Programs

  • Community Engagement and Outreach

    FOUNDED IN 1907, THE WOMAN'S CLUB WAS CREATED, IN LARGE PART, TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE CIVIC LIFE OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. FROM ADVOCATING FOR CHILD LABOR LAWS TO GETTING CLEAN WATER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SPONSORING THE FIRST NURSE IN A U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND HELPING GET THE FIRST FEMALE POLICE OFFICER HIRED IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE WOMAN'S CLUB HAS HELPED SHAPE THE PAST 117 YEARS OF HISTORY IN MINNEAPOLIS.SINCE 1928, THE CLUB'S HOME HAS BEEN ITS LORING PARK, BUILDING DESIGNED BY LEON ARNAL (KNOWN FOR THE FOSHAY TOWER). THE BUILDING WAS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 2022, ACHIEVING THIS DISTINCTION BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN EMPOWERING WOMEN TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE.THE WORLD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE CLUB'S FOUNDING. THE PAST 20 YEARS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARY CHALLENGING, AS THE ORGANIZATION HAS STRUGGLED WITH A PERCEPTION THAT IT WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A SOCIAL CLUB. THE WOMAN'S CLUB IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IT'S OUR NONPROFIT STATUS WHICH GUIDES OUR FUTURE.THE WOMAN'S CLUB IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO WORK TO ENHANCE THE VITALITY AND LIVABILITY OF THE CITY IN WHICH OUR HISTORIC BUILDING IS LOCATED. WE PARTNER WITH OTHERS TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ALONG WITH SYSTEMIC ISSUES FACING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, PRIORITIZING OUR LORING PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.AS A NONPROFIT 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION, THE WOMAN'S CLUB IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE. AS SUCH, WE ARE OPENING OUR DOORS TO BE MORE WELCOMING TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE:COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OUTREACHFOR 117 YEARS, THE WOMAN'S CLUB HAS FOCUSED ON CARING FOR THE COMMUNIITY AND FOSTERING CONNECTIONS. FROM CHILDREN'S HEALTH TO FOOD SECURITY, THE CLUB WORKS TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S MOST URGENT NEEDS AND CARE FOR ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS.THE ARD GODFREY HOUSE, THE OLDEST FRAME HOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS, DATING FROM 1849, WAS RESTORED BY THE WOMAN'S CLUB AS A GIFT TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL IN 1976, AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1979. THE HOUSE IS NOW OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD, AND THE WOMAN'S CLUB CONTINUES TO CARE FOR THE INTERIOR FURNISHINGS, PROVIDES GUIDED TOURS ON WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND SPONSORS EVENTS IN CHUTE SQUARE (THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK) EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING DANDELION DAYS, A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.SINCE DECEMBER 2020, THE WOMAN'S CLUB'S HAS SHARED OUR KITCHEN WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INVOLVE MN, WHICH PREPARES AND DELIVERS MEALS TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE UNHOUSED. THE WOMAN'S CLUB LEASES KITCHEN AND OFFICE SPACE TO INVOLVE MN. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THEIR STAFF MEETS INVOLVE MN'S MISSION, SOMETIMES DELIVERING AS MANY AS 1,000 MEALS A DAY. THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND INVOLVE MN COLLABORATE ON PROJECTS EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WHICH ATTRACTED 250 NEIGHBORS IN AUGUST 2023.ANOTHER NONPROFIT TENANT IN OUR BUILDING IS PROJECT DIVA INTERNATIONAL, AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING BLACK GIRLS. PROJECT DIVA, AND NUMEROUS OTHER NONPROFITS, HOST MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND FUNDRAISERS AT THE CLUB, AND ALL RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN RENTAL COSTS.THE WOMAN'S CLUB WORKS WITH EMERSON DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL, THE OLDEST SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM IN MINNESOTA, LOCATED JUST BLOCKS FROM THE CLUB. THE WOMAN'S CLUB PROVIDES THE 600 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A HEALTHY AFTERNOON SNACK, CONTRIBUTES MEALS TO MONTHLY COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS CONVENINGS, AND HOSTS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR EVENTS AT THE CLUB.CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSTHE WOMAN'S