UMCSW Agenda March 13, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Arlington, MA Public Library, 4th Floor Conference Room
700 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA (781) 316-3200
1. Public Comment
2. Review of Minutes from January 9, 2019 Meeting
3. MA Senate Docket Number 1523 (SD.1523), anti-discrimination/anti-harassment legislation for any person seeking investment funding (See Attachment A)
a. Introduction and Discussion by State Senator Cindy Friedman and Gita Swamy
4. UPCSW Mission Discussion
a. Review of Proposed Process for Mission Development (November 7, 2018 Meeting)
b. Update from Data Collection Subcommittee
c. Discussion of Potential Scenarios
5. Preparation for March 28, 2019 Advocacy Day (See Attachment B)
6. Grand Submission Update & Thank you Donna Barry
7. Discussion of Potential Future Agenda Items
a. Visit by Commissioner from another established Regional Commission
b. Women's Empowerment Workshops on Financial Literacy/ Treasurer’s Office
Attachment A
From: Gitanjali Swamy <gitanjali.swamy@gmail.com> Subject: MA SD1523: An act relative to sexual harassment - Your Support is Needed!
Dear Friends
Recent revelations highlighted by the #metoo movement have unearthed serious legislative gaps in our sexual harassment and discrimination statutes. Today, private investors like venture capitalists are not subject to either federal or state sexual harassment statutes, which cover employer-employee and landlord-tenant relationships, but do not cover capital provider relationships. This is unfortunately true in the Massachusetts statute.
As reported in many recent news accounts across the country, women entrepreneurs very often face sexual harassment and discrimination from private investors such as venture capital firms and thus, have an increasingly difficult time receiving funds to start their business. According to an analysis by Fortune Magazine, companies founded by women received less than 3% of venture capital funds in 2017; far less, 0.2% goes to women of color. In addition, while women start companies at twice the rate of men, female-founded companies get only 13% of the funding available. In no small part, this disparity is due to the predatory and discriminatory behaviors that women entrepreneurs face in accessing capital. California was the first state in the U.S. to address this problem after a series of incidents called for a legislative solution – and it is our hope to do the same here in Massachusetts.
To address