Concord – The New Hampshire Women's Alliance (NHWA) and the NH Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), both located in Concord, NH, is hosting the first annual Girls Day at the Statehouse on April 30th, 2009.  This educational event will bring together over 50 girls from programs throughout New Hampshire with legislators, to inspire future female leaders. Governor Lynch has proclaimed the day “Girls Day at the Statehouse” and will read the proclamation to the girls.

Senate President Sylvia Larsen and Speaker of the House Terie Norelli will begin the day by welcoming the girls to the Statehouse. The girls will have the opportunity to have a guided tour throughout the statehouse and then enjoy a question and answer lunch with legislators. The afternoon will be spent shadowing legislators and will end with a live performance called “Susan B. Anthony the Invincible.” 

“For the first time in history, women make up more than 50% of a legislative body, the NH State Senate,” said Nikki Murphy, Director of the NHWA. ”We thought it would be a great way to celebrate this historical accomplishment of our female legislators. By bringing legislators and the girls together we hope that this will inspire and empower them as young women, to make a difference in the world and here in our state.”

Girls from the following programs will be participating in the days events; The Friends Program, Concord; Girls Inc. of Concord; Girls and Boys Clubs of Nashua; Girl Scouts, statewide; and the Appalachian Teen Mountain Project, Wolfeboro. This program is being sponsored by Business and Professional Women, Women’s Fund of NH, the NH Humanities Council and Jpeg Photos by Barry Ferrara.

NHWA is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization which promotes the economic and social well-being of women and families in New Hampshire.  If you would like more information about the NHWA or Girls Day at the Statehouse, please call 603.978.1032 or visit www.nhwomenslobby.org.

CSW advocates on behalf of the diverse population of the state’s women by identifying and seeking to remedy historical and institutional discrimination that act as social, political, and economic barriers to the full realization of women’s basic rights. For more information, visit the CSW website at www.nh.gov/csw.