Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women

This month, we’re spotlighting our Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women (HFCSW), which was founded in 2016 with a mission to provide a permanent, effective voice for women and girls in Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Since their initial launch, HFCSW has maintained a strong presence in their cities and towns through continued legislative advocacy work, establishing a respectful working relationship with their local elected officials, state legislators, community partners, and regional media outlets. They have held listening sessions, public hearings, coffee conversations, panel discussions – and conducted surveys to better understand the most pressing issues facing their constituents.

Recent Highlights

In 2023, Hampshire-Franklin CSW (HFCSW) partnered with community organizations to host a table at the Five Colleges Queer and Gender and Sexuality Conference held at Hampshire College and administered a survey for the local LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, they partnered with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) to host a listening session at Smith College for the LGBTQIA+ community in Hampshire County – and attended Advocacy Day in Boston in May.

In 2024, HFCSW hosted a table at Smith College’s annual Fall Opportunity Fair at the Jandon Center where they distributed their HFCSW resource guide and expanded their community connections. They also collaborated with MCSW on a public hearing held at UMass-Amherst in October where they had an opportunity to meet with women in the region and hear their most pressing concerns.

In 2025, HFCSW Commissioners hosted two spring coffee conversations with local business leaders in Northampton to discuss the needs of women and girls in Hampshire County. They also wrote an op-ed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette highlighting their legislative priorities with a special emphasis on the Menopause Bill. In June, HFCSW Commissioners joined State Senator Jo Comerford and State Representative Natalie Blais for the Greenfield Pride Parade in Franklin County where they staffed a table and networked with attendees. They also facilitated a well-attended community conversation at Greenfield Community College in November where they met with constituents in Franklin County to discuss issues of concern to women and girls in the county.

Learn more about the 2025-2026 Legislative Priorities of this region:

Current HFCSW Commissioners

Current HFCSW Commissioners: Colleen DelVecchio (Easthampton), Victoria Edwards (Greenfield), Jo-Ann Koniecnzy (Hadley), Olivia Laramie (Easthampton), Luzed Guzman Romano (Easthampton).

For more information about the commission: Hampshire-Franklin CSW.

Above Photo: Hampshire-Franklin CSW Commissioners gathered for an in-person strategic planning retreat in March 2024 to review legislative priorities and to discuss plans for the remainer of the calendar year. Pictured here: Victoria Cliche, Sarah Dunton, Luzed Guzman Romano, Colleen DelVecchio, Laura Sylvester, Nicole Fonsh, Bonnie MacCracken.

Above:
Hampshire-Franklin CSW Commissioners Jo-Ann Koniecnzy, Victoria Edwards, Olivia Laramie, and Luzed Guzman Romano facilitated a community conversation with constituents in Franklin County at Greenfield Community College in November 2025.

Above Photos: Former HFCSW Chair Bonnie MacCracken welcomed residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties to the MCSW Public Hearing at UMass-Amherst in October 2024. HFCSW Commissioners Laura Sylvester, Victoria Edwards, Olivia Laramie, and Luzed Guzman Romano were also in attendance.

Above Photos: HFCSW Commissioners Jo-Ann Koniecnzy, Olivia Laramie, and Victoria Edwards joined State Senator Jo Comerford and State Representative Natalie Blais for the Greenfield Pride Parade in Franklin County where they staffed a table and networked with attendees.