Our Beginning

Founded in 1971, following a women’s movement building takeover, the Cambridge Women’s Center has been developing innovative programs and services for women of all backgrounds for 52 years. We offer all of our programs and services completely free of charge! We are the oldest continuously operating community center for women in the United States and are excited to see what we can accomplish in the next half-century! Read more about the history of the Cambridge Women’s Center here.

Our Mission

The Cambridge Women's Center is a physical and digital community space open to anyone for whom woman is a meaningful identifier or lived experience. We offer a safe space for learning, emotional support, empathy, and empowerment through self-determination.

Our understanding of the terms woman and feminism is intersectional, and we strive to create a community that is inclusive and actively working towards justice for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, those with disabilities and/or mental illness, folks experiencing housing insecurity and other Powerful Groups (both national and international) targeted for oppression.

The cwc achieves its mission by providing the following services:

• Drop-in day center program providing a safe space for all who identify as women;

• In-person emotional support and resource referrals on topics such as homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance use, mental health, and trauma;

• Informational resources on housing, employment, legal services and more;

• Material assistance, including free food, clothing and Computer Lab access;

• Free classes, workshops and groups, (20+ each month) including creative arts, trauma support, financial planning, LGBTQ+ support, English-Spanish conversation, wellness and self-help, and much more!

Our Values

Respect & Care

• Self-determination, respect, and care for oneself and for others is maintained above all else.

• We honor the intrinsic dignity, autonomy, and worth of each person.

Empowerment

• We support and trust in the visions, perspectives and imaginations of everyone in our community: members, volunteers, group leaders, staff, and board members.

Transformation

• We embrace change and growth, as we strive to make our community more inclusive, caring, and supportive.

Inclusivity

• We understand the expansive identities that encompass our community. We welcome anyone for whom woman is a meaningful identifier or lived experience, and gender non-conforming folks comfortable within a gendered space.

Integrity & Accountability

• Listening with compassion and non-judgement is an integral part of our community. We will acknowledge when our own assumptions and biases are harmful, and work to minimize future harm. We ask our community and its members to be accountable for their actions, statements, and conduct within the space.

Community & Collaboration

• We are present in our community with the intention of sharing our mission, connecting with new individuals, spreading awareness of local issues, and advocating for social justice. We value mutuality and open exchange. We will always work to include community members in decision making.

• It is our hope that others will join in and become more aware of the issues we are up against and also to become more connected with our organization.

• The Cambridge Women’s Center is a safer space where people are welcomed and valued.

 The Cambridge Women’s Center does not condone behavior, language, or attitudes that are colorist, racist, anti-Black, anti-Trans, anti-Queer, religiously intolerant, classist, ageist, discriminatory based on citizenship status, ableist, or body-shaming.

Our Members

*Based on March-April 2019 survey data of 88 members

Our Programs

Our Volunteers