Aged Woman's Home of Georgetown
The Aged Woman’s Home of Georgetown (the Home) is a historic residence for senior citizens who are physically capable of independent living (meeting the ADL and IADL standards) but are not financially able to support themselves in the DC community. The Home provides the emotional support, companionship, security, and the benefits of group living and can accommodate 11 women.
In late 1867, “The Female Union Benevolent Society of Georgetown” rented what is now one of the oldest houses still standing in Georgetown to house women who were widowed and in financial strain following the end of the Civil War. A fun piece of history - in February of 1868, Mark Twain gave a lecture at Forrest Hall in Georgetown for the benefit of the Female Union.
The Home has been a Center member since 2018. Read more about their great work.
Breast Care for Washington DC
Breast Care for Washington DC's mission is to reduce breast cancer mortality in the metro Washington, DC area by promoting access to breast cancer screenings, diagnostics, and referrals for treatment to all, regardless of their ability to pay.
According to the Breast Care for Washington website, for over a decade DC has had some of the highest rates of breast cancer mortality in the country. The latest CDC statistics show the District of Columbia leading the nation in both breast cancer incidence rates (153.1 per 100,000 vs. the U.S. average of 122.0) and breast cancer mortality rates (26.3 per 100,000 vs. the U.S. average of 21.5).
Breast Care for Washington was designed to overcome current barriers that prevent low-income, medically underserved women from receiving high quality breast care, including the fragmented healthcare system in the District of Columbia, problematic patient care coordination, and transportation barriers.
The organization is hosting its "The Power of Pink 11th Annual Workout Event" in October of 2022, which will raise funds for Breast Care for Washington’s breast health services provided at the fixed site in Ward 8 and on the MobileMammo for the uninsured and underserved people in the Washington DC Metro area.
Breast Care for Washington was founded in 2012 and became a Center member in 2017. Read more about the great work.
Calvary Women's Services
Calvary opened in 1983 in the basement of Calvary Baptist Church as a temporary overnight shelter for homeless women. Calvary has since expanded to permanent locations and launched several initiatives in its history. In November 2019, Calvary opened Reach Up Housing program, which added 31 transitional housing beds. Fifteen of the beds at Reach Up are designated specifically to survivors of violence.
Calvary sees that each woman who comes through their doors has unique needs and believes every woman has the strengths and gifts she needs to be successful. Their services value respect, empowerment, collaboration, diversity & inclusion, and excellence, and help women transform their own lives.
Services include providing access to the proper trauma-informed healthcare, transitional and permanent housing, personalized case management, life skills and education opportunities, job training, health and wellness services, on-site therapy and daily addiction recovery meetings. Hear personal stories through their "In Her Words" series.
Calvary Women's Services was founded in 1983 and has been a Center member since 2014. Read more about their great work.
Deaf Abused Women's Network
In 1999, five Deaf women from the Washington metropolitan area founded DAWN (doing business as Deaf Abused Women’s Network) in order to end domestic violence/sexual violence (DV/SV) in the Deaf community. In the fall of 2003, DAWN officially opened its doors and has since served over 300 Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind survivors who have experienced DV/SV and stalking.
The organization is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and transformative justice-based agency to provide multi-faced services to the survivors and the community to understand and address power-based violence by providing direct services and education. It continues to serve women in the Deaf community, but has broadened its reach to serve Deaf male and female survivors across all demographics including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
DAWN has many programs that fulfill its mission. Watch this video to learn more about Outreach specifically. DAWN has been a Center member since 2002. Read more about their great work.
Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter
Three Loudoun County women had only $3,000 in donations and in 1985, opened the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter, which was the only place in the community for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Since then, LAWS has expanded to services to over 1,000 adult and child victims of domestic and sexual violence each year. LAWS has a staff of approximately 30 employees and 75 volunteers. LAWS envisions a community that is free of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
They work towards their mission statement through a variety of services, including providing emergency shelter, delivering assistance to victims at our Community Services Center, and operating a thrift store downtown. The Community Services Center provides counseling, legal services, support groups, advocacy, and community outreach. Additionally, LAWS has a 24-Hour Crisis Hotline
Founded in 1984, LAWS became a Center member in 1996. Read more about their great work.
