PA NOW
Learn more about who we are
My name is Michele Lockman, and President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of National Organization for Women (NOW). I also served as Treasurer for both Pennsylvania NOW’s Executive Board and for the Political Action Committee. I have been a part of the feminist fight for equality since high school, when despite being attacked because of my gender, I was elected Student President during my junior and senior years. Never shying away from advocating for equal rights for all, attending undergrad at George Washington University, situated five blocks from the U.S. Capitol, afforded me the opportunity to participate in many equal rights marches and to attend congressional hearings, where I realized the value of expressing my opinions and the power of organizing in order to get things done. This led me to believe that WE CAN CREATE CHANGE if we work together, and I have continued to work to that end. These early experiences fueled my activism in the feminist struggle, and I am particularly proud to be part of the National Organization of Women, where we recognize the importance of fighting for equality since the struggle for women's equality mirrors the struggles of many other communities. My "We Can Do It!" feeling has been borne out in my lifelong involvement in politics and advocacy. As a committee person and then Chairwoman of the Springfield Democrats, I had the opportunity to work within our political system to push for positive change, interviewing and endorsing candidates who supported the agenda of equality for all. To that end, I organized a rally on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown to show support for same sex marriage. The event was a spectacular success, resulting in statewide media coverage and support. In addition, for the past ten years I have served as a staff member for Congressman Brendan Boyle, working to help provide vital services to underserved communities. As a member of Pennsylvania NOW, I helped to plan the "We Stand with Her" rally in response to a sexual assault event on SEPTA. I believe in uniting through grassroots advocacy to facilitate change. I appreciate the importance of the responsibilities of serving as President having served as both President of Sisterhood of my synagogue and President of the Springfield Township Democratic Committee. It has been both alarming and disheartening to witness the recent erosion of women’s rights, but I understand as President I can help lead the charge for change and advocate towards a more equitable future by empowering this diverse coalition.
My name is Janet Hill, and I am Vice President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of National Organization for Women (NOW). I am also Acting President of the Southwestern PA chapter of NOW as well as being the Corresponding Secretary for the national board of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) and am also a trustee for the local Southwestern PA chapter of CLUW. I am employed by the United Steelworkers Union and participate with my local union’s Women of Steel and Health and Safety committee and was elected as Democratic Committee Woman. I am passionate about women’s rights after a company I worked for laid off all but one of the women who had been pregnant or were recently pregnant in a supposedly unbiased peer review layoff. It was a clear example of implicit bias. I have been fortunate to have had a number of opportunities to participate in forums on women’s issues and reproductive rights. The most recent of these was being on a Reproductive Rights panel at the CLUW Convention. This experience has led to lifelong advocacy for women’s rights and my participation in Coalition of Labor Union Women as well as being a 20+ year member of NOW. I have a BA and BS from University of Pittsburgh as well as an MBA from Duquesne University.
Vanessa L. Fields currently serves as the President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Philly NOW).
In 2022, Ms. Fields became the President for the Retirees Chapter of AFSCME, DC 47.
Vanessa was a previous Vice President for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees ( AFSCME ) District Council 47. Ms. Fields was responsible for the PAC fund, legislative and political activities for the union and all community outreach activities.
During Vanessa’s term on Council she implemented "Lunch with Labor” where members were able to meet with various city and state elected officials. She increased DC 47’s contribution to P.E.O.P.L.E. by 10% resulting in the Council receiving an award of recognition from the AFSCME International. Ms. Fields served on several work committees to help improve members' quality of work life in the various City departments.
She also served on the Executive Board of Local 2187 for two terms and served as a Shop Steward for over 20 years.
After her retirement in 2016 as a Social Worker with the Department of Human Services, Ms. Fields became a Regional Director for the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Ms. Fields was appointed to the Philadelphia Commission for Women in 2016 and currently serves as its Chairperson.
Vanessa serves as a co- host on WURD radio program, Black Women’s Leadership Council.
Vanessa currently serves as the Democratic Committee person for the 52nd Ward, 10th Division. She is a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) where she serves on its Executive Board, is a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist (CBTU), is a member of A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), a member of Labor for Black Lives Matter, a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the NAACP and is a member of the Lincoln University Alumni association.
Ms. Fields also serves on the National NOW Committee on Global Feminism and Black/Women of Color in NOW Leadership committee.
Vanessa is a previous recipient of the Karen Silkwood Award from PHILAPOSH for her work in preventing tuberculosis ( TB ) in the workplace, a recipient of the Women of Moxie award, a Minds of Men Community Outreach Award recipient, a past recipient of the Annual MLK Labor Leader Award, and the 2023 recipient of CLUW’s Labor Woman of the Year award.
