Zonta’s 16 days of activism began on November 25 and concluded on December 10th – the same day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Declaration proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. This year for our Advocacy project volunteer contributors from The Writing Sisters submitted poems about women with the following themes: Empowerment, Survival, Resilience, Mother, and Shero’s. Each day, a poem was posted on our Zonta of Quaboag Valley web page and on Facebook. Women are increasingly impacted by gender-based violence, health care, climate change, and suffer economically throughout the world. Our hope is that our personal writings will raise awareness and inspire others to address these issues in their communities. 
The Writing Sister’s Contributors: Christine Gay Dutton, Darlene Elias, Karen Keough-Huff, Marissa Quintero, Gri Saex, Kelberlin Tejeda, Jacqueline Velez, Mydalis Vera
The campaign culminated on 9 December with a powerful performance of the poems by the Writing Sisters during a gathering with the club members. The event was a moving tribute to strength and advocacy, leaving a profound impact on all in attendance

The Writing Sister’s are a group of BIPOC and LBGTQ+ women writers who live in Western Massachusetts. They meet in person and on Zoom to support each other’s writing. The group is available for presentations and workshops to support local communities.

On November 11th at the Ludlow Country Club, Attorney Elizabeth G. Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western MA ~ a strong, passionate advocate for women and children throughout her career ~ will share her insights on finding a way forward, working collaboratively, supporting each other and modeling for the next generation of women leaders how to live a better life. Read more/

Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders 
We were inspired to inspire at the October 14th meeting, celebrating International Day of the Girl Child. This special evening was dedicated to mentoring young girls and fostering strong, confident future leaders. Keynote Speaker Alison Berman, Council Director dove into the specifics for Girls on the Run Western MA, unveiling evidence-based strategies that empower girls to recognize their inner strength, boost their physical activity, and envision boundless possibilities.  Read More.

Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is seeking applications for its 2025 Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award. The goal of the Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award is to encourage young women to participate in leadership positions by recognizing a young woman’s commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and dedication to building a better world for women in girls.
The Club award is $1000. The winner is then eligible for a $5000 award from Zonta International.
Click her for Award Description and Application.