New Report! Gender Equity in Western Massachusetts
October 10, 2023
This report is the third commissioned by the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts,
following the status reports completed in 2013 and 2019. Its purpose is to:
- Shed light on strengths, progress, and areas of continued or emerging gender inequity in our four-county region of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.
- Inform the foundation’s strategic planning and grantmaking for the next several years.
- Provide actionable data and insights for our current partners, and to motivate others to pursue gender and racial equity.
- Support collective advocacy by using findings to engage stakeholders, community-based organizations, for-profit companies, other funders, government, higher education, and other agencies in advancing gender-equitable policies and practices.
share this
Related Articles

Access materials from the September 16 webinar, Vaping & Nicotine Pouches: Understanding the New Landscape, which featured Dr. Nicole Porther, Chair of the Department of Health Professions, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Catherine Brooks , Senior Research Evaluation Specialist, Collaborative for Educational Services. Recording Slides Written responses to submitted questions coming soon!

Vaping & Nicotine Pouches: Understanding the New Landscape Date: Friday, September 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Join us for an informative webinar as we explore the evolving landscape of tobacco and nicotine use, with a special focus on vaping and nicotine pouches like Zyns. This session will offer a high-level overview of emerging products, usage trends, and potential mitigation strategies—especially relevant for youth, families, community-based organizations (CBOs), and municipalities. Featured Speakers: Dr. Nicole Porther, Chair of the Department of Health Professions, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Heather Warner, MPH, Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Coordinator, Collaborative for Educational Services Moderator: Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA