Dear Caucus Members, Legislative Colleagues, and Partners,

Welcome to the 194th Legislative Session!

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is proud to enter this session with historic momentum. As we begin our 50th Anniversary year, women hold over 30.5% of the legislature’s 200 seats, reflecting the growing representation of women in government.

We are incredibly excited to welcome a vibrant and diverse first-year class to our ranks. This class continues the progress made since 1975, the founding year of our Caucus when only 14 women served in the legislature.

The Caucus remains intentional about strengthening the bonds among our members, fostering allyship, and amplifying our impact within the State House and beyond.

Building on the important legislative victories, we are committed to shaping a bold slate of strategic and legislative priorities for this new session.

We value your partnership in these efforts and invite you to stay connected and engage with our initiatives. Our Executive Director, Seble Alemu, is always available to collaborate and answer questions.

Here’s to a groundbreaking and productive year ahead!

Sincerely,
Senator Robyn Kennedy & Representative Christine Barber
MCWL Co-Chairs

We are thrilled to commemorate the women’s caucus’ historic 50th anniversary, a milestone honoring the trailblazing women who have shaped our history and the achievements of our current members. For half a century, the Women’s Caucus has championed progress, equality, and leadership, paving the way for countless women to shape the future of the Commonwealth.

This golden jubilee features inspiring events that reflect our history, honor remarkable contributions, and celebrate the women who have broken barriers, distinguished themselves in their districts, and advanced Massachusetts forward.

To commemorate this legacy further, we will launch a digital tribute highlighting the 241 women who have served in the Legislature. Each profile will showcase their resilience, leadership, and enduring impact on our state.

Follow us on Instagram and X as we honor these pioneers. Let’s reflect on our storied past and celebrate today's leaders.

We are delighted to introduce our Spring Semester interns, who bring diverse skills and a shared passion for empowering women in politics. They will be instrumental in supporting our Executive Director, Seble Alemu, with social media engagement, event execution, and administrative tasks. We are committed to nurturing their enthusiasm for state government and providing them with meaningful experiences that contribute to advancing the Caucus's initiatives.

Governor Maura Healey swore our Caucus members into service on January 1, 2025.

A photo of all our Senate members in the 194th Session taken on swearing-in day. Currently, women hold 27.5% of the Senate seats, with 11 women serving in the 40-member Senate.

Events Coming Up

• We will host our 2025 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 4th, at 1:00 pm in the Senate Reading room. This meeting is open to Women's Caucus members only. Caucus members should meet the group at the GrandStaircase for all member's photos.

• Our Annual Go Red for Women event, in partnership with the American Heart Association, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Grand Staircase. This event is part of the Go Red for Women movement, which aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease in women.

• The Women’s Caucus is hosting the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts for the biennial Troops on the Hill Day on February 20, 2025. This immersive event empowers young women to engage in civic engagement and advocacy. We’re seeking women staffers to facilitate conversations with participants during lunch. If interested, please get in touch with Seble.

• The 34th Annual Women in Business Conference at Harvard Business School will occur on February 22, 2025, at Klarman Hall. It will be centered around the theme "Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.

The Commonwealth Heroine Celebration honors women across the state who, while not always in the spotlight, make significant contributions to their communities, businesses, or volunteer work. Legislators are invited to nominate outstanding women from their districts for their service to the community and the Commonwealth. Please complete the nomination form by the March 31, 2025, deadline.

Some of our House Members this Session.

• We are thrilled that the Women's Suffrage National Monument Location Act was enacted, authorizing the first monument dedicated to American women's history on the National Mall.

• Our legislative priority from the 193rd session—permitting campaign funds for childcare— is now in effect, and our members are actively utilizing this support.

• January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month—learn more about the issue in Massachusetts and explore a public health approach to addressing this human rights violation here.

• January is also Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. You can learn more here and share our post to raise awareness of this preventable disease.

• In honor of National Mentoring Month, we highlighted the effectiveness of our peer mentoring program in empowering women in government. Our staff mentoring program is accepting applications.

• We advocated for the disproportionate number of women living in poverty during National Poverty Awareness Month.

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter for updates.

• Rep Marjorie C. Decker received the 2024 “Good Troublemaker of the Year” Award from Black Lion Strategies for her unwavering dedication to social justice, economic opportunity, and getting in good trouble.