Erica Noonan writes  from the Globe MetroDesk of  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s initiative with five women’s liberal arts colleges – Barnard, Bryn Mawr and the Massachusetts colleges – Mt. Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley – now known as “The Sisters.” The focus of this partnership is “to increase the participation of women around the globe, in public service and political leadership,”  Clinton, a 1969 Wellesley alumna, said on Friday. 

“Together we will seek to promote the next generation of women leaders who will invest in their countries and communities, provide leadership for their governments and societies, and help change the way global solutions are developed,” Clinton said.

Clinton made the announcement in New York City at the Women in the World Stories and Solutions conference, sponsored by Newsweek and the Daily Beast website.