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October 27, 2025
Personal Safety for Women - Harford County Commission for Women - This presentation will provide valuable insights into recognizing and preventing violence, helping participants to confidently identify risks and take proactive steps to reduce harm.
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November 8, 2025
AdvocaSAY’s First Annual Walk- Take part in a 3K walk to support disability education and inclusion! You can raise awareness, inspire advocacy, and drive meaningful change, one step at a time toward a more inclusive and informed world.
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November 14, 2025
Maryland Women of Color Network Conference - MCASA -You’re invited to join community leaders, advocates, students, and changemakers for a day of inspiration, learning, and meaningful action. Together, the community will reflect on their history and plan for the next chapter.
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November 21, 2025
8th Annual Black Girls Vote Ball - This year's Black Girls Vote Ball will be a milestone celebration as we mark 10 years of Black Girls Vote and honor the powerful contributions of Black women in politics, activism, advocacy, and community leadership. These women are creating change both locally and around the world.
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EXCITING NEWS!
Commission for Women, ASEC, and Straus Foundation Team Up to Offer $10,000 Grants to Community Colleges
In a groundbreaking public-private partnership, the Maryland Commission for Women has announced the launch of a new program to help Maryland's 16 community colleges provide students with access to over-the-counter contraception. This initiative is made possible by startup funding from The Straus Foundation and in partnership with the American Society for Emergency Contraception (ASEC), and the Commission's foundation.
The Commission will provide up to $10,000 in grant funding per interested college to purchase and stock on-campus contraception vending machines. The program is supported by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Maryland Department of Health.
This initiative supports community colleges in complying with recent state legislation supported by the Commission higher education institutions to provide students with access to over-the-counter contraception, including emergency contraception and condoms.
Funds are already being distributed. The first grant recipient is Prince George's Community College! Grants have also been approved for Howard Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County.
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, 2025 or until funds are expended, whichever comes first. Community colleges planning to apply for the grants are asked to inform MHEC as soon as possible.
Commission Convenes First Meeting of the Over-the-Counter Birth Control Collaborative
The Commission convened the first meeting of the state’s Over the Counter Birth Control Collaborative on Tuesday, October 7th.
Staffed by the Commission, the Collaborative consists of 20 stakeholders from within and outside of state government, whose goal is to recommend policy and programmatic steps that the General Assembly and state agencies can make to fully implement insurance coverage for over the counter (OTC) contraceptive drugs; these recommendations will be shared in an interim report due at the end of this year and a final report due in December of 2026.
The group heard a welcome from Senator Shelly Hettleman, who sponsored the bill establishing the Collaborative, received a presentation from the Free the Pill Coalition on the history of over the counter birth control, and discussed the upcoming report due in December.
If you're interested in learning more, the meeting minutes and recording are available on the MCW website, and the Collaborative will meet again on November 5, 2025.
JUSTICE - INVOLVED Maryland Women: A 2025 Status Report
The Maryland Commission for Women is excited to share our newest resource, the 2025 update to the Status of Women in Maryland (SWIM), focusing on justice-involved women.
You can access the digital report on the Commission website.
The Commission periodically updated different sections of the decennial Status of Women in Maryland Report to update. This report on Justice Involved Women follows the Spring 2025 Elected Women in Maryland Report.
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Nominations Now Open:
Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Nominations are officially open for the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
Founded in 1985 by the Maryland Commission for Women in collaboration with the Women Legislators of Maryland and The Governor of Maryland, the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame recognizes Maryland women who have achieved remarkable success and made lasting impacts in their careers and communities. The honorees stand as role models, inspiring generations of women and girls in every field.
In 2026, in celebration of the United State's 250th Anniversary, and aligned with Governor Moore's Executive Order establishing an MD250 Commission, we are working to dig through history to build the most inclusive Hall of Fame possible. We are especially seeking to recognize historical women from the 1700s through the 20th century who may not have received the recognition they deserve.
Is there an historical figure from your organization, profession, or community who made a significant impact? If so, we encourage you to nominate her!
We are seeking nominees in the following fields:
Arts & Culture
Business & Finance
Civil & Women's Rights
Community Service
Communications & Media
Education, Academia & Research
Law & Politics
Science & Medicine
Sports & Competition
Access the nomination form here! Nominations are due December 1.
Celebrating Commissioner Fiona Oliphant’s Outstanding Achievement
We’re thrilled to celebrate one of our Commissioners, Fiona Oliphant, who was honored with MNADV’s Distinguished Service and Impact Award at their Annual Awards Celebration! Fiona is the Co-Founder and Principal of Healing Equity United, where she leads efforts to center the voices of those living at the margins and to challenge systems of power.
Celebrating 60 Years of Progress for Women
In honor of our 60th Anniversary, the Commission for Women partnered with the state archives to create an online archive of our past reports, publications, advocacy materials and research.
