Women Who Inspire Us

The Brookline Commission for Women is honored to announce that it has named Pat Norling, a powerful voice against domestic violence, as its 2007 Brookline Woman of the Year.

Last year, Pat's daughter, Jennifer A. Lynch, 35, was murdered on Valentine's Day by her husband. The tragedy galvanized Pat to establish the Jennifer A. Lynch Committee, which raises money to fund programs promoting domestic violence awareness, and which is working with the Town to establish a Remembrance Garden in Brookline as a permanent memorial to victims of domestic violence. Pat has also established herself as an inspiring community educator on the issue of family violence.

Pat will be honored at the Commission's 15th Annual Women Who Inspire Us Awards Ceremony from 6:45 - 8:30 pm on March 29, 2007, at Hunneman Hall in Brookline's Main Library, 361 Washington Street.

The Commission will also be honoring students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades who participated in our annual Women Who Inspire Us essay contest at the Brookline Middle Schools. The event is open to the community. Refreshments will be served following the event.

For more information, contact the Commission Chair, Casey Hatchett at 617-730 2734 or Casey_Hatchett@town.brookline.ma.us

** This year's event is supported through a grant from the Brookline Community Foundation.

"Body and Sold"

The Brookline Commission for Women is partnering with the Brookline Police Department, the Brookline Department of Public Health, the Brookline Community Mental Health Center, the Jennifer A. Lynch Fund, and St. Paul's Church to bring a reading of Body and Sold to Brookline in October, in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Body and Sold is a provocative documentary play about the issue of Human Trafficking and sexual exploitation of teens in America. Proceeds from ticket sales for the event will be donated to the Brookline Teen Center. For more information on this event, please email the Commission at BCW@town.brookline.ma.us.

2nd Annual Dress for Success Winter Coat Drive

The Brookline Commission for Women thanks all of the generous sponsors and contributors for their donations to the 2nd Annual Dress for Success Winter Coat Drive! Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that offers services to underprivileged women entering the workforce. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a week’s worth of separates when she gets the job. Clothing needed includes: winter coats, gloves, scarves, suits, pants, skirts, shoes and accessories. Many thanks for the donations of clothing, refreshments, and time!