A woman's role in our society becomes more important every day. The Phoenix Women's Commission, which is supported by the city of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department, is dedicated to making that role even greater by promoting the participation of women in civic affairs and coordinating community activities and special projects.

I'm excited to tell you about an upcoming event that celebrates women, the 11th annual International Women's Day luncheon. This year's event will be held Tuesday, March 16, at the Phoenix Civic Plaza . The purpose of the annual Phoenix celebration of International Women's Day is to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and to raise money for scholarships for women to continue their education. The event recognizes the resilient spirit of women around the world and raises funds to provide educational scholarships to re-entry women interested in furthering their education.

This year's keynote speaker is Laura Liswood, a nationally recognized speaker, author and advisor. She has contributed to leadership in the women's community for more than 20 years as a member of the International Women's Forum, Leadership America and as founder of May's List, an organization that raises money for women political candidates. In 1996, Liswood co-founded The White House Project dedicated to electing a woman president of the United States .

Some of the other great events benefiting women in the community have included: The Women's Business Success Forum, “Celebrate Women! Celebrate All! Festival for Women and Families” and “Emerging Careers for Women,” a program introducing women on welfare to non-traditional jobs.

The commission has also recommending changes to the city's day care zoning regulation to improve access to quality childcare in Phoenix, a training video that established a protocol for treating domestic abuse victims and served in an advisory capacity to various organizations on issues important to women, including the Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence and the Maricopa County Bar Association's Task Force on Domestic Violence.

For more information on either the Phoenix Women's Commission or this year's luncheon, go to phoenix.gov/PHXWOMEN. Don't hesitate to call my office if you have any questions about the commission or any other programs in District 2. You are also invited to join me at my monthly Issues & Info breakfasts and learn about topics that impact your neighborhood and family. Take the opportunity to ask questions about issues that are important to you. The next one is 7 a.m. Friday, March 19, at Jillian's at Desert Ridge. Please call my office for more details. I hope to see you there.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which encompasses most of northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at (602) 262-7445 or via e-mail at council.district.2@phoenix.gov.