Maryland Commission for Women

09/14/2026

Honored to stand with Senator Dawn Gile, Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, and Delegate Heather Bagnall in leading this shift for women’s health! Huge thanks to Melinda French Gates for national recognition of our Maryland team.

09/14/2026

📢 Save the date! Our Executive Director, Ariana Kelly, will be sharing the stage with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi for her upcoming author event at Wonderland Books.

They'll discuss Delegate Qi's new memoir, Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland, tracing her path from Cultural Revolution-era China to the State House and examining her community's political movement.

Where: Wonderland Books (7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD)
When: Tuesday, Sept 15 at 7:00 PM
Learn more: wonderlandbooks.com/events

09/10/2026

Within the last two weeks, we lost three extraordinary figures who shaped generations of progress: Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, and Dolly Parton.

From Steinem's decades of coalition-building and Morgan's foundational movement-building, to Parton’s trailblazing economic independence and philanthropy, these icons proved that women’s liberation is a collective effort.

As Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton reminded us upon Gloria’s passing: "We must carry her example forward the only way she would have wanted: by refusing to accept less than full equality for women, and by getting back to work."

At the Maryland Commission for Women, we are doing just that. Read Executive Director Ariana Kelly's full message reflecting on their legacies and outlining our core priorities for 2026: including pay equity, caregiving policy, and reproductive health access: https://mailchi.mp/maryland.gov/remembering-gloria-steinem-robin-morgan-and-dolly-parton

09/04/2026

Great article featuring Commissioner Nyki Robinson of Black Girls Vote about the power of Black women voters.

In Baltimore politics, all roads go through Black women — the city’s largest, most consistent voting bloc.

09/03/2026

The Maryland Commission for Women is pleased to invite you to the Prosperity Small Business Event: Women in Business on September 29, 2026, featuring Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

Join us to learn more about opportunities including:
• Access to grants, loans, and investment capital
• Free and subsidized business support, including legal, accounting, HR, office, and business resources
• Connections to Maryland leadership, programs, and resources supporting women entrepreneurs and small business owners

Space is limited, so advance registration is encouraged:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prosperity-small-business-event-tickets-1994881499265?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please share this opportunity with entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members who may benefit. We look forward to bringing women across Maryland together to connect, learn, and build greater economic opportunity.

Executive Alliance - A Catalyst for Women Leaders in Maryland

08/28/2026

Today state and local advocacy came together in Prince Georges County to advance student health equity! ✂️🎉

The Maryland Commission for Women (MCW) was thrilled to join leaders, faculty, and students at Prince George's Community College to cut the ribbon on the new "Care on Demand" Health & Wellness Vending Machine located in the Center for Performing Arts building.

This milestone is a direct result of our OTC Birth Control Collaborative and Grant Initiative, a statewide effort led by the Maryland Commission for Women, the American Society for Emergency Contraception (ASEC), and the Straus Foundation to help Maryland community colleges implement 24/7 access to over-the-counter contraception.

Maryland State Commissioner Dr. Christine Lee joined Prince Georges County Commission for Women Commissioners Maritza Gonzalez and Bethania Gonzalez for the official unveiling.
By removing transportation and financial barriers, this project gives PGCC students confidential, reliable access to emergency contraception, Opill, and essential wellness products right on campus.

Thank you to Dr. Bryant, the PGCC Contraception Task Force, and the Straus Foundation for working with us to turn legislative policy into real world student support! 💙

08/26/2026

Happy National Women’s Equality Day! 🌸

To mark today, we want to highlight the Maryland Commission for Women as your premier source for data, policy insights, and status reports on women across our state.

Our Data & Publications page is packed with valuable tools for community members, organizers, students, partners, and policymakers, including:

✔️ 2026 Legislative Session Women’s Issues Report: Our latest guide analyzing 35+ enacted bills, implementation schedules, agency accountability benchmarks, and upcoming policy forecasts (including our work on menopause legislation SB892/HB1365).
✔️Student Research Hub (2025–2026): Spotlighting collaborative research and policy analyses produced in partnership with talented student researchers across Maryland.
✔️Justice-Involved Maryland Women – A 2025 Status Report: Critical research addressing systemic challenges and equity within the justice system.
✔️Maryland Women in Elected Office – Status Report: Key data tracking female representation in state leadership. (Look for our updated 2026 post-election edition later this year!)

We are committed to continually expanding our research to bring you the facts and figures that drive change.

👉 Check out our full collection of resources here: https://dhs.maryland.gov/maryland-commission-women/news-and-publications/

08/12/2026

Want to stay up to date with the Maryland Commission for Women?
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Commission news, event announcements, and updates delivered right to your inbox.
📖 Read our latest newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/maryland.gov/august-maryland-women-newsletter

Not subscribed yet? Join our mailing list: https://maryland.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=77840db5e6a8c6fcd78a55df2&id=946d0cf784

08/05/2026

Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women, yet federal research funding remains remarkably low. The Maryland Commission for Women is proud to amplify the vital leadership of Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks as she works to change that. 🩺

Partnering with actress and advocate Lupita Nyong'o, Senator Alsobrooks is leading the charge on the bipartisan U-FIGHT Act to expand research, early screening, and healthcare support nationwide.

📲 Read the full story in Vogue: https://www.vogue.com/article/lupita-nyongo-fibroid-interview
(Statistic Source: National Institutes of Health / NIH)

07/31/2026

In a recent feature by The Baltimore Sun, newly crowned Miss Maryland Gianna Romero shared how her experience as a high school abuse survivor inspired her new mission. The Joppa resident will spend her reign visiting Maryland schools to educate students on healthy relationships and abuse prevention.

Read the full feature: https://bit.ly/4bmSdqJ

📸 Brian Krista / The Baltimore Sun