COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF VETERANS’ SERVICES
600 Washington Street, 7th floor
Boston, MA 02111
TEL: (617) 210-5480 FAX: (617) 210-5883 TTY: (617) 210-5883
www.mass.gov/veterans
MAURA T. HEALEY JON SANTIAGO, MD, MPH
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
December 2, 2024
Steven T. James
House Clerk
State House, Room 145
Boston, MA 02133
Michael D. Hurley
Senate Clerk
State House, Room 335
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Clerk James and Clerk Hurley,
Pursuant to Section 115 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, please find enclosed the annual
report from the Women Veterans Network (WVN) within the Executive Office of Veterans
Services (EOVS).
Sincerely,
Jon Santiago
CC:
Senator Michael Rodrigues, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Representative Aaron Michlewitz, House Chair, Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Senator John Velis, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
Representative Gerard Cassidy, House Chair, Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
Legislative Mandate
The following report is issued pursuant to Section 115 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024,
summarized as follows:
…Annually, not later than November 1, the office shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate
and the house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the
joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, which shall include, but not be limited to: (i)
demographic information on women veterans in the commonwealth; (ii) summation of veteran
outreach events designed to connect women veterans; (iii) women veteran benefits documents
created by the network; and (iv) upcoming in-person events organized or identified by the
network.
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 Contents
Overview of the WVN ………………………………………………………………….…….... 3
(i) Massachusetts Women Veteran Demographics ………………………………………....4
(ii) Outreach Events Overview ……………………………………………………………...5
(iii) WVN Benefits Documents……………………………………………………….……..8
(iv) Upcoming In-Person Events………………………………………………………….....9
Addendums……………………………………………………………………………………..10
2
Overview of the Massachusetts Women Veterans Network
In recognition of the unique needs of women veterans, Congress established the Center for Women
Veterans within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1994. This initiative aimed to
ensure that female veterans would receive equal benefits and services comparable to their male
counterparts. In 1997, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created the Women Veterans Network
(WVN) to provide additional support to women veterans through programming, connections to
resources, and advocacy. Under the state’s Executive Office of Veterans Services, the WVN
continues to collaborate with service organizations, veteran advocates, the United States
Department of Veteran Affairs, and other organizations to raise awareness about women veteran
issues in Massachusetts.
The mission of WVN is to empower women veterans by ensuring their voices are heard, their
contributions acknowledged, and their wellbeing enhanced through education, advocacy, and
collaboration. The vision is to foster an environment that promotes the success and wellbeing of
women veterans in all aspects of their lives, including career development, personal growth, and
overall fulfillment. The WVN’s values are Advocacy, Support, Progressiveness, Inclusion,
Respect, and Equity (ASPIRE).
The WVN offers programming to women veterans that includes an annual Women Veterans
Network Conference, Women Veterans Recognition Day Luncheon, the Deborah Sampson Award
Ceremony, a series for financial education and wellbeing, family events, and co-sponsored events
with community partners such as film screenings and other social gatherings. These events allow
for women veterans to build a sense of camaraderie with fellow women veterans as well as with
community service providers.
Additionally, the WVN visits communities across the state to identify women veterans and share
resources and support services with women veterans and their loved ones. Outreach would not be
possible without continued partnerships with federal, state and local government stakeholders as
well as community organizations. The partnerships and direct veteran outreach serve to inform the
WVN and EOVS and have resulted in improved advocacy for resources and more programming.
In January of 2024, the WVN launched the Women Veterans Network Collaborative, an evolution
of the former Women Veterans Network Steering Committee. This change resulted from feedback
by women veteran leaders who sought for more opportunities to engage, share information, and
network. The Collaborative meets quarterly to advocate for the needs of women veterans, support
major programming, and provide guidance. The Collaborative is made up of fifteen (15) women
veterans and allies and has met 4 times. Membership is diverse across ethnicity, military branch,
and conflict era. In addition to providing advocacy and guidance, members volunteered at the
annual Women Veteran Conference, the Women Veterans Recognition Luncheon, and the
Deborah Sampson Award ceremony.
