In 2004 Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women (BCCSW) was enacted by law to advance
Berkshire women toward full equality and to promote rights and opportunities for all women. BCCSW Commissioners 2014: Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant (Chair), Donna Todd Rivers (Vice Chair
& Policy in Action Task Force), Roberta McCulloch Dews and Mary Berle (Education Task Force), Janis
Broderick (Pol
icy in Action Task Force), Luci Leonard and Kristen Van Ginhoven (Equity Task Force), and
Margo Bradley Davis and Susan Olshuff (Historians). BCCSW Mission 2014: The Berkshire County commission shares the mission
and vision of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women(MCSW). We advocate, organize
and work to cultivate and promote access to education, health , wellness, economic independence and
safety from violence for all Berkshire County women and girls. BCCSW Priority Areas: Two priority areas are addressing the feminization of poverty and reducing
violence against women. We intend to create action networks and activist circles with local activist women as well as local professional womens groups. We will reach out to all
women and girls to address, act and speak on issues that affect women. Our third priority area
is an area where we can create and co-create educational policy for our youth from Pre-kindergarten
through College. We have been mindful regarding reported domestic violence statistics, date r**e
statistics, p**n culture, teen pregnancy, racial disparities, health literacy and drug use/abuse in our
County. It is the collective belief of our BCCSW that providing children and youth with lessons on self-
esteem, happiness, consent, values, engagement, civics, cultural literacy, and resilience will be the
foundation needed to create sustainability, equity and freedom for healthy women leading to healthy
communities. BCCSW vision: To be an effective inclusive voice and vehicle for action for all women and girls of
Berkshire County. BCCSW Action items to date in 2014: Feedback on welfare reform and minimum wage by writing letters and speaking with our
delegates. BCCSW-MCSW Statewide Actionable Items for Women of The Commonwealth:
In Service of the MCSW Priority Legislation for 2013-2014: An Act Relative to Comparable Work; An Act relative to Healthy
Youth; An Act Establishing Paid Sick Time; An Act Updating Public Health Law; & An Act Providing for
Equitable Coverage in Disability Policies
“...but we are much stronger than we appear to be, and maybe much better than we allow ourselves to be.” (Maya Angelou)
Come share your voice on the Status of Berkshire County Women---
JOIN US: Second Mondays 7:15-7:45PM Open Forum: Elizabeth Freeman Center Pittsfield, MA
Regular BCCSW Meeting at 6 PM (Commissioners only)
For Contact: Gwendolyn VanSant, Chair 413-717-8164. [email protected]