CLUB PARTNERS WITH NONPROFITS, FAITH GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND CIVIC LEADERS TO BUILD COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND FOSTER SYSTEMIC CHANGE.LORING PARK NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY CLUB WAS THE THIRD SAFETY CLUB TO BE FORMED IN MINNEAPOLIS. THE WOMAN'S CLUB SERVES AS THE MEETING PLACE FOR MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO MEET WEEKLY TO WALK AROUND LORING PARK, NICOLLET AVENUE, AND OAK GROVE STREET. FROM 4 TO 18 WALKERS SHOW UP EVERY THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MEET NEIGHBORS, AND PROVIDE DIRECTIONS AND A SAFE PRESENCE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WORKING WITH E.T.C. PRODUCTIONS, A THEATER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES, THE WOMAN'S CLUB SPONSORS TWO PERFORMANCES IN LORING PARK AND IN CHUTE SQUARE IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS EVERY SUMMER. OVER 200 PEOPLETHE MAJORITY OF THEM CHILDRENATTENDED THESE TWO FREE, COMMUNITY PRODUCTIONS IN 2022.OUR SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE PROJECTS ORGANIZES DRIVES AND ACTIVITIES SUCH AS: - COLLECTING PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS FOR THE WOMEN WHO USE THE SERVICES OF TUBMAN. - DONATING BOOKS FOR INCARCARATED WOMEN THROUGH THE WOMEN'S PRISON BOOK PROJECT. - CONTRIBUTING TOYS AND GAMES TO YOUTH AT THE HALLIE Q. BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER. - WORKING WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (PAL) TO ENSURE THAT 25 CHILDREN HAVE GIFTS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THROUGH OUR "SHOP WITH A COP" PROGRAM. - ADOPTING SENIORS WHOSE HOLIDAYS MIGHT GO UNRECOGNIZED WITH GIFTS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL "SANTA FOR A SENIOR" PROGRAM. - PURCHASING BOOKS FOR KWANZAA THAT ARE DISTRIUBTED THROUGH PLANTING PEOPLE GROWNING JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. - CREATING A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR LESBIANS TO GATHER MONTHLY. - HOSTING COMMUNITY GATHERINGS FOR CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, SUCH AS A CITY COUNCIL FORUM. - KNITTING CAPS AND MITTENS FOR PEOPLE UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR CANCER AND FOR RECENT ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT PREPARED FOR MINNESOTA WINTERS.ARTS, CULTURE, AND INTELLECTUAL ENRICHMENTTHE CLUB'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, ARTS, AND CULTURE HAS BEEN A CENTRAL TENET OF ITS MISSION. THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, THE CLUB HAS HOSTED AND SPONSORED PROGRAMMING SUCH AS BOOK CLUBS, ART EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, EDUCATIONAL SERIES, AND THEATER AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. A VITAL ARTS AND CULTURE ENVIRONMENT IS A KEY ASSET OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND A POWERFUL ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR REGION. THE WOMAN'S CLUB HAS UNIQUE SPACES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR PRESENTING MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD, THEATER, DANCE, AND FINE ARTS EVENTS. AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, THE CLUB PRIORITIZES OUR SPACE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO FIND NEW AUDIENCES. ALL ARTISTS WHO PERFORM AT THE WOMAN'S CLUB ARE PAID.THE WOMAN'S CLUB HAS COMMITTEES AND INTEREST GROUPS WHICH COORDINATE OUR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES; COMMITTEES INCLUDE COMMUNICATIONS, DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND HISTORY. SOME HOST CLASSES, SEMINARS, AND READING GROUPS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MISSION. EVERY TUESDAY, THE CLUB HOSTS A SPEAKER WHO IGNITES THOUGHT AND CONVERSATION. MONTHLY, WORKING WITH GLOBAL MINNESOTA, THE CLUB HOSTS A SPEAKER ADDRESSING INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS AND ISSUES THROUGH OUR GREAT DECISIONS PROGRAM.OUR GALLERY EXHIBITS A ORGINAL WORKS BY ARTISTS EVERY MONTH. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION LAST YEAR WAS TITLED "THROUGH JIMMY'S EYES AND PRESENTED THE ARTWORK OF AN ARTIST WITH AUTISM.MEMBERSHIPTHE CLUB CAN ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THESE THINGS THROUGH ITS MEMBERSHIP AND FRIENDS PROGRAMS. MEMBERSHIP, WHICH HAS BEEN A DECLINE FOR MANY YEARS, IS SURGING AGAIN AS THE WOMAN'S CLUB BECOMES MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CLUB HAS A GOAL OF 100 NEW MEMBERS IN 2023/2024.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    May 1, 2022 – Apr 30, 2023
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2M