislators
on issues that impact women and their families. Each
commission functions independently, but works with NACW
to provide national leadership and focus on their collective
concerns. Member Commissions for Women, through NACW,
keep the needs of women at the forefront of laws, policies,
practices, and promote the improvement of the status
of women
NACW officers include:
President, Ruth
Jackson of the Utah Governor's Commission for Women
and Families
Vice President, Agnes Roseboro of the Greensboro (NC)
Commission on the Status of Women
Secretary, Bonnie Coffey, Director of the Lincoln-Lancaster
(NE) Women’s Commission
Donna Kreiser, Esq. with the Pennsylvania Commission
for Women
Those serving on
the Board of Directors include:
Ossie Clay (Maryland
Commission for Women)
Barbara DeBaptiste (Connecticut Permanent Commission
on the Status of Women)
Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker (Erie County [NY] Commission
on the Status of Women)
Maria Hernandez (City of Austin [TX] Commission
for Women)
Barbara Albu Lehman (New Jersey Division on Women)
Dr. Eva Marie Mika (Cook County [IL] Commission
for Women)
Juanita Miles (San Francisco [CA] Commission on
the Status of Women)
Carol Reed (North Dakota Commission on the Status
of Women)
Robin Stultz (West Virginia Commission for Women)
Carol Walker (Utah Governor’s Commission for
Women and Families)
Linda Richardson Wilson (Greensboro [NC] Commission
on the Status of Women)
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