New Endeavors by Women
NEW is guided by a mission to partner with homeless women to create new futures. To achieve this, it provides a nurturing environment so that women can recognize their worth.
In 1988, a group of women saw that, though DC had emergency shelters in place, there was a need for a transitional housing program, giving women a place to live for three months, allowing them more time to get their lives in order. It started with four beds and has since expanded to eight full programs.
NEW fulfills its mission statement by operating with three key program guides:
1. To prepare women to achieve independent living.
2. To increase the residents’ skills and income levels.
3. To facilitate the healing process for those who have been victims of abuse.
New Endeavors by Women was founded in 1988 and has been a Center member since 2000. Read more about their great work.
Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund
The Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF) is a unique nonprofit grassroots organization whose mission is to advocate and improve the overall health and wellness for women and men through outreach, education, and prevention. It promotes early detection strategies for breast health and access to the best biomedical and evidence-based complementary therapies to reduce the incidences and mortality rates of breast cancer.
The TDJBCF is guided by respect, collaboration, quality and patient-centered care, a culturally sensitive approach, and evidence-based strategies.
TDJBCF community involvement includes organizing Breast Cancer Walks (American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, ACS Relay for Life, Komen for the Cure, Parkrun, and more), sending "Upcoming Events" blasts to 1,900 subscribers, supporting fundraising efforts benefiting breast cancer by recommending speakers, donating to the cause, and recruiting volunteers to assist at their events.
In April 2010, Thelma D. Jones established the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund Support Group, the signature program of the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund in Southwest DC. The TDJBCF was officially founded in September of 2012 and has been a Center member since 2020. Read more about their great work.
Women Entrepreneurs for Africa
STEAM for LIFE!
WEforAFRICA is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with operations in the United States and several countries in Africa. Its headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. It works to create a unique space where every girl and woman including those with disabilities will be provided with the training, tools, and investment necessary to ascend to their full potential and individual purpose.
Through three main programs - Education, Leadership, and Women in Agri-Business - WEforAFRICA will empower girls and women through continued investment in STEAM education, leadership development, and entrepreneurship.
Yvonne Carr founded the organization and brings with her over fifteen years of international field experience in project/program management and as a Math Specialist for the District of Columbia Public Schools.
WEforAFRICA was founded in 2015 and has been a Center member since 2020. Read more about their great work.
Women's Congressional Policy Institute
WCPI envisions an effective, functional, and representative democracy that effects positive change in the lives of women and girls.
WCPI has worked closely with the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues (Women’s Caucus) to advance issues of importance to women and their families since its founding. In addition to this partnership, the organization hosts congressional briefings and Member meetings on a wide range of issues, events to strengthen relationships among women Members, and publishes a Weekly Legislative Report to update subscribers on congressional action.
Through many events, WCPI engages young women with leadership and celebrate women in Congress. On February 16th, celebrated the record 149 women in Congress and the work of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues at the 2022 Virtual Congressional Gala.
Established in 1995 after the House of Representatives voted to eliminate the staff and funding for all caucus organizations, including the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues (Women’s Caucus), WCPI fills a critical role in the policy and advocacy community.
The WCPI has been a Center member since 1995. Read more about their great work.
YWCA National Capital Area
YWCA National Capital Area dismantles barriers faced by women, girls, and people of color as they work to develop and sustain healthy lives. Through trainings in digital literacy, certification training, GED test preparation, and in many other subjects, the organization meets educational goals designed for participants to succeed. Outside of structured educational training, the organization also offers middle and high school girls academic and personal enrichment through mentoring, tutoring, field trips, and community service projects.
CEO Monica Gray is an outspoken leader in her community, and her speech at the 2021 Stand Against Racism Rally can be found here.
The YWCA National Capital Area was founded in 1905 and has been a Center member since 2010. Read more about their great work.