National Association of Commissions for Women
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt served as chair and Esther Peterson of the Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, served as vice-chair. One of the recommendations was that each state form a similar commission to continue the work on issues that impact women. In 1970, these commissions formed the Interstate Association of Commissions on the Status of Women (IACSW) and in 1975, the IACSW became the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW).
The NACW was established as a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional membership organization composed of state, county, city or local commissions. These commissions were created by government to improve the status of women. Today, approximately 270 commissions for women are located in the United States and its territories. Member commissions are advocates of equality and justice for women, serving their communities in a variety of ways.
