Dear Friends and Neighbors,
First, as every day my heart aches for the people of Ukraine and my soul is shaken by our unsettled world.
Today, as a member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, I voted to engross the “Women’s History Trail bill.” The first women were elected to the State Legislature in 1923. In one hundred years when literally thousands of individuals have been elected there have been only 221 women. I am #172. Women’s empowerment was a part of the discussion of with the members of the Needham Women’s Club last evening. The Women’s Club is a long-standing organization in Needham that promote community and civic engagement through educational and social activities. Our truly great discussion encompassed issues that women and their families face many of which have been illuminated and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic challenges, childcare affordability, access to health care and impacts on the workforce.
I am grateful for the work of the women in my community and Commonwealth in the past, present and most importantly future. More trails to blaze!!
Yours in Service,
Denise
District Updates
- In Needham, the Housing Plan Working Group is hosting a community workshop on Thursday, March 24 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM via Zoom. This workshop will include a presentation of the key takeaways from the Housing Needs Assessment. Interested participants must register by 6:45 PM on Thursday, March 24. For more information, click here.
- In Dover, the Director of the Dover Town Library, Cheryl Abdullah, will be retiring on June 30, 2022 after 13 years of dedicated service. The Trustees have started the process of finding a successor and have released a timeline for the search process. For more information, click here.
- In Medfield, Medfield Outreach is conducting an anonymous community needs assessment. Medfield residents are encouraged to share their experiences as they relate to behavioral health and wellness in the community. The survey will be open through Sunday, March 27. To take the survey, click here.
Legislative Updates
- Today I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives in voting in the affirmative on two bills: H.1907, An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural hairstyles and H.3379, An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail.
- H.1907 combats hair discrimination by defining natural hairstyles in statue and prohibiting discrimination in the Commonwealth based on natural hairstyles in schools, businesses, and other public spaces. Specifically, this legislation:
- Bans policies that limit or prohibit natural hairstyles in all school districts;
- Prohibits hair discrimination in employment, business, advertising, and public spaces; and
- Directs the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination to enforce these protections.
- H.3379 provides for the creation of a Women’s Rights History Trail in Massachusetts. This legislation requires the creation of a Women’s Rights History Trail Program, which must highlight women’s rights and women’s suffrage, and creates a Women’s Rights History Task Force to make recommendations on the creation of the program.
- H.1907 combats hair discrimination by defining natural hairstyles in statue and prohibiting discrimination in the Commonwealth based on natural hairstyles in schools, businesses, and other public spaces. Specifically, this legislation:
- This week, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives in signing on to a resolution expressing support to the Governor and the Federal government for providing expedited consideration for Ukrainian refuges seeking to resettle in the United States and Massachusetts. To read the resolution, click here.
Statewide Updates
- This year, the tax filing deadline is Tuesday, April 19. If you were uninsured for all or part of 2021, you can now fill in a box on your Massachusetts state tax return to get more information on free or low-cost health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector. To learn more about simple-sign up, click here.
- Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are free, safe, and effective against COVID-19 and are available to individuals who live, work, and study in Massachusetts. To find a vaccine clinic, click here.
- Individuals age 18 and older are eligible to receive any vaccine or booster
- Individuals ages 12-17 are eligible to receive a Pfizer booster
- Individuals ages 5-17 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine
- Massachusetts is now offering digital vaccine cards through the MyVaxRecords tool if you received your vaccine in the Commonwealth. MyVaxRecords utilizes your vaccination records from the Massachusetts Immunization Information System. To access your digital vaccine card, click here.