This treasure trove of historical documents includes stories of the women who:
Passed Maryland’s first Equal Pay law
Advocated for abortion rights before Roe vs Wade
Ensured women access to credit rights
Demanded funding for Displaced Homemakers programs
Got rid of sex segregated help wanted ads in the Baltimore Sun
Fought tooth and nail to get qualified women appointed to Maryland’s Boards & Commissions
And so much more!
From advancing equal pay and family leave to championing child care and women’s leadership, the Maryland Commission for Women has spent six decades driving change.
Explore how each decade—from the 1960s to today—has built a legacy of advocacy, equity, and empowerment for Maryland women.
60th Anniversary Celebration
The Maryland Commission for Women’s affiliated foundation raised $25,000 for our Young Women’s Programs at a special 60th Anniversary Brunch and Silent Auction in honor of six decades of advocacy, leadership, and progress for Maryland’s women and girls.
The celebration was graciously hosted by Commissioner and Foundation President Sarah Klein at her home, where supporters, community leaders, and friends gathered to reflect on this historic milestone.
It was inspiring to see past, present, and future champions for women come together to celebrate how far we’ve come and to recommit to the work ahead.
We are deeply grateful to all who attended, donated, and helped make this milestone event a success.
View event photos here
View our digital program here
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2025 Annual Report Released
Fiscal year 2025 was our first full year with Executive Director and former State Senator Ariana Kelly at the helm. Returning and new Commissioners worked together to renew and revitalize the Commission. We ramped up our policy and legislative work, expanded our community engagement and public education, and modernized our Young Women Leaders Awards. To view the full report, click here.
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Maryland Women’s Heritage Center to Close – A Celebration of their Legacy
After thoughtful reflection and months of careful deliberation, the Board of Directors of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center has made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization, effective December 31, 2025. They were able to celebrate all that they accomplished earlier this month. It was a meaningful reflection on their history, their impact, and the powerful stories of Maryland’s women that were proudly uplifted.
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State adds free MARC, bus service to assistance for federal workers at shutdown resource fair
Maryland is ramping up support for the thousands of federal workers and contractors now without pay. At a Howard County resource fair, furloughed Defense Department contractor Glenda Lassiter joined others seeking help with loans, unemployment, and insurance. Gov. Wes Moore announced that federal workers can ride MARC trains and commuter buses for free during the shutdown, while utility companies are pausing shutoffs. More than 2,000 residents have applied for unemployment benefits, and over 1,000 have sought relief through Maryland’s $700 no-interest loan program. Local and state agencies, along with banks and health insurers, are offering aid and job resources to struggling families. To read more, click here.
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Federal workers still on the job have a new worry: Taking a day off during the shutdown
As the government shutdown continues, essential federal workers are facing confusion and fear over taking time off, even for medical reasons. One longtime Social Security manager postponed a necessary surgery, worried she could lose her job or face a disciplinary record for using sick leave during the shutdown. Employees across agencies, including the IRS and VA, report mixed messages from supervisors about whether they can use previously approved leave. To read more, click here.
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Maryland women’s basketball enters the season ranked No. 10 in AP poll
Coach Brenda Frese and the Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team enter the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Terps finished last season 25-8, reaching the Sweet 16 after a double-overtime win against Alabama. They return key senior guards Kaylene Smikle and Bri McDaniel, and add transfer Yarden Garzon from Indiana. Maryland kicks off the season at home versus Loyola on Nov. 3. To read more, click here.
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Immigrant rights group calls for removing pregnant women from detention
The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for an investigation into the treatment of pregnant women in immigration detention, citing reports of shackling, solitary confinement, poor nutrition, and lack of medical care. Some women suffered miscarriages while in custody. The Department of Homeland Security says pregnant detainees receive proper prenatal care and support, but has not released data on how many are currently detained. To read more, click here.
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Nearly half a million women have left their jobs so far this year. Here’s why, in their own words
The U.S. labor market is seeing a sharp drop in women’s participation, with over 450,000 women exiting the workforce since January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Outside of the pandemic, this marks one of the steepest declines on record. Much of the decrease is being driven by women with young children. Many cite burnout, lack of support for working mothers, and inflexible job demands. CNN spoke with several women who left jobs this year, some by choice, many not. To read more, click here.
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Federal Shutdown Compounds Economic Challenges for Black Women as Maryland Faces Population Decline and Election Security Concerns
Black women, a key part of the federal workforce, have been hit hard by recent job cuts and the government shutdown. Between February and August, more than 300,000 Black women left the workforce, raising their unemployment rate from 5.4% to 6.7%. Meanwhile, Maryland is grappling with broader demographic shifts. A new report from the Comptroller’s Office reveals the state has lost around 300,000 residents to other states over the past 13 years. From 2010 to 2023, 2.3 million people moved out while only 2 million moved in, raising concerns about the state’s long-term economic stability and tax base. To read more, click here.
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