UMass Lowell Center for Women & Work

Thank you to all who attended last week's forum "Beyond the Headlines: The Impact of Migration on Families" hosted by CWW and UMass Lowell Labor Education Program. We are so thankful to Dr. Elizabeth "Nophie" Dewi, Rep. Vanna Howard, and Professor Bob Forrant for sharing their insight and experiences on the impacts of migration on individuals, families, and communities. It was a powerful and moving event and we hope that attendees left with a greater understanding and appreciation for our migrant neighbors and how we are all connected in the human experience of wanting a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life for ourselves and our families.

We are also thankful that Nophie got a mini reunion with her Regional Economic and Social Development professors and colleagues, as well as with her roommates from her time at UMass Lowell. ❤️

Finally, thank you to our sponsors: UMass Lowell Sociology Department; UMass Lowell UMass Lowell's Gender Studies Program; and College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UMass Lowell

Would you be able to work without childcare?

Beyond the Headlines: How Migration Impacts Families
--A panel discussion with scholars and community leaders

Tuesday
April 16, 2024
2 – 3:30 PM
UML O’Leary Library Mezzanine
61 Wilder St., South Campus

What are the impacts of migration on families? Why do families make the difficult decision to leave their home countries? How do families maintain connections when they are separated by migration? What policies do we need to ensure that migrant families are treated fairly and compassionately?

Every day, we see narratives in the news and on social media about migrants posing a threat to safety and security and to the economy. Our panelists will go beyond these stereotypes to present research and firsthand accounts about who migrates and why; how migrants impact and benefit our communities; and what impact migration has on families.

Our panelists:
Elizabeth "Nophie" Dewi is a 2003 graduate of UMass Lowell’s Regional Economic and Social Development master’s program and holds a doctorate in Women’s Studies from Victoria University, Melbourne. She is now the head of the International Relations Department at Parahyangan Catholic University in Indonesia. She will share her work and research on the experiences of Indonesian mothers who must leave their children behind in Indonesia while they take advantage of the greater labor market opportunities in other countries.

Vanna Howard is a Lowell resident, community leader and a Massachusetts state representative. Rep. Howard came to Massachusetts as a refugee and is now the first Cambodian woman elected to the Massachusetts statehouse. She will share her experiences as a newcomer to the United States, but also her work as an elected official working to welcome new migrants to our city during this difficult political climate.

Our moderator:
Robert Forrant is a professor in the History Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, teaching courses on global labor issues, labor history, immigration, and international development. He was named Distinguished University Professor in 2016 and in 1998 received the President's Award for Public Service for University of Massachusetts Lowell. Bob lives in Lowell and is an active member of the community, giving lectures, hosting history segments on public access TV, and leading popular tours for the Lowell National Historical Park.

For more information, email [email protected]

This event is sponsored by UMass Lowell’s Center for Women & Work; the Labor Education Program; the Gender Studies Program; the Sociology Department; and the College of Fine Arts Humanities, and Social Sciences.
UMass Lowell Labor Education Program
UMass Lowell Sociology Department
College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UMass Lowell

Weaving Global Textile Justice-- a workshop sponsored by the Center for Women & Work, Mosaic Lowell, Gist Yarn, and the UMass Lowell Labor Education Program.

Thank you to Elizabeth Pellerito of the UMass Lowell Labor Education Program for leading us in a fun and informative workshop on fast fashion. We learned about the fast fashion industry and why it's bad for workers and the environment; discussed ways workers are fighting back and how we can support them; and learned to weave with used textiles.

Thanks to all who attended!

Hello Friends,

CWW is partnering with the Labor Education Program on the following workshop. Hope you can join us!

Students, faculty, staff and community are welcome at a free workshop, "Weaving Global Textile Justice," on March 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Center for Women & Work, 150 Wilder Street on South Campus.

We will learn about the fast fashion industry and why it's bad for workers and the environment; discuss ways workers are fighting back and how we can support them; and learn to weave with used textiles. All participants will make a placemat or mug rug to take home. No experience is necessary and all materials are provided!

To RSVP or to learn about other dates and locations for this workshop, email [email protected].

Sponsored by: the Center for Women & Work, Mosaic Lowell, Gist Yarn, and the UMass Lowell Labor Education Program.

We had a wonderful Voices of Working Women (VOWW) brown bag lunch last week during Spring Break. VOWW is a group that was started by UMass Lowell's Center for Women & Work and the Labor Education Program close to 20 years ago. The primary goal has been to bring together women from across the campus in different departments and roles to meet and learn from each other and to identify common issues and concerns.
UMass Lowell Labor Education Program

Lowell Women's Week 2024 Events

All Lowell Women’s Week events are open to the public! Admission to programs is free unless otherwise noted. All events take place in Lowell unless otherwise noted.

2024 Events All Lowell Women’s Week events are open to the public! Admission to programs is free unless otherwise noted. All events take place in Lowell unless otherwise noted. *Please check back often as th…

March is Women's History Month and a new ranking finds there's no better place in the country for women than Massachusetts. What do you think?

Massachusetts named best state for women in 2024 ranking There's no better place in the country for women than Massachusetts, according to a recent ranking.

Thank you to Lowell House staff Shaun Bries, Director of Ambulatory Services and Lissie Bates-Haus, Director of Clinical Quality Assurance for joining us at CWW to talk with interested UMass Lowell faculty, staff, and students about how research, program evaluation, and other evidence-based methodologies can be used to improve substance use disorder (SUD) programming and positively impact the lives of Lowell House clients. We also discussed how Lowell House programming and services can be of use for our UML campus community.

Thanks to Robin Toof, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Research, for arranging this gathering and inviting CWW to co-host. Stay tuned for future Community Thursday events!

For more information on Lowell House: https://www.lowellhouseinc.org/
Lowell House

We love our public universities!!

Show your 💙 for high-quality, debt-free public higher ed by sharing this post on Valentine's Day.

Applications for Nitsch Engineering's Judith Nitsch Scholarship are now being accepted and are due Friday 1/26! Learn about this scholarship opportunity for women and BIPOC, and find full instructions, at https://loom.ly/laED9hU

Emerging Scholars mid-year event. Post with the fourteenth of 14 student presentations.

TOPIC: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Textile Disposal Ban: At the intersection of Fast Fashion and Sustainability

Student: Anthony Amatucci, Political Science
Faculty: Aaron Smith Walter, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jasmina Burek, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Congratulations Anthony!