Center for Women closes doors, transfers flagship programs to YWCA Greater Charleston
June 13, 2019
The Center for Women officially ceased operations on May 31, 2019. The center has focused on educating and advocating for women since 1990. Before closing its doors, the Center for Women provided programs within the areas of personal empowerment, youth empowerment, professional development and entrepreneurship. The center was also well known for hosting an annual women’s conference that over the years attracted high-profile speakers and hundreds of attendees.
“After much thoughtful consideration, deep exploration and strategic planning by the Center for Women board of directors, the decision has been made to dissolve,” said Sonya Wyatt, the center’s board president. “We are honored to transition our current membership and some of our mission-focused programs to another wonderful Lowcountry organization whose values are in alignment with our own.”
The board states that the competition for ongoing financial support has grown over the past several years, making it impossible to sustain operations.
The YWCA Greater Charleston is currently exploring opportunities to extend some of the center’s most successful programs, such as SheStrong. This is a program that provides opportunities for young high school-aged women of diverse backgrounds to convene for skill-building, community service, and learning programs.
YWCA Greater Charleston is also reviewing, Connect the Dots, a monthly lunch and learn series that features local speakers and covers a variety of topics related to personal growth, professional development, and community engagement.
Members of the Center for Women will have their membership transferred to the YWCA Greater Charleston through the end of 2019.
The Center for Women was founded in 1990 as The Center for Women in Transition and became a registered nonprofit in 1992. Established initially as a counseling center, the organization aimed to help women develop personal growth, productiveness and general well-being. In 1996, the center’s program offerings expanded to accommodate women’s changing roles and needs.
In the following years, under the leadership of executive director, Jennet Robinson Alterman, the organization further developed as a hub for women. The center began offering networking event, information sessions and referral services. Alterman led the center until 2013.
In 2015, the center published the “Charting the Course for Change” report in conjunction with a statewide task force and the Riley Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston. The report provided a comprehensive look into four areas, including leadership, health and safety, education and economic security as it relates women throughout the state of South Carolina.
