A Guide for Testifying at Public Hearings and Reaching State Legislators Click Here...


Women and Girls in Eastern Connecticut: Striving for Increased Opportunity

Posted on February 20, 2018

Facebooktwittermail

Reps. Cheeseman and McCarty Attend Presentation of Report on Equity Status

 
NEW LONDON – The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut recently released the Women & Girls Funds’ first Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Eastern Connecticut. In a gathering at the Garde Arts Center in New London, speaker Frances Padilla of the Universal Health Care Foundation discussed how they hope this report will increase opportunity, access and equity for local women and girls. State Representatives Holly Cheeseman (R-East Lyme) and Kathleen McCarty (R-Waterford) were in attendance to learn about the report.

“I appreciate the Community Foundation’s efforts to spread this message,” said Rep. Cheeseman. “I particularly welcome the work of organizations like the Community Foundation as we confront challenging fiscal times in our state. Their goals of increased access to health care, education, housing, employment, etc. will greatly benefit our society as a whole – for women, men, girls and boys alike. This is incredibly important in our community as each individual in the State of Connecticut deserves to get the support they need to build a successful, secure life – regardless of their gender.”

Rep. Cheeseman with the Foundation Vice President & Chief Development Officer Alison Woods.

Rep. Cheeseman with the Foundation President and CEO Maryam Elahi.

“The Women and Girls Fund has been empowering women and girls to reach their fullest potential and to assume leadership roles through its resources, partnerships and various programs for nearly two decades,” said Rep. McCarty, who has also worked to build awareness about the Safe Haven law in Connecticut. “I appreciate very much the status report that provides excellent data on the advancements that women and girls have made in the areas of education, business and economic security in our community. The report is very informative and inspirational. I would like to recognize and commend the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut for the status report and for its work on breaking down barriers and surmounting obstacles that keep women and girls from leading productive and healthy lives in our state.”

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut promotes and invests in women’s health and wellbeing, economic security, education, workforce development and leadership. The mission of their four Women & Girls Funds is to break through challenges that hold women back, and to help build a brighter future for women and girls in our local area. According to the report, their plans for the future will focus on increasing access to, among others:

  • Affordable childcare and housing
  • Paid family leave
  • Transportation
  • Community college tuition funding
  • Mental health care
  • Birth control and reproductive health services
  • Healthy relationships education and services for victims of domestic violence
  • Workplace performance evaluation and promotion

A copy of the full report is available at www.cfect.org/WGreport.

X