Health and Safety

Domestic Violence-Free Zone Initiative
With the passage of a city ordinance in 1994 that defined Cambridge as a Domestic Violence-Free Zone, the Commission has worked to produce systemic changes in city policy through collaborations with other city departments: the Public Health Commission, the School Department, the Police Department, the Human Services Department, and the City Administration. Currently, the Commission serves on the DVFZ Core Group, chaired by the City’s Violence Prevention Coordinator, to help guide the projects of the DVFZ.

Universal Screening for Domestic Violence
The Commission supported initiation of universal screening for domestic violence among providers in the Cambridge Health Alliance hospitals and health centers through out Cambridge Somerville, and Everett.

Domestic Violence Task Force
The Commission convenes monthly meetings of the Task Force, a group of public and private organizational representatives, to create alliances, share information and perspectives, confront problem areas, discuss new ideas for public education, and improving intervention and prevention work.

Women’s Health Task Force
Formed in 1987 and chaired by the executive director, the task force of administrators, providers, and Cambridge Health Alliance board members monitors and advocates for services that support women’s health needs such as the new CambridgeHospitalBreastCenter, expansion of the Labor and Delivery Suite, and improvement of the reimbursement formula for the CambridgeBirthCenter. www.cha.harvard.edu

Girls’ Sports Day
The Commission coordinates the annual Fifth Grade Girls’ Sports Day for all Cambridge Public Schools in collaboration with the School Department’s Health, Physical Education, and Athletics Department to promote and encourage a commitment to healthy physical activity. Held at MIT playing fields, the full day of sports and fitness activities includes an inspirational speaker and a healthy meal.

Woman-to-Woman Program
The Commission coordinates efforts to hold a day of health and fitness activities for high school girls at Cambridge Rindge and LatinSchool.

Girls’ LEAP (Lifetime Empowerment and Awareness Program)
For over 10 years the Commission has supported LEAP in serving girls, women, and their families in the community through its innovative program that combines physical self-defense techniques, safety skills, and self-confidence
building.  www.girlsleap.org

Women’s History

Women’s Heritage Project
In existence for 10 years, the project works to honor the remarkable women of Cambridge through formal commemorations of their contributions. Among other efforts, the Commission has worked in collaboration with the Historical Commission to collect information for a database that documents a diverse group of Cambridge women and women's organizations. http://www.cambridgema.gov/cwhp/

International Women’s Day Celebrations
Each year the Women’s Commission, in partnership with the Women’s Heritage Project, honors the diversity of women and celebrates their accomplishments.

Older Women’s League (OWL)
The Commission serves on the Coordinating Committee of OWL, a national organization striving to improve the status and quality of life for midlife and older women, planning quarterly programs and forums on issues effecting older women and working on legislative initiatives. www.owl-national.org

Lesbians Talk Herstory
Along with MIT and the Women’s Center, the Commission sponsors a forum for older lesbians from diverse race and class backgrounds to share and discuss their experiences in the 60s and 70s with today’s young lesbians to help inform their activism and development.

“Filament/Firmament”
Working in collaboration with the Cambridge Arts Council, the Commission has coordinated the direction and fundraising efforts for the fabrication of “Filament/Firmament,” a two-story public art installation by local artist Ellen Driscoll for the new Cambridge Public Library that will visually honor women’s contributions to the life of the City. www.cambridgema.gov/CAC/

WomenSpeak on CCTV
The Commission helps to produce WomenSpeak, two bi-weekly cablecasts on the local access station. Tess Ewing, from UMass Boston’s Labor Resource Center, hosts a program dealing with women’s workplace issues such as family leave, discrimination, unions, and wage parity. The Center for New Words, with host Jacqulan Freedman, interviews talented local women writers, who read from their current work and discuss the ins and outs of the writing life. www.cctvcambridge.org

Research
Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Cambridge
In collaboration with the Institute for Community Health and the City’s Public Health Department, the Commission produced a comprehensive analysis of the status of women and girls in the city using census and other available data from sources such as the Police Department and the Teen Health Survey. The report includes sections on demographics, health, education, income, housing, safety and violence, and older women.