This featured guest piece is an excerpt of our Summer 2026 newsletter.

Dear MCSW Community:

I hope this summer edition of the MCSW Monthly newsletter finds you well. The end of FY26 was nothing short of a whirlwind, as I’m sure you all can relate. As a mother of two boys and the Executive Director of the MCSW, I was proud to mark several milestones – my eldest, Aaden, is now entering 8th grade, and my youngest Lorenzo just completed another year of pre-school. But as an organization, we also marked several milestones that brings me great joy to share with you. Our FY26 Annual Report tells the story best – read it and enjoy the many highlights from an incredible program year.

Here at the MCSW, we’ve recently held our FY27 elections for the upcoming fiscal year. It’s an honor to announce our new executive leadership, chaired by Christine Monska of Auburndale, who serves as Executive Director of the Women’s Fund SouthCoast.

Appointed by the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators (MCWL) in 2020, she previously served as Vice Chair, Secretary, Chair of the Girls Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (GELI), and on numerous MCSW committees, including Program and Planning, Scholarships, Fundraising, and other initiatives that have helped shape the Commission’s work through the years. We’re grateful for her continued leadership as we enter a new program year with Commissioner Monska at the helm, and we also extend our gratitude to outgoing Chairwoman Mary-dith Tuitt, whose more than 15 years of service has seen the MCSW through unprecedented growth and changes.

And what a year it will be! 2026-2027 will see the end of the 194th legislative session and the beginning of the 195th, which means we’ll be back together in full force for Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts Statehouse in May 2027, fighting together for policies that advance rights and opportunities for all women and girls of the Commonwealth. Whether you join us for a public hearing or attend our Girls Empowerment Leadership Initiative Summit in 2027, be sure to stay plugged in to the MCSW events calendar and our monthly newsletters for all the latest.

As Tricia Hersey said, Rest is Resistance – and this summer, I hope each of you have an opportunity to unwind, spend time outdoors with friends and family, and do whatever brings you joy while trying to stay cool. We’ll see you again back in September for the launch of our new program year!  

In solidarity,

Shaitia Spruell 
MCSW Executive Director

In solidarity,

Shaitia Spruell
Executive Director Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW)

Shaitia Spruell, a proud Black and Puerto Rican woman from Springfield, MA who now resides in Lancaster, serves as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW). In this capacity, she leads efforts to advance equity for women and girls across the state, working with State Commissioners to set and achieve goals that promote fundamental rights and opportunities for all.