Somerville Commission for Women

 Click here to see a copy of the 2013 Somerville Status of Women Report.

On April 18, 2013, the Somerville Commission for Women held its data release event to present the findings from the 2013 Somerville Status of Women Report at 6:00 p.m. in the Visiting Nurses Association Community Room.  The report follows a community-wide survey of women’s needs and priorities which will be the basis of a new Commission for Women action agenda for women’s issues. 

The purpose of the project was to identify the priority needs of Somerville women by gathering survey data from a purposive sample of Somerville women.  This year’s survey aimed (1) to examine women’s civic engagement, (2) to collect information about women’s policy concerns and (3) to better understand women’s view on education issues.

Approximately 2,500 surveys in English, Portuguese, Haitian‐Creole, and Spanish were distributed with significant assistance from each of the Somerville elementary public schools and Parent Information Center, CAAS, the Council on Aging, and a volunteer, Mrs. Evelyne Dalembert. The survey received 376 completed surveys.

The survey project was conducted by the Health Department’s Office of Somerville Commissions and Somerville Commission for Women led by Sonja Darai, Dr. Heather MacIndoe, and graduate student Valerie Berger.  Sonja Darai is Director of the Office of Somerville Commissions in the Health Department who analyzed the 376 completed surveys and wrote the initial draft of the 2013 Report.  Valerie Berger was the Research Graduate student from the UMass/Boston’s Sociology and Public Affairs who worked along with Dr. Heather MacIndoe (an SCW Commissioner as well as Assistant Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Massachusetts/Boston).  Berger and MacIndoe worked to rewrite the 2005 survey to incorporate an additional goal from the Commission for Women to find women’s engagement information as well as developed the second draft of the 2013 report which added components to the original draft.  Berger, who has since graduated, inputted all the completed surveys and wrote a graduate school research paper based on about 340 submitted surveys.  Darai completed the final draft with edits from the researchers.

The launch release event on April 18 included a presentation of the highlights of the report followed by facilitated review of the results then discussion of recommendations to give for the consideration of the Somerville Commission for Women.  Recommendations will be reviewed for possible incorporation in to the Commission’s action agenda.  These collected recommendations will be posted on the Commission for Women’s website.  Additional comments and recommendations regarding the report and data are encouraged.

For more information or to provide comments and recommendations regarding the survey or other information about the Somerville Commission for Women, please contact Sonja Darai, Director of the Office of Somerville Commissions, at (617) 625-6600, ext. 2406, or sdarai@somervillema.gov.