In celebration of National Women’s History Month, the Brookline Commission for Women is honored to announce that Misti Jaynes of the Women & Girls Surviving & Thriving Initiative has been named the 2017 Brookline Woman of the Year for her work to empower women and girls in Brookline.
Misti has lived in Brookline for 15 years and has been involved in many community activities. Most notably, Misti has been involved with the Women and Girls Thriving Initiative for the last three years. She became involved with this program during their needs assessment and community summits, and from there joined their leadership team. There, she met a great group of women who believe in encouraging leaders within the community of limited income women and girls and working together to build resilience, strength and confidence. Last year, she attended a Collective Impact Leadership Conference with Thriving where she learned how to bring people and organizations together to work towards a common need. Thriving since asked her to become their Community Liaison, and for the past year she has worked on gathering information and resources to share with the Brookline Housing Authority population of women and girls. Misti has also recruited women and girls from BHA for focus groups, workshop series, Community of Women dinners, and various Thriving activities, such as fitness, nutrition, cooking, arts and crafts. She works with women who live in public housing as an ongoing planning group for Thriving activities for women and girls.
As well as being part of Women and Girls Thriving program, Misti have been involved with Steps to Success for about 10 years. Steps to Success is a program that helps to enhance educational outcomes for students from low-income families in order to defeat the cycle of poverty. She is the head of the Parent Council and has been on the Steps Board of Directors for 3 ½ years. She has worked with the Principal and teachers of Lower Devotion and various educators, health providers, and organizations to bring information and resources to the BHA community. Misti has also joined forces with other community organizations such as City on a Hill Church, Brookline Police Department, the Commission for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations and the Outreach and Education Committee of the CDICR. She works to build a better community. Misti has been married for 18 years, has four children and lives in Brookline.
Misti will be honored at the BCW’s 25th Annual Women Who Inspire Us Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 23rd at 6:30 p.m. (refreshments at 6:00 p.m.), in Hunneman Hall at the Main Library, 361 Washington Street. Ten essay contest winners from the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade who wrote essays about women who inspire them will also be recognized at the event. Please join us for this wonderful community event!
Ceremony
The 25th Brookline Woman of the Year will be honored at the BCW’s 25th Annual Women Who Inspire Us Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 23rd at 6:30 p.m. at:
Hunneman Hall
Brookline Main Library
361 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445
The “A Women Who Inspires Me” Essay Contest winners from the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade will also be recognized at the event. Please join us for this wonderful community event!
