San Francisco Women’s Centers Celebrates 45 Years of Service

San Francisco Women’s Centers is proud to announce the celebration of 45 years of service to the San Francisco community. As the founding organization of The Women’s Building, it is hosting a Gala fundraiser event on May 18, 2016, with co-founder Roma Guy, first Executive Director Carmen Vasquez, and current Executive Director Teresa Mejia. The goal is to double down on the mission to empower women to lead their very best lives.

Guy told the San Francisco Bay Times that, in founding The Women’s Building, she and others borrowed an id
ea from author Virginia Woolf (1882–1941). Woolf wrote the extended essay A Room of One’s Own. In this essay, which has inspired generations of feminists, Woolf famously mentioned that “a woman must have money and a room of her own.”

Echoing this timeless need, Guy said, “Our vision for the purpose of The Women’s Building was that we needed a room of our own in our own community.” She added, “It also represents an historic, significant breakthrough in LGBT community organizing, allowing us to amplify the voice of lesbian and gay women’s concerns.”

Since those early years, The Women’s Building has seen a dramatic increase in the use of its services. Rising costs have put additional pressures on already struggling low-income women and their families. Women are coming in search of a second or third job, a safe place to live, and services to deal with domestic violence. In answer to this need, the Board of Directors is hosting the anniversary fundraiser so that they can serve even more women and families.

The Women’s Building is the first women-owned and operated community center in the U.S., and has been an integral part of the Mission District’s community. Since 1971, San Francisco Women’s Centers has sponsored and incubated 170 emerging women’s organizations, opened its doors to more than 1,000,000 women, and has served as a beacon of hope and stability for San Francisco’s diverse community.

“Serving the San Francisco community has been an honor and great achievement to support the Women’s Movement,” said Teresa Mejia, Executive Director of The Women’s Building. “This fundraiser will celebrate all the great work we have done and plan to do in the future.”

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will emcee the celebration. Performances by Circulo Cultural, Rhythm & Motion, and Sweet Can Productions will take place. Mejia shared that, all in all, it will be a night of local food, entertainment, and inspiration. Proceeds from the fundraiser will make possible additional Saturday hours for those seeking social services. They will also permit increased advocacy on behalf of San Francisco Women’s Centers’ clients.

For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/45th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-21693876970