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Massachusetts Women Veteran Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Massachusetts has 17,383 female veterans, making up
approximately 8% of the total veteran population of the state. 1 Women veterans are
overwhelmingly white, making up 84% of the female veteran population. Women veterans also
lag behind male veterans in median income. 2
Massachusetts Female Veteran by Age
18 to 34 years 2,715
35 to 54 years 5,360
55 to 64 years 3,996
65 to 74 years 3,260
75 years and over 2,052
Total: 17,383
(U.S. Census Bureau)
Massachusetts Female Veterans by Age and Race/Ethnicity
Black or American Two or
African Hispanic Indian/Alaska More
White American or Latino Asian Native Other Races
18 to 34 years 2051 255 122 0 0 205 156
35 to 54 years 4229 162 468 0 0 225 744
55 to 64 years 3470 176 299 32 0 74 244
65 to 74 years 2849 240 21 0 5 0 171
75 years and over 2052 0 0 0 0 0 0
14651 833 910 32 5 504 1315
(U.S. Census Bureau)
Median Income
Male Veterans $57,688.00
Female Veterans $53,337.00
(U.S. Census Bureau)
1
U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-a). Sex by age by veteran status for the civilian population 18 Years
and Over. American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B21001,
2023. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 16, 2024, from
https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B21001?q=veterans female massachusetts
4
Outreach Events Overview
Executive Office of Veterans Services
Massachusetts Women Veterans Network
November 2023
November 2, 2023 Thursday Talks: Effective Saving Strategies with Hanscom Federal Credit Union
(Dorchester, Massachusetts)
November 15, 2023 Giving Thanks to Our Female Veterans with Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach
Center
November 16, 2023 Thursday Talks: Applying Lean Thinking and Problem-Solving to Your Personal
Finances with Hanscom Federal Credit Union (Dorchester, Massachusetts and online)
November 18, 2023 Plymouth Thanksgiving Day Parade participation
January 2024
January 18, 2024 Thursday Talks: Women and Investing with Hanscom Federal Credit Union (Littleton,
Massachusetts and online)
February 2024
February 29, 2024 Creating Calmness in Stressful Times with the American Red Cross (Online)
March 2024
March 14, 2024 Moment by Moment: Mindfulness Explained with Fitchburg Veterans Services
March 20, 2024 Six Triple Eight Documentary Screening (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
March 28, 2024 Six Triple Eight Documentary Screening (Billerica, Massachusetts)
April 2024
April 11, 2024 Connecting with Kids with the American Red Cross (Bedford, Massachusetts)
April 11, 2024 Bridging the Gap: Supporting Bay State Veterans’
Transition, co-sponsored with the VA (Lincoln, Massachusetts)
April 27, 2024 Celebrating our Heroes: EOVS Family Open House with the YMCA (Charlestown,
Massachusetts and online)
May 2024
May 4, 2024 16th Annual Women Veterans Network Conference (Leominster, Massachusetts)
June 2024
June 12, 2024 Women Veterans Recognition Luncheon (Quincy, Massachusetts)
June 13, 2024 Deborah Sampson Award Ceremony (Boston, Massachusetts)
June 14, 2024 USS Constitution Turn Around for Women Veterans with the United States Navy and
City of Boston (Charlestown, Massachusetts)
June 27, 2024 Stress Solutions with the American Red Cross (Online)
September 2024
September 13, 2024 Healing Modalities: Options for Self-Care with Franklin Veterans Services (Franklin,
Massachusetts)
September 18, 2024 OBTT Workshops: Marketing Yourself and Understanding Resume Essentials. With
Tailored for Success (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
October 2024
October 3, 2024 Spirituality: An Exploration (Online)
October 4, 2024 Hanscom Federal Credit Union: Escape Room with WVN Collaborative Members
(Burlington, Massachusetts)
October 30, 2024 Wednesday Wellness: Defusing Anger with the American Red Cross (Online)
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Event Highlights
Since October of 2023, the WVN has hosted 18 events and attended 30 events. This reflects a
150% increase in the number of events hosted and attended by the WVN over 2023. The Women
Veterans Network provides women veterans with information about programs and services
through direct engagement, conversations, and brochures. These events have allowed the WVN to
connect with a record number of women veterans. The WVN participates in several statewide
collaboratives that share veteran information and advocate for veteran issues.
Each year, the WVN hosts its flagship event known as the Annual Women Veterans Network
Conference. This year, the 16th annual conference occurred on May 4, 2024, in Leominster,
Massachusetts. The theme of the conference was “Honoring our Journeys” to embrace the many
unique military experiences and contributions of service. There were 117 in-person attendees, over
20 online participants, and over 20 volunteers. Forty exhibitors provided information about
services and benefits available to women veterans. This year’s speaking program included
Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll, Senator John Cronin, Representatives Natalie Higgins
and Joan Meschino, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, Jooyi Ryan, USCG, Commander
(Retired), and a keynote delivered by Rashaun Morris, USCG, Master Chief Petty Officer
(Retired). The conference also featured twelve breakout sessions as follows:
Session 1: Melting Back into Society with Micaila Britto
Session 2: Women Veterans Advisory Committee Listening Session
Session 3: Job Strategies and On-the-Spot Interviews with OBTT
Session 4: Janette Negele and her Therapy Dog Asti
Session 5: Financial Wellness Roundtable with Sue Katz, Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Session 6: Mind and Body Workshop with the American Red Cross
Session 7: Marketing Yourself with OBTT* (Part 1)
Session 8: Massages & Reiki Healing
Session 9: Creating a Budget with Sue Katz, Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Session 10: Mind and Body Workshop with the American Red Cross
Session 11: Marketing Yourself with OBTT* (Part 2)
Session 12: Massages & Reiki Healing
The WVN also hosted the first ever Women Veterans Recognition Luncheon on June 12, 2024.
