ALL SERVICES OF THE
GREATER NEW BEDFORD WOMEN'S
CENTER ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL
24-HOUR
HOTLINE
(508) 999-6636 (99WOMEN)
The
Greater New Bedford Women's Center was born in a decade of
crisis and opportunity. The 1970's were an important era for
many women throughout the country, a time in which consciousness
of female oppression and suppression grew significantly. As
a response to this awareness, women formed support groups
to inform and to strengthen themselves and to affect change
in their private and public surroundings. In New Bedford,
it was from such gatherings of women that the idea emerged
for developing a center for women.
Thus,
the Greater New Bedford Women's Center was created in 1973
to be of support and service to women throughout the community.
Its initial purpose was defined as "Help(ing) ourselves and
all women control their lives as much as possible... to explore
all the possible choices available to women in education,
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jobs,
health, and their daily lives." Empowerment of women became the
organizing principle of the Women's Center activities and philosophy.
The
first project of the Center was the creation of a women's health
clinic. This clinic provided family planning services, health
exams, and teen health information. In 1992, the family planning
clinic closed, although the commitment to providing health information
to women and teens continued.
The
second project to develop was the Domestic Violence Program. What
began as a system of "safe" shelter is housed in a building separate
from the Center's office. The Domestic Violence Program continues
today, in its 19th year of existence.
The
third major project, the Sexual Assault Program, was developed
in 1983. At the time, the Women's Center was asked by concerned
community groups to organize a rape crisis center to assist victims
of sexual assault. The Center developed a Sexual Assault Program
that currently provides the services of a 24-hour emergency hot-line,
counseling and support services to victims as well as education
workshops.
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