2019 Advocacy Day

March 9, 2019 Ginger Macomber

On Wednesday, February 27, 35 WDC members traveled to Annapolis for WDC’s 2019 Advocacy Day. Each member received an information packet with summaries of WDC’s priority legislation, the legislative process, tips for meeting with legislators, and a schedule of legislator meetings. The day began with the morning session of the Women Legislators’ Caucus, where members heard presentations about child abuse and human trafficking in Maryland.

Montgomery County Senator Susan Lee (D16), Senate Majority Whip and Vice Chair of our Montgomery County Senate delegation, welcomed WDC to Annapolis and emphasized the value of our advocacy work. Members were seated by legislative district so they could get to know each other. Next, Advocacy Committee member Leslie Milano reviewed some helpful advocacy guidelines for meeting with legislators and each of WDC’s Priority Issues Captains reviewed the bills for which WDC had submitted written testimony . WDC advocates for priority legislation that significantly impacts women and their families in six Priority Issues Areas: Affordable Housing, Aging, Children and Youth, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Health, and Working Families.

President's Message | March 2019

March 9, 2019 Fran Rothstein

One of the perks of heading WDC is the compliments that come my way. It does my heart good when people tell me how impressed they are with WDC’s impact. And they do – I hear wonderful things from elective officials and their staffs, from partner organizations, and from members old and new. Without our members, we have no impact, so thank you, one and all.

WDC Discussion Forum: Health Disparities and Other Inequities Among Montgomery County Women

March 9, 2019 Alison Bennett

Montgomery County faces stubborn and, in some cases, worsening patterns of inequity across race, economic status, gender, and geography. At the Silver Spring Civic Center on Wednesday evening, March 6, WDC members and guests heard from two leading, local experts on the grave disparities for women in Montgomery County:

Diana Rubin, 2nd Vice President, Montgomery County Commission for Women and
Dr. Travis Gayles, M.D., County Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services.

Our speakers presented on two troubling reports that detail uneven access and unequal outcomes across core issues such as health, education, economic security, and more. You can read the population health report here and the status of women report here. WDC Board member, Diana Edensword Conway, moderated the Q&A section that followed the presentation. The evening also offered suggestions for engagement on these critical challenges to our community.