THE VERMONT COMMISSION ON WOMEN (VCW)

• engages partnerships and networks diverse groups to consider issues of interest to women and take action
• provides information to the legislature and other policy makers on issues affecting women
• provides the most local and most appropriate information and referrals to individuals on matters related to women and families
• conducts research, produces reports and publications, and maintains a comprehensive resource directory

  Selected by multiple appointing authorities, Commissioners come from all parts of the state and across the political spectrum. Commissioners bring multiple perspectives to decision-making: as women with family responsibilities, as workers often in the lowest paying jobs, as employers and business owners.   The Commission is a deliberative body, and decisions are adopted by majority vote. Learn more about what we do, our work and who we are.

New Executive Director for The Vermont Commission On Women

The Vermont Commission on Women announces the selection of Cary Brown of Montpelier as Executive Director. Ms. Brown brings to the Commission more than 16 years of professional and volunteer experience working with issues that affect women, girls and their families. “The commission has made an excellent choice,” said Marcia Merrill, Commission Chair. “Cary has a wonderful combination of skills, a breadth and depth of relevant experience, and has shown a true devotion to social justice and equity throughout her working life.  We are very excited about Cary taking the Commission into the future.”

Most recently Ms. Brown served as the Internship Coordinator for Norwich University.  Previously, she served as the Interim Executive Director of Turtle Island Children’s Center and the Director of Girls’ Programs for Vermont Works for Women, a non-profit organization supporting training and work in non-traditional fields for women and girls.   She directed the Women in Technology Project, a national award–winning summer technology camp for girls at Vermont Technical College.  Ms. Brown has extensive experience in nonprofit administration and organizational development, and holds a Masters of Public Administration from Norwich University and a BA from Haverford College.   She volunteers in several civic roles, including as a Justice of the Peace and serves in a leadership role in the New England Association for Cooperative Education and Field Experience.

 “As a second term Commissioner, and as an Advisor to the Commission for many years before that, I know firsthand the powerful work the commission does and the real impact it has had on shaping conversations around women’s and girls’ experiences in the state.  I’m both honored and excited to have been selected for this position,” said Ms. Brown.  “Vermont is rich in individuals and organizations that are making a huge difference in the lives of women and girls, and I look forward to opportunities for new and strengthened partnerships."

We completed an update of The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont in January 2012. Written in plain language, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont handbook, although written for women, covers issues affecting all Vermonters, such as marriage and divorce, adoption, wills and probate, women’s health, employment and education, housing and public accommodations, violence, public assistance and government benefits, insurance as well as others.  New features include information on human trafficking, health insurance, same sex marriage, and immigration.  Since 1977, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont has been a “go to” source of information for Vermont women, their families, and the professionals that serve them. The new handbook allows users to link to our comprehensive resource directory and to federal and state statute websites.  The result is reader-friendly content with easy-access reference links.  Listen to the new radio public service announcement, check out the handbook and let us know what you think!

VCW Listening Forum  - VCW held a public forum in Brattleboro on women's issues in partnership with the Women's Film Festival  last year.  Our next Listening Forum took place at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington to hear about the experience and concerns of women inmates.  This fall's forum took place September 12th in  Bennington, in partnership with Bennington County Maternal Child Health Coalition, and focused on issues affecting teen girls in Bennington County.  Participants included young women, parents, and community members working in the fields of medicine, social services, education, law enforcement, and public policy. VCW uses the information gathered at Listening Forums to inform our work on behalf of women and families in Vermont and to share with policy makers and various state and community organizations to strengthen and inform programming and services.  Read notes from the Bennington listening forum. (PDF file, 78 KB)

Learn more, get involved: join our Vermont Information Exchange for Women (VIEW) network, a community calendar for women.
Read the lastest VIEW messages:

October 2  (PDF file, 52 KB)

September 26 (PDF file, 40 KB)

September 25 (PDF file, 65 KB)

September 14  (PDF file, 56 KB)

August 27th  (PDF file, 63 KB)

August 13th  (PDF file, 77 KB)

August 1st  (PDF file, 77 KB)

Vermont employees have the right to equal pay for equal work.  If you run a business or work in Vermont, this brochure will help you understand Vermont’s Equal Pay Act.
Equal Pay Brochure (PDF file, 65 KB)

Employers and employees: use this tool to protect your workplace against pay equity violations
Link to Business and Professional Women Foundation's Equal Pay Audit
 

Make your workplace a safe space. Vermont employers and workers:  domestic violence doesn't stay home when victims go to work.  It can impact productivity, increase absentee rates, and increase the chance of violence in the workplace.  VCW partnered with the Vermont Attorney General's office, the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence and other advocates to address domestic violence as a public health and safety issue in the workplace.  Download these materials for your workplace:
Domestic Violence: A Workplace Issue

Full Report of 2011 Study:  How Does Domestic Violence Affect the Vermont Workplace? A survey of male offenders enrolled in batterer intervention programs in Vermont.
Schmidt, M.C. & Barnett, A. M.C. & Barnett, A. (2011). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Center for Rural Studies

