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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The nonprofit organization Boston's Women Workforce Council held their third annual "Innovative Initiatives Awards" event on Tuesday at Boston University, awarding three companies on their efforts to close gender and racial wage gaps.
According to the BWWC, this year's honorees included C Space, MASCO, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, who were all recognized on their successful programs that aimed to overcome barriers affecting fair career advancement.
WBZ's Carl Stevens spoke to the BWWC's Executive Director Kimberly Borman at the event, who said it's important to recognize local companies that actively address longstanding racial and gender wage disparities.
"We think that closing the gender and racial wage gap is really the way to make sure that women, and particularly women of color, in Boston are living the best life they can. It's important to narrow this gap because it's so determinant of everything else in one's life— where their kids go to school, how far their commute is, what they have to pay for it, and sometimes even healthcare," Borman said.
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Following the event, MASCO President and CEO David Sweeney said in a statement to WBZ NewsRadio that he is honored and grateful for the award.
"At MASCO, we are committed to holding ourselves accountable for measuring and accelerating our progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it’s inspiring to see our efforts being recognized," Sweeney said.
In addition to the awards ceremony, leaders from each of the honoree companies spoke during a panel discussion alongside one of last year's winners, Dr. Miriam Bredella, Vice Chair of the Department of Radiology at Mass General Hospital.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports.
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