New York, NY – In response to the passing of Martha Baker, women’s rights activist and Fresh Meadows’ own, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) issued the following statement:

“I am devastated by the passing of Martha Baker, a fearless trailblazer who helped elevate women of all ages in Queens and across the state through her fierce activism and politics. I am honored to have had her as a mentor both personally and professionally, and to have witnessed all that she accomplished, from advancing paid family leave to advocating for greater inclusion of women in technical career fields. My heart goes out to the Baker family during this difficult time. May they find comfort in knowing she has created a legacy of inspiration and perseverance that has and will continue to shape so many who aspire to become leaders in their own communities.”

Martha Baker was a lifelong advocate for women and girls and championed polices to advance women in the workplace and working families through multiple capacities. In addition to working as a leading member of the New York Paid Family Leave Coalition, she was a founding board member of Eleanor’s Legacy – an organization named after Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated to electing women candidates into public office across New York State. As part of her efforts to advance women’s leadership in male-dominated industries, she formerly served as the CEO of the Nontraditional Employment for Women. Locally, Mrs. Baker was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Queens Borough Public Library.