The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls recently hosted a nonpartisan panel discussion on key issues for women in this campaign season. With suburban Philadelphia being recognized as a battleground this election, the event focused on the issues female voters are considering.

Fifty people joined the Fund at the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry for this unprecedented discussion.

Barbara McIlvaine Smith, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, moderated the panel discussion that focused on:

• engagement and representation of women in politics
• violence against women and girls
• equal pay
• women’s health

Panelists included women who are leaders in their field and have either held office or have been active in the political process:

• Susan Carty, League of Women Voters President
• Beverly Mackereth, Senior Government Relations Specialist
• Carole Rubley, Independent Environmental Services Professional
• Kathy Boockvar, Executive Director of Lifecycle WomanCare
• Dr. Dorothy McLane, Pennsylvania State President of AAUW

Though the panelists represented a wide range of opinions on the issues, common themes emerged from the collegial discussion. Most notably, the panelists agreed that women’s voices are incredibly critical at every level of the democratic process – whether as an elected official, an informed voter, or an advocate of issues.

The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls leads and unites the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive. Click here to learn more.