Lower Merion woman appointed to Montcos Commission for Women

Lisa Dent of Lower Merion was appointed along with 20 other women to the commission, which helps the region advance equality.

Jul 22, 2024 10:21am EDT

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Montgomery County recently appointed the members of its Commission on Women.

This committee advises the county on initiatives to increase opportunities for women, reduce gender inequality and discrimination, and collaborate with organizations and institutions in Montgomery County.

Twenty-one women were appointed to the committee, including Lisa Dent of Lower Merion Township.

Dent and the other members will serve on the committee for two years and will meet several times a year.

The appointees were selected from more than 200 people who expressed interest in serving on the commission since the county issued a call for applications in March 2024. Applications came from 37 municipalities in the county, plus surrounding counties.

“It is heartening to see the interest from across the County in the work the Commission for Women will undertake,” said Jamila H. Winder, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “I am proud to say that this Commission is representative of the diversity of Montgomery County, geographically, demographically and professionally. The Commission will meet to further our mission of empowering women and girls in the County by recommending policies and promoting programs that can reduce discrimination and bias, and by exploring ways to uplift women and girls in all fields of work. Congratulations to our appointees, and I look forward to seeing the results of our collaborations and interactions with the Commission.”

The Commission will perform three main functions.

One of these is to seek and increase the County’s collaboration with external stakeholders, various levels of government, and organizations focused on improving the lives of women in the County. The Commission will also be charged with recommending policies and initiatives, as well as advising the County’s Board of Commissioners and Chief DEI Officer on issues related to gender and wage equity, discrimination and bias, eliminating violence against women, and promoting opportunities in entrepreneurship, education, and more.

“I look forward to the Commission for Women advising on policy areas where we can make a difference for women, both in terms of building on some of the things we’ve done, whether it’s paid leave or child care, but also other issues that disproportionately affect women and can support women in the workplace,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija. “I also look forward to thinking about how we can take an initiative like paid leave and bring that to other employers in Montgomery County to encourage them to adopt policies that would support women in their workplaces. So we’re not just thinking about what the county can do, but what we can do countywide.”

Below are the new members of the committee: