Mission, Purpose, & Goals

It is the mission of The Women's Center to provide women and men with avenues to move forward in building confidence and understanding of an ever-changing world and to empower them through knowledge, skill building, networks and resources.

The Anson Women's Center focuses on adults, who will be served with dignity and confidence. It's purpose is to provide personal and professional avenues for women and men that offer increased opportunities for self-sufficiency and economic stability; to offer the opportunity to be a part of a well-trained, confident workforce, to be self-employed or to own a business; and to empower them through knowledge, confidence, networking, business skills and lifelong learning.

Its goals are to:

• Expand and diversify training opportunities for women in the region, keeping them well informed on pertinent topics.
• Maintain a comprehensive resource directory of all programs and services that can benefit women and their families.
• Provide outreach services in one-to-one consultation to help women reach their personal and professional potential.
• Develop women for leadership positions through training and networking.
• Increase knowledge on entrepreneurship as a self-sustaining opportunity.

History

The women’s center began in 2008 as a joint initiative of New Ventures Business Development, Inc., and South Piedmont Community College Located in the Lockhart-Taylor Center in Wadesboro, the center is staffed by volunteers and open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A non-profit entity, the center is in partnership with regional agencies and organizations. It is an advocacy center staffed with trained personnel and volunteers.

If you wish more information about the center, its services or how it can assist you or someone you know, please use the Contact Form or call the resource center at 704-272-5451 or center director Lois Crumpler at 704-272-5463. Help, or the offer to help as a volunteer, is but a phone call away. Confidentiality is always observed.

Background

Anson County is one of the more economically distressed rural counties in North Carolina. Its unemployment rate is generally higher than the statewide rate. At least half of its Employment Security Commission clients are female. Illiteracy is an issue with more than 30 percent of the population having less than a high school education. U.S. Census 2000 statistics show 37.5 percent of the county's families with a female head of household.