Mission Statement

Center Women Present (CWP) was started at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center in August 2006. The group serves all self-identified women, including lesbians, queer, bisexual, and transgender community members. The program intends to address women's community issues through volunteer-led projects and is shaped primarily by input of community members, with assistance of The Center's staff.

CWP is comprised of volunteers working together to create a rich array of activities. The deeply committed all-volunteer Steering Committee works with Center staff and input from program participants to envision, create and implement social and cultural activities that meet the community’s needs.

Our model is based on a grassroots approach to program planning and implementation and is guided by principles of community organizing. The Center believes that this approach fosters sustainable programs that are highly relevant to our community. The Center supports CWP volunteers by providing staff time, space to