Vanessa earned a Master of Human Services ( MHS ) degree from HBCU, Lincoln University.
I started my work experience working for District Justice Dominick Spadaccino and then as the Court Administrator for District Justice Joseph Basile. I then was the Human Resources Executive Assistant to the VP of Human Resources at Edgcomb Metals and during the acquisition by Usinor, provided assistance also to the President and Chief Financial Officer. In 1991, I was the Executive Assistant to the Division President of Frito-Lay in Princeton NJ.
Politically I got involved while working for Judge Spadaccino with the Middletown Dems and then also ran/fundraised for his campaigns. I became the Deputy Chair of the Bucks County Democratic Committee and then the Vice Chair of the Party while also being at some point the Upper 1 Committeeperson, Vice Chair and now Chair of the Middletown Democratic Party and was the 142nd Assembly District Chair. During this time, I had been a volunteer for Bill Clinton’s race for President, a volunteer/delegate for Hillary Clinton both times she ran as well as being involved with the Clinton Foundation. I’ve served on numerous boards including Have a Heart, Middletown Township Parks and Recreation, SEPA Knights, Woods Services, BCPUSH, the PA NOW Executive including being the Treasurer of PA NOW and on the PA NOW Educational fund board.
Mary Jo Daley has a longtime commitment to women’s issues, community service, the environment, and social justice. She served on Narberth Borough Council for 20 years and is in her 6th term as the State Representative for the 148th District, comprising parts of Lower Merion Township, Narberth Borough and Whitemarsh Township. She is the Majority Chair of the House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee, a co-chair of the bicameral Women’s Health Caucus and co-chair of the American Irish Caucus. Prior to serving as a state representative, Daley worked at the University of Pennsylvania for 20 years and Hahnemann University for 12 years. She has an Associates degree from Gwynedd Mercy College and two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelors in business administration from Penn’s Wharton School and a Masters in Government Administration from the Fels Center of Government. Raised in a union household in Narberth, her dad was a proud member of IBEW, Local 98 while her mom volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, participant in the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and who always had an open mind as she proudly raised seven kids. Daley still lives in Narberth with her husband, Bob Winkelman and their cat, Patsy. She is delighted that her daughter, Jessie, and daughter-in-law, Rosemary, live nearby.
It is an honor to be a Member-at-Large for Pennsylvania NOW. I am a retired special educator of 25 years and the creator of the annual Autism Expo for the School District of Philadelphia. The mission of this program is to empower families of underserved and socially ostracized communities to have access to necessary services. I have been active in working with women’s groups in the digital coalition of Women for Biden/Harris as an administrator in the national and Pennsylvania groups. As a lifelong advocate for women and all marginalized communities, I understand that it is essential to work together to be a voice for women in all arenas. It was a distinct honor to have been a Biden delegate in 2020. I am active in local politics, including but not limited to; serving on Democratic State Committee and serving as Chair of The Democratic Senior Leadership Council. I am active in advocating for continued green space in collaboration with local civic associations.
Rebecca Y. Starr specializes in higher education and law. She advises organizations on a host of issues related to higher education. She brings an original approach to engaging students, families and university officials and is committed to making the college experience accessible and effective for Gen Z.
Starr is a former Brown University Associate Director of Admission where she specialized in students who are applying from some of the most complex geographic regions in the world including New York City, Philadelphia, the Middle East and Turkey. She led successful initiatives to increase support to low income students of color, as well as strengthened
Brown's relationship with community-based organizations. Starr also conducted an affirmative action audit, proposed and helped structure a review of the use of gender in admission decisions and briefed her office on relevant legal issues that arose during her tenure at Brown.
Before joining Brown, Starr worked as a lawyer with experience in criminal and juvenile defense, civil rights, constitutional law, and higher education law. Starr practiced as a litigator at a prestigious Philadelphia law firm where she concentrated her practice in both criminal and complex civil litigation in state and federal courts, and as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia litigating felony and misdemeanor cases. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Starr had a successful career in higher education and program administration.
Starr also has a long history of serving the community. She currently serves as a Democratic Committee Person. Formerly she chaired both the Police Advisory Committee and Human Relations Commission for the Borough of Narberth. She sat on the 2024 Criminal Justice & The Courts Advisory Committee for Montgomery County, PA and is a graduate of Emerge PA 2024. Previously, she volunteered as the Policy Committee Coordinator for Pennsylvania for Obama in 2008 and represented a client detained at Guantanamo Bay, pro bono. She was the founding steering committee member and former chair of the American Constitution Society, Philadelphia Chapter. Starr received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University with an A.B. in Anthropology.
Starr lives in Narberth, PA with her husband and two sons.