About Us

Established in 1977 as a City department by Council ordinance, the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women (CCSW) works to promote equity for all women and girls and advocates on their behalf with other City departments, officials, and local organizations to increase their opportunities through policy and program development and recommendations and build public awareness in key issue areas identified by the Commission as significantly affecting women and girls.

The Cambridge Women’s Commission recognizes, supports, and advocates for all who self-identify as women or with womanhood, including transgender, gender fluid, and non-binary persons. We stand with and for all women and girls regardless of immigration status, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability or religion.

What We Do

  • Foster the advancement of women and girls within the city.
  • Promote programs that increase public awareness and understanding of multiple issue areas, including but not limited to gender based violence, women’s history, and pay equity.
  • Provide technical assistance, information, and referral to individuals, community organizations, businesses, and other City departments related to women’s and girls’ services.
  • Work with community organizations and coalitions to promote issues that improve the quality of life for Cambridge women and girls.
  • Monitor complaints of unlawful and unequal treatment of women in Cambridge.

Annual Commitments

  • 5th Grade Girls’ Sports Day
  • Mending Cambridge Advisory and Planning Committee
  • Cambridge Employee’s Committee on Diversity
  • Cambridge Women’s Heritage Project
  • Boston’s International Women’s Day Planning Committee
  • Community Engagement Team Advisory Committee
  • Women and Words! quarterly series
  • Massachusetts Women’s Justice Network
  • Community Engagement Team
  • Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative’s Steering and Executive Committees

Membership

Members of the Commission are appointed by the City Manager and are responsible for supporting the Executive Director in accomplishing the Commission’s goals.

Internships

The Commission occasionally seeks exceptional, motivated, and committed area graduate and undergraduate students to assist in a variety of meaningful community initiatives or research projects to enhance program development, implementation, or facilitation. Fall, Spring, and Summer internships available. Regrettably, the Commission is unable to compensate interns. To inquire about current opportunities, call 617.349.4697 or email us.

Meetings

Cambridge Women’s Commission Public Meetings 2024

  • Wednesday, January 10
  • Wednesday, March 13
  • Wednesday, April 10
  • Wednesday, May 8
  • Wednesday, June 12
  • Wednesday, September 11
  • Wednesday, October 9
  • Tuesday, November 13
  • Tuesday, December 12 at 6pm

Minutes of the Commission's public meetings are posted here.

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