Teen Dating Violence in Boston, by Meg, BWF Intern

1 in 11 adolescents in the US fall victim to dating violence, yet it seems to remain a low priority issue by many schools across the country. A new study published by Ball State University has identified the critical need for school counselors to receive formal training on teen dating violence, as 81% of school counselors in the study reported that their schools do not have protocols in place to address this problem.

There is, however, some good news to report right here in Boston. For the third year straight, the Boston Public Health Commission together with local social service agencies host the ‘Break-Up Summit’ to help teach high school students how to identify healthy and unhealthy relationships. The Summit also emphasizes how to effectively communicate relationship boundaries as well as how to treat your significant other with respect, even when breaking up.

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The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) is pleased to announce that it funded twenty-one Massachusetts community-based organizations and projects for a total of $355,000.

The grants, which cover many communities across the Greater Boston area and beyond, are aimed at bolstering the strategic endeavors of women and girls as they leverage their collective grassroots power in their coordinated efforts for racial, economic and social justice.

Continue reading BWF Announces Grantees →

On July 1^st, An Act Relative to Gender Identity also known as the Transgender Equal Rights Bill will become effective in Massachusetts.  This is a historic moment as Massachusetts becomes the sixteenth state to pass legislation protecting the rights of transgender people.

The Law defines ‘gender identity’ essentially as the identity that one wishes to identify oneself as, rather than assigning physiological gender to everyone. On July 1^st, the definition of hate crimes will be expanded to include those based on gender identity. Discrimination based on gender identity will be illegal in the areas of housing, employment, public education and credit.

The Act, passed in the House and Senate in mid-November 2011, is the result of many years of hard work led by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and thousands of transgender people and allies.  Although they faced severe opposition and prejudice, their tenacity prevailed and finally Massachusetts will treat transgender citizens as a legally protected class.

We at the Boston Women’s Fund would like to celebrate this achievement of social justice.  However this wonderful accomplishment is also a reminder of what is left to be done, for the protection and equal rights of transgender people everywhere, and for our shared goal of eradiating all types of discrimination.

Boston Women’s Fund Announces $355,000 in Grants Awarded

The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) is pleased to announce today that it funded twenty-one Massachusetts community-based organizations and projects for a total of $355,000.

The grants, which cover many communities across the Greater Boston area and beyond, are aimed at bolstering the strategic endeavors of women and girls as they leverage their collective grassroots power in their coordinated efforts for racial, economic and social justice.

For thirty years, the Boston Women’s Fund supported community-based organizations run by women and girls by raising funds from a broad base of donors across economic backgrounds to provide grants and develop programs that strengthen the grassroots initiatives and leadership of women and girls.

Continue reading $355,000 Granted to 21 Organizations by the Boston Women’s Fund →

Josefina Vázquez, Boston Women’s Fund’s Executive Director recently returned from New York City where she’d been invited to participate in the Miss Hall’s School’s 16th Annual Philanthropic Roundtable discussion on The Changing Face of Philanthropy: The Emerging Influence of Women Donors.

Head of School Jeannie Norris remarked on Josefina’s contributions to the event, “Thank you, Josefina.  People loved what you said. We are very grateful to you!”

Josefina served as one of five panelists participating in the discussion (and the only grassroots, social justice representative!).  The other panelists included: Jennifer Buffett, Philanthropist and President/Co-Chair of the NoVo Foundation; Karen Osborne, President of The Osborne Group and former Trinity College Vice President; Catherine B. Reynolds, Chair and CEO of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation; and Christine Zachai, Principal of Forward Philanthropy.

The Philanthropic Roundtable has been meeting annually since it was established in 1997 to raise the level of discourse on women and philanthropy.  This is not the first time Vázquez has been invited to participate. Each year a small group of women and men, with both extensive and profound experience in philanthropy, come together to share their beliefs and insights. The conversation is subsequently published and mailed to thousands each year, thus generating robust response and dialogue.