“The object shall be to undertake such work, educational, charitable, as will benefit the community, and to co-operate with other agencies working for the same end.”
—Constitution of the League of Women for Community Service (1920)
The League of Women for Community Service (LWCS) embarked on raising more $5 million to support the restoration, conservation and preservation of its headquarters at 558 Massachusetts Ave. To date, LWCS has raised $1.9 million for the project, including approximately $711,000 from City of Boston Community Preservation Act (CPA) – the largest grant in the organization’s history. The building is designated as a historic site by the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and is one of the only intact buildings in the South End neighborhood of Boston – retaining more than 90% of its original features and fixtures. We are also working to make public our historically significant collection; and expand community programming to meet the educational, social connectedness, and cultural exploration needs and interests of the community. Please support the League today.
News.
On the left, women stand outside of the League in the 1940s. (Courtesy League of Women for Community Service) On the right, the outside of the property in the present day. (Courtesy Craig Bailey)
The League of Women for Community Service is seen in 2021 as repairs are underway. CNN.com
MISSION.
The League of Women for Community Service is one of the oldest continuously operating Black women’s service organizations in the United States. Its purpose is to engage in historic preservation, educational and cultural programming, and service-based activities, and to collaborate with other like-minded organizations working toward the same end.
The League also seeks to use its headquarters as a gathering space for all people, including those from community, corporate and academic backgrounds, to socialize and in some cases come together to help identify solutions to pertinent current issues that affect the social, economic and general well-being of the community. Such topics might include, but not be restricted to: access to equitable health care, approaches to solving educational disparities, closing the racial wealth gap, environmental justice and climate resilience, among other relevant social concerns and issues.