This new event attracted over 80 women veterans and guests. The keynote speech was delivered
by Lovelle Seymour, Coordinator of Veterans Resources with UMass Boston and United States
Air Force veteran. This year’s theme was “Your Time” and focused on wellness and self-care.
Lastly, the WVN hosted the 19th Annual Deborah Sampson Award Ceremony on June 13, 2024.
This year, 6 women veterans were nominated. The 2024 recipient of the Deborah Sampson Award
was Mary-dith Tuitt, a Navy veteran and active member of the Massachusetts women veteran
community. The ceremony featured remarks from Governor Maura Healey, Executive Office of
Veterans Services Deputy Secretary Andrea Gayle-Bennett, and Dr. Jenny D’Olympia, the 2023
Deborah Sampson award recipient.
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 Executive Office of Veterans Services
Massachusetts Women Veterans Network
February 2024
February 24, 2024 Stars and Stripes in Space (Billerica, Massachusetts)
February 24, 2024 Thunderbirds Hockey Game (Springfield, Massachusetts)
April 2024
April 4, 2024 Veterans Resource Fair (Tewksbury, Massachusetts)
May 2024
May 18, 2024 Sharing Kindness Suicide Awareness Walk (Hyannis, Massachusetts)
May 19, 2024 OCS of Massachusetts High School Enlistee Recognition Ceremony (Foxboro,
Massachusetts)
June 2024
June 15, 2024 Women Veterans Appreciation Meal (Billerica, Massachusetts)
June 29, 2024 Town of Bellingham PrideFest (Bellingham, Massachusetts)
July 2024
July 13, 2024 Veterans Music Festival (Quincy, Massachusetts)
July 27, 2024 2024 Run to Home Base (Boston, Massachusetts)
July 30, 2024 Yankee Homecoming Veterans Resource Fair (Newburyport, Massachusetts)
August 2024
August 17, 2024 Pride in Service: Worcester Expo (Worcester, Massachusetts and online)
September 2024
September 4, 2024 Veterans 1:1 (Foxboro, Massachusetts)
September 7, 2024 Worcester Pride Festival (Worcester, Massachusetts)
September 10, 2024 HERO Act Open House (Marshfield, Massachusetts)
September 13, 2024 The Big E (Springfield, Massachusetts)
September 17, 2024 VNOC Veterans Stand Down (Haverhill, Massachusetts)
September 17, 2024 Pride in Service: Worcester Exploration (Worcester, Massachusetts)
September 20, 2024 Greater Boston Stand Down (Boston, Massachusetts)
September 21, 2024 Brockton Veterans Expo (Brockton, Massachusetts)
September 22, 2024 New Hampshire Women Veterans Conference (Rindge, New Hampshire)
September 25, 2024 Veterans Career Connection (Bridgewater, Massachusetts)
September 25, 2024 Senator Finegold’s Grants Exp (North Andover, Massachusetts)
September 27, 2024 Cape Cod Stand Down (Hyannis, Massachusetts)
October 2024
October 6, 2024 Falling for our Sheroes (Fall River, Massachusetts)
October 12, 2024 Monson Veterans Fall Festival (Monson, Massachusetts)
October 14, 2024 Indigenous Peoples Day Newton (Newton, Massachusetts)
October 19, 2024 Veterans Fishing Derby (North Attleboro, Massachusetts)
October 21–23, 2024 Annual Veterans Service Officer Training (Leominster, Massachusetts)
October 24, 2024 Springfield Technical Community College Resource, Career and Transfer Fair
(Springfield, Massachusetts)
October 25, 2024 Billerica Veterans Services Halloween Party
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Women Veterans Benefits Documents
The WVN continues to engage women veterans throughout the Commonwealth. Multiple WVN
documents have been created to outline benefits, increase knowledge of services, and offer
opportunities to join WVN network. Below is a summation of the documents developed by the
WVN with corresponding examples included in addendums.
The WVN produces a monthly electronic newsletter of upcoming events and resources that is
emailed to all WVN members. Archives of past newsletters can be found on the WVN website
(https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-women-veterans-network).
The WVN produced a brochure that shares the mission, vision, and history of the WVN, as well
as information about how to join the network. The brochure includes contact information,
including a phone number, email, QR code, and website (Addendum A).
The WVN launched an online application to join the network. This application is open to all
women veterans and is accessible on the WVN website. (Addendum B)
The WVN created an application for the newly launched Women Veterans Network Collaborative.
This collaborative is an advisory council of women veterans that provide guidance and leadership
for the WVN. This application is available online for women veterans interested in serving a one-
year term (Addendum C).
The WVN also manages the Deborah Sampson Award application. This application is for the
annual Deborah Sampson Award Ceremony, an award honoring an exemplary woman veteran,
held every June. This application is accessible online on the WVN’s website (Addendum D).
The Massachusetts Women Veterans Network website is rich with information for women
veterans, state and federal agencies, community partners and other stakeholders. In February 2024,
the WVN website was revamped to include a robust resources section and improve the display of
upcoming events, updates and the WVN Newsletter archives. Women Veterans Network website:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massach