Women’s Advisory Board Marks 30 Years of Service
Brookhaven’s volunteer board continues connecting residents with vital services while offering workshops, recognition programs and its annual women’s wellness conference.
The Town of Brookhaven Women’s Advisory Board is celebrating its 30th anniversary while continuing to expand the programs, workshops and support services it provides to residents across the town.
The 11-member volunteer board brings together women from different business, professional and community backgrounds to advise the town’s Office of Women’s Services and help connect residents with resources ranging from employment assistance to crisis support.
Vice Chair Marissa Pizza said the office fields calls from women seeking help with job placement, résumé preparation, housing, heating costs, separation and other personal or financial difficulties. Although the programs are geared primarily toward women, assistance is available to anyone who reaches out.
“We’re trying to have a bunch of resources as an organization for anybody in the Town of Brookhaven, geared toward women, of course, but welcoming to anybody,” Pizza said.
The board also sponsors free monthly workshops on topics including personal finance, nutrition, organic gardening, cybersecurity and the safe use of artificial intelligence in business and everyday life.
Its signature events include the annual Women’s Recognition Night, honoring Brookhaven women for achievements in government, medicine, education, volunteerism, the arts, public safety and other fields.
The board is now preparing for its annual October conference, “Navigating Women’s Wellness.” The event will feature breakfast, health and nutrition workshops, a physician speaking about aging and wellness, Stony Brook midwives discussing women’s health and pregnancy, and an interactive movement program suitable for different ages and fitness levels.
Chair Marion McNulty said the board’s strength comes from the wide range of experience its members bring and their ability to direct residents toward agencies, professionals and services that can help.
“We are an unsung but important asset to the town,” McNulty said. “The breadth of the membership has always been so broad and so apolitical that we’ve been able to provide residents with an enormous amount of information.”
Pizza said the board’s volunteers remain motivated by seeing residents receive meaningful help.
“It’s rewarding seeing people get the resources they need,” she said. “Everyone believes in making the community better for the people in it.”