|
December 1, 2011
FALMOUTH – Rep. Mary Nelson, D-Falmouth, who has spent her entire adult life working on women’s and higher education issues, recently participated in the Center for Women Policy Studies’ national seminar for state legislators on Access to Postsecondary Education for Low Income Women. The seminar is the first such program in the United States to focus specifically on preparing state legislators as leaders in promoting access to postsecondary education for low income women.
Nelson attended the seminar, November 3 - 6, 2011, in Washington, DC. “This seminar introduced me to new policy options, national and statewide programs, and new partnerships that can help our state ensure that low income women, including TANF recipients, can move from poverty to economic success through access to postsecondary education,” said Nelson.
The seminar participants were state legislators from around the US who are part of the Center for Women Policy Studies’ Contract with Women of the USAŽ State Legislators Initiative. The seminar agenda covered federal anti-poverty and welfare policy, TANF implementation in the states, the role of community colleges, and effective strategies to support low income women enrolled in postsecondary education.
“Since the late 1980s, the Center has promoted access to postsecondary education for low income women as an effective welfare reform and poverty alleviation strategy. The leadership of women state legislators is essential to all efforts to alleviate poverty in our nation,” said Center president Leslie R. Wolfe. “We are proud to serve as the national staff to legislators on this and other critical women’s issues.”
The Center for Women Policy Studies was founded in 1972 as the first national policy institute to consider the impact of public policy on women. The Center’s programs promote women’s human rights through enlightened public policy. To learn more about the Center’s programs, visit the website at Center for Women Policy Studies’
Contact:
Jodi Quintero [Nelson], 287-1488, c. 841-6279