Commission for Women

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt was the chair and Esther Peterson of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau was vice-chair.

Its 1963 landmark report recommended that each state form a similar commission. Today there are approximately 270 state, county and local commissions for women located in the United States and its territories.

These commissions are advocates for equality and justice for women and serve their communities in a variety of ways depending on the resources available. Many maintain shelters for the abused, others have tutorial programs for teens and illiterate adults, testify before their legislators on issues that impact women and their families, and disseminate information to their constituency.

Each commission functions independently, responding to the needs of its particular community and reporting to its own local government.

The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women (CFW) was established by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in 1971, as one of the first women’s commissions in the state of Florida. CFW is comprised of 26 members representing the 13 districts of Miami-Dade County and serves as an advisory board to the BCC, the County Administration and the public at large on issues pertaining to the status of women. The Commission for Women advocates for women and girls in the community and strives to improve their quality of life. 

CFW is active and engaged on issues affecting women and girls throughout the County, and each year, following a report on the Status of Women in Miami-Dade County, the CFW prepares policy recommendations to the BCC. The CFW also publishes a Connections Directory of women’s organizations and provides information and referrals to persons in need. CFW works to celebrate and honor the women who have made a significant impact on the County through the Women’s Hall of Fame, the In the Company of Women awards and an annual celebration of Women’s History Month. CFW was instrumental in the creation and installation of the Julia Tuttle Statue in Bayfront Park Miami. 

CFW invites and encourages the public to attend its monthly meetings on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (unless otherwise noted).

• View Bylaws
• View Ordinance

• Michelle Abreu, Chair, District 11
• Lourdes Abadin, First Vice Chair, District 13
• Rose Martin, Second Vice Chair, District 9
• Millie Del Valle, Member at Large, District 7
• Katherine Leiva, Member at Large, District 3
• Sarah Zabel, Previous Past Chair, District 4
• Sharon Kendrick-Johnson, Past Chair, District 6
• Clora Adkins, Board Member, District 1
• Gabrielle Carey Johnson, Board Member, District 1
• Marie Soeurette-Eloi, Board Member, District 2
• Nadege Vilsaint, Board Member, District 2
• Heather Paschal Binns, Board Member, District 3
• Mercedes Carlson, Board Member, District 4
• Elise Gerson, Board Member, District 5
• Jacqueline Peña, Board Member, District 5
• Chelsea Granell, Board Member, District 6
• Yvette Ayala, Board Member, District 7
• Yumanela Candelaria, Board Member, District 8
• Gloria Martinez, Board Member, District 8
• Lunicel Alvarado, Board Member, District 9
• Maria Santamaria, Board Member, District 10
• Yama Paillere, Board Member, District 12
• Josephine Novo, Board Member, District 13

The Commission for Women has several committees that are reflective of the issues and concerns of its constituents. These committees are:

• Executive Committee
• Events and Fundraising Committee
• Legislative & CEDAW & Violence Against Women & Girls Committee
• Commission Goals & Bylaws Committee
• Communications Committee

The Status of Women in Miami-Dade County and CEDAW
On September 1, 2015, the Board of County Commissioners enacted Ordinance #15-87, the "CEDAW" ordinance. In the CEDAW ordinance, Miami-Dade County adopted the spirit and principles of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the international women's rights treaty. By enacting this ordinance, Miami-Dade County commits to being proactive about improving the status of women in our community and advancing policies and programs that promote gender equity. In connection with this ordinance, the Commission Auditor and the FIU Metropolitan Center prepared the Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2016 report and the Commission for Women prepared Recommendations.

Equal Pay Miami-Dade Initiative
The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women is proud to partner with The Women's Fund Miami-Dade on its Equal Pay Miami-Dade initiative, a campaign to encourage the private sector to close the wage gap between men and women. Learn more about the Equal Pay Miami-Dade.

In the Company of Women Awards
The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women is a co-sponsor of the annual "In the Company of Women" awards, which recognizes outstanding women for their professional achievements, volunteerism, and contributions to the community. Learn more about the annual awards.

Julia Tuttle Statue
The Miami-Dade Commission for Women was pleased to collaborate on the creation of the historic Julia Tuttle statue, unveiled on July 28, 2010, in downtown Miami's Bayfront Park. Known as the "Mother of Miami," Julia S. Tuttle is recognized as the only woman founder of a major American city. The statue is located at the southern end of Bayfront Park, next to the playground. The statue is a 10 foot bronze with scenes that are typical of Miami in 1896, the year of its founding, depicted on Julia's skirt.

