Contact: Judith Vaughan-Prather, 310-279-8301;
DeVance Walker, 240-777-2000;
Bonnie Ayers, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: August 8, 2001

Two County Agencies Partner with Businesswomen’s Organization
For National Working Women’s Pilot Project – WOMENomics

The Montgomery County Commission for Women and the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development’s (DED) Small Business Division will participate with the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women’s organization (MCBPW) in the pilot phase of a new national program which will focus on key issues of concern to today’s working women.

Created by Business and Professional Women /USA (BPW/USA), WOMENomics is designed to bring together local businesses, government, educational institutions and civic organizations to identify, address and resolve the most challenging issues faced by women in the workforce.

MCBPW is one of six local BPW organizations across the country that have been invited by BPW/USA to participate in the pilot phase of the program, which entails surveying working women in Montgomery County to determine which local issues matter most to them and their families.

In the coming months, MCBPW will conduct the survey and, in conjunction with the Commission for Women and DED, hold a public forum in the spring to prioritize the issues and create task forces to address solutions.

“We welcome the participation of the Montgomery County Commission for Women and the Department of Economic Development as the first two co-sponsors of this exciting project that can ultimately affect many working women, not only in Montgomery County but across the country, “ said Ruby Aridi, president of Montgomery County BPW. “Both County agencies bring a wealth of pertinent expertise to the partnership.”

“The Commission for Women is pleased to be partnering with BPW in this very important initiative,” said Judith Vaughan-Prather, executive director of the commission. “The glass and virtual ceilings are among the many challenges women now face in the workplace. By identifying the issues of greatest concern to women in the workplace, WOMENomics will create a needed dialogue that will help lay the foundation for addressing and resolving these issues.”

Dr. DeVance Walker, Jr., manager of DED’s Small Business Services Division, said, “We are excited to be a co-sponsor of this important new initiative and look forward to learning more about issues of concern to working women in the county, and to finding ways we can help address those needs.”

The WOMENomics program is also being conducted by BPW groups in Florida, Kansas, Colorado and Arizona.

Additional business sector co-sponsors are invited to participate with MCBPW in the WOMENomics program.

Among the benefits to co-sponsors are: achieving a leadership role in addressing important local issues; receiving the perspective of local and national leaders on the issues identified; and learning first-hand the services and supports needed by working women to more effectively and meaningfully contribute to their employers and to the local economy.

Further information on WOMENomics will be presented at the monthly meeting of Montgomery County BPW to be held on September 18 at the Doubletree Hotel, 755 Rockville Pike. Guests are welcome and free underground parking is available on site.

The program will include dinner ($25) beginning at 7 p.m., followed by the WOMENomics presentation at 8 p.m. Guests may attend the after-dinner program for free.

For information about WOMENomics, call Ruby Aridi at 301-977-1671; for a dinner reservation, call Ronnie Mellinger at 301-933-3121.