News  Essex Probate & Family Probation employees celebrate Women’s History Month

Essex Probate & Family Court Probation employees are celebrating Women’s History Month by acknowledging the accomplishments of a woman inventor and other "Women of Inspiration," said Chief Probation Officer Patrice O'Brien.

Information about these women and their accomplishments will be posted and displayed in the Probation lobby during the month of March. Among the "Women of inspiration" the group plans to highlight are Kanno Sugako of Japan, known as the "matron saint of radicals"; Kasha Nabagesera of Uganda, the founding mother of the Ugandan LGBTQ rights movement; Maya Angelou, renowned poet and author; Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to attend an all white school in New Orleans in 1960; Frida Kahlo of Mexico, well known artist; as well as US icons Oprah Winfrey, a media executive and Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and presidential candidate.

The Women’s History Month celebration kicked off with an ice cream social spearheaded by Probation Officers Bybiose LaRochelle, Kayla Rosario-Munoz, and Christal Mori. LaRochelle, Rosario-Munoz, and Mori discovered that a woman named Nancy Johnson invented and patented a machine which allowed for the mass production of ice cream, according to Patrice O’Brien.

“After their research revealed this achievement by a woman, there was no better way to celebrate than with ice cream,” O’Brien said.

She said the staff also gathered to discuss the achievements of women in the Massachusetts Trial Court. They also discussed the challenges which are still encountered by women in the day to day business. O'Brien noted that litigants will still describe their judge as "A lady judge," to which O'Brien notes to them that all the judges in Essex Probate and Family are female. In addition, the three probation officers are sending out emails throughout the month which include quotes and achievements of memorable and inspiring women. Some of this material will also be displayed in the Probation lobby at Essex Probate & Family.

Picture below, front row, from left: Probation Officers Mary McDonough, Kayla Rosario-Munoz, and Christal Mori. Back row, from left: Probation Office Manager Shasmar Bournigal, Assistant Chief Probation Officer Jessica Grassia, Probation Officer Bybiose LaRochelle, and Probation Case Specialist Melissa Driscoll.