Recognition of Women's History
The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women supported the initiative to replace one of Florida's two statues currently in National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol with a new statue of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Mary McLeod Bethune was eventually selected for the replacement statue by the Florida Legislature in 2018. The Commission for Women is also working to increase the number of Florida Historical Markers that recognize women and women’s accomplishments in Miami-Dade County. Some of the women that will be recognized include Amelia Earhart, Julia Tuttle, Eleanor Galt Simmons, Marion Manley and Barbara Baer Capitman.

Women's Hall of Fame
The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners established the Miami-Dade County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2021 to celebrate the lives and preserve the legacies of important women whose contributions to the citizenry of Miami-Dade County should not be forgotten.

During January of each year, the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women accepts nominations for inclusion into the Hall of Fame. Nominations include general information and a description of the nominee’s work and qualifications, including the nominee’s significant and enduring community contributions. Nominees may be living or deceased and self-nominations are accepted.

The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women shall submit its recommendations to the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners by the end of February. Those selected for membership to the Miami-Dade County Women’s Hall of Fame will be honored at an induction ceremony to take place during a regularly scheduled Commission meeting in April of each year.

The following offices and agencies provide assistance and services that are especially useful for women:

To file a claim for sex discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and financing practices, family leave and domestic violence leave contact the Commission on Human Rights.

The Miami-Dade County Department of Community Action and Human Services, provides a myriad of social services. Catalyst Miami also provides assistance and information for low to moderate income women and the YWCA in Miami also provides services and programs to women and children. In South Miami-Dade, MUJER, Inc. provides services and assistance to low income women, including migrant workers.

For free legal services for low income women, contact Legal Services of Greater Miami. The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center assists immigrants and asylum seekers with their immigration cases and has a special unit to help immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence and who have immigration issues.

For homeless assistance, contact the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. The Homeless Assistance hotline is 1-877-994-4357.

For help finding a job, contact South Florida Workforce.

For information and services on reproductive health matters and pregnancy matters, contact Planned Parenthood of South Florida or the Women's Emergency Network.

• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2023 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2022 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2021 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2020 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2019 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2018 Report
• Status of Women in Miami-Dade County 2016 Report

The Commission for Women is looking for volunteers to serve as liaison between the Advisory Boards and the Miami-Dade County community at large. The Commission for Women has vacant seats in the following County Commission Districts: 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Requirements:

All volunteer members must be permanent residents of Miami-Dade County. In addition, members should have demonstrated an interest in the field, activity or sphere covered by the board.

The primary consideration in appointing volunteer members is to provide the board with the needed technical, professional, financial, business or administrative expertise.

Please note: all volunteers must pass a background check, provided by Miami-Dade County.

For more information, please read the Standards for Creation and Review of Boards Generally.

Duties & Responsibilities:

To serve as an advisory capacity to the community and Miami-Dade County, in respect to all matters pertaining to the status of women, including but not limited to discrimination against women, employment of women, education of women, establishment of day care centers in the community and attitudes towards women in the community, and to make periodic reports and recommendations to these bodies in respect of such matters.

To serve as a medium for responsible persons to utilize and consult with in attempting to understand and solve the many complex problems involved with dealing with the status of women.

To make findings and recommendations to the County Commission and the County administration regarding such matters as are presented to the Commission.

For more information, please read the Commission for Women Advisory Board Code of Ordinance. 

The Office of Community Advocacy is looking for volunteers to serve as liaison between the Advisory Boards and the Miami-Dade County community at large.

• Aqua Foundation for Women
• Dress for Success Miami
• The Junior League of Miami
• League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade
• LEAP
• Woman's Club of Coconut Grove
• Women's Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade
• Women's Fund Miami-Dade
• YWCA Greater Miami-Dade

• Broward County Commission on the Status of Women
• California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
• Florida Commission on the Status of Women
• Georgia Commission on Women
• Maryland Commission on the Status of Women
• Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
• New York City Commission on Gender Equity
• San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women
• Seattle Women's Commission

• American Association of University Women (AAUW)
• The Feminist Majority
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
• League of Women Voters
• Ms. Magazine
• National Organization for Women (NOW)
• National Women's Law Center
• National Women's Political Caucus
• National Women's Hall of Fame
• National Women's History Alliance
• National Women's History Museum
• Women in Military Service for America Memorial
• Women's Sports Foundation