Executive Summary of Study
Schmidt, M.C. & Barnett, A. M.C. & Barnett, A. (2011). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Center for Rural Studies

Model Workplace Policy

2012's Women’s History Month (March) event  paired the  Vermont Commission on Women and the Vermont Women’s History Project again to put together a panel discussion, Women of Change: Making Strides in Women’s Legal Rights in the 70s and 80s, led by Vermont Law School Professor Cheryl Hanna. The expert panel included Sandy Baird, Esquire; Senator Peg Flory; the Honorable Denise Johnson; and Mary Just Skinner, Esquire.  The audience learned about how the battle for women’s names to appear in the phonebook was won; what it was like to be one of the first 100 female lawyers in practice; what influenced decisions to run for public office; and what it’s like to serve and represent women, particularly survivors of domestic violence.  This event coincided with the release of the VCW’s 6th edition of The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont, a handbook to help the layperson understand legal rights and responsibilities under state and federal law.  VCW would like to thank the Action Circles team for capturing this discussion in a video:
http://www.action-circles.com/blog/women-of-change-discussion-panel-video/
Vermont Public Radio presented a week-long commentary series in collaboration with the Commission and the Project – listen on line here: http://www.vpr.net/episode/53211/vermont-women-in-history
 

Vermont Girls Collaborative Forums - Held in the spring and moderated by Vermont Public Radio’s Jane Lindholm, these forums presented ideas for how to responsibly address racial equality, socioeconomic differences, gender identity and harassment when working with young Vermonters.
Watch the Video: Retooling Youth Programs for Racial Equity

Watch the Video: Class Shouldn’t Determine a Youth’s Future – Thoughts on Leveling the Playing  Field

Watch the Video: Gender Identity, Harassment and Creating Positive Communities for Youth

The Vermont Girls’ Collaborative is a network of programs for girls in grades K-12 across the state that works together to:  leverage the power of girls’ programs through sharing resources, ideas, and relationships; promote girls’ well-being and social equity; expand the capacity of girls’ programs to meet the needs of Vermont girls.  Collaborative members include: Vermont Commission on Women, AAUW-National Girls’ Collaborative Project, American Association of University Women, American Legion Auxiliary (Girls State), Burlington Boys and Girls Club, Center for Technology Essex, DREAM, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, Girls Move Mountains, Girls on the Run, IBM-Women in Technology, Rosie’s Girls Bennington, Rosie’s Girls Rutland, Tech Savvy Girls, Vermont Equity Training & Consulting, The Vermont Women’s Fund, VINS,  Kids-A-Part, Vermont Works for Women, Women Writing for (a) Change and YWCA Vermont. 
 

View VCW's Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (Governor's Recommend)
 

Got questions about equal pay, legal rights, starting a new business, sexual harassment, planning for maternity leave? Our publications address topics like these and many more!
 

"Like" us on Facebook!
 

Read VCW's agency brochure
 

Who do Vermont girls turn to with problems?  What do they feel are the most important qualities in a friend?  How do they use social media to communicate?  Find out by reading “What Vermont Teen Girls Say” the annual statewide on-line survey of 6th through 12th grade girls.  The survey is created by a panel of girls and facilitated by a partnership of the Vermont Commission on Women and the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.  The most recent survey focus was relationships and use of social media. “What Teen Girls Say” survey results from other years captured the attention of Vermont legislators, community officials, schools, and the media.  Previous topics included: planning for jobs or college; making, saving, and spending money; bullying and harassment; health and wellness; and growing up in Vermont.  Executive summaries of past surveys can be found at:  executive summaries from the last 5 surveys.  
 

View our Women in Public Life report
 

Women's History Month Event to Honor and Acknowledge the Military Service of Vermont Women from World War II to Present - took place March 23rd 2011 in Montpelier - a wonderful day of celebration featuring the stories of Vermont women veterans from WWII to Afghanistan.
 

The Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity produces this helpful guide: "What Should Happen When Your Child Reports Harassment" 
 

Don’t know where to go for help? Try our resource directory, from aging and elder issues to legal support to transportation – over 200 pages of Vermont-based organizations.
 

Did you know Vermont men with just a high school degree make about the same as Vermont women with a Bachelor’s degree? Learn more facts in our status report (PDF file, 735 KB)
 

Starting or expanding your Vermont business?  Ask us for our business resource listing.
 

The Vermont Historical Society now provides a permanent home for the Vermont Women's History Project  Started by the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW) in 2004, the site is a database of individual women searchable by geographical area, time period, area of significance or influence, etc.  In addition, the site features historical background information and links to places in Vermont where users can find additional information about the particular woman or topic.
 

It’s a tough economy. Vermont workplaces need lower health care costs, lower turnover rates, lower absenteeism rates, and higher employee productivity and morale. How to get them? Lactation support!   We partnered with the Vermont's Breastfeeding Network and the Department of Health to offer free help to all Vermont businesses welcoming back their new  working moms.  You can find out more about the needs and rights of moms returning to work here: Vermont Workplaces Support Nursing Moms
 

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