Women’s Advancement
COVID-19 UPDATE: The Women’s Advancement office is closed, with staff working remotely. Salary negotiation workshops are being held in an online format. For questions, email bostonwomen@boston.gov.
Our mission is to promote gender equity by empowering women and removing systemic barriers to their advancement.
What our work includes:- A first-in-the-nation approach to closing the gender pay gaps.
- Reducing demand for sex-buying and trafficking.
- Programming for women entrepreneurs.
- Research to support the childcare workforce and childcare access and affordability for working families.
- A year-long project to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which enshrined the right to vote for women in the U.S. Constitution.
- Our office also works with an external Women's Advisory Committee on issues that affect women and girls in Boston.
Contact
1 City Hall Square
Room 804
Room 804
Boston, MA
02201-2025
Temporary COVID-19 hours
City Hall is only open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Stay Connected
Join our mailing list for the latest updates:
Get Involved: individuals
Apply for funding for your family childcare business
The Childcare Entrepreneur Fund Pilot offers grant funding and small business support to family childcares.
Get access to resources for women entrepreneurs
WE BOS offers resources and opportunities to help start and grow your business.
Join the Greater Boston Women Vote Centennial events
We're observing 100 years since the 19th Amendment was adopted in 1920, recognizing women's right to vote.
Learn to negotiate your salary and benefits
Advocate for yourself and help us close the gender pay gaps.
Take the language, disability, and childcare survey
Tell us about your experience so we can support children and families.
Become a volunteer salary negotiation workshop facilitator
Help empower women to advocate for themselves in the workforce.
Nominate an EXTRAordinary Woman
Tell us about the women doing incredible work in our City. We'll share their stories!
Apply for an internship
We offer internships for course credit. You can apply through the City of Boston internship application.
Learn about the Women's Employee Resource Group
The resource group supports the City of Boston's women employees.
Get Involved: employers
Sign the 100% Talent Compact
Commit to closing the gender pay gaps in Boston.
Join the Employers Against Sex Trafficking (EAST) Alliance
The initiative aims to reduce the demand for illegal sex buying.
Let us know about your organization or event
Does your organization serve women and girls in Boston?
Download a sample workplace policy
Customize these policies to make your workplace more equitable.
EXTRAordinary Women
Manar Swaby
What, exactly, does an accessible city look like? Manar has some ideas, and she’s leading Boston’s efforts to get there.
Mu-Chieh Yun
Mu-Chieh uses digital media to build community and redefine representation for women of color in Boston and beyond.
Liz Miranda
Liz is a lifelong learner, leader, and advocate working to lift up Boston’s young people.
Miriam Morales
Miriam has built her business on compassion, community, and a really good cup of coffee.
Angie Liou
Angie is tackling housing injustice in Boston’s Asian American community.
Shalini Ray
Shalini tackles new challenges in the healthcare industry every day.
Miracle Olatunji
This EXTRAordinary woman is breaking down barriers by democratizing opportunities.
Jessica Doonan
How does a theater major discover her calling as a disabilities advocate?
Aisha Francis
This EXTRAordinary Woman is “putting people to work” and moving them from the sidelines and into technical fields as job-ready agents of change.
Reports
Boston Women's Workforce Council Report
2016 report on Boston's 100% Talent Compact
Gaining Ground on Equal Pay Report
2017 report on the impact of Boston's salary negotiation workshops
Boston Women's Workforce Council Report
2017 report on Boston's 100% Talent Compact
2018 Boston Women's Workforce Council Year in Review
A short review of the Boston Women's Workforce Council's year.
Making Childcare Work
Results from the City's first-ever citywide survey on childcare.
Boston Women's Workforce Council Report
2019 report on Boston's 100% Talent Compact
Read about us on Medium
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We dive into deeper detail about our work through our Medium account.
News and Announcements
Press
'Boston's Chief of Equity holds conversation on closing Boston's wealth gap' (B…
'The pandemic is weighing heavily on working mothers' (WBUR, August 22, 2020)
'What Can Boston Do To Address Gender Pay Inequality?' (WGBH, April 2, 2019)
'What’s next for women’s pay equity in Massachusetts?' (Boston Globe, April 1, …
'Day care is hard to find and expensive. Boston is looking to help' (Boston Glo…
'How Boston Is Trying to Close the Gender Pay Gap' (New York Times, May 26, 201…
'Working toward equality for women in the economy' (WGBH, April 6, 2018)
'Report details persistent wage gap in Greater Boston area' (WBUR, February 1, …
'Boston trains women to negotiate in an effort to close the wage gap' (PBS News…
'City of Boston is making strides in helping women-led businesses succeed' (FOX…
Boston Women's Memorial
The memorial is dedicated to three women who helped shape the City’s history.
Meet our team
Our team
Tania Del Rio
Executive Director, Women's Advancement
Lavi Gomes
Office Manager
Ayanna Polk
Communications and Outreach Manager
Alexandra (Allie) Puleo
Policy and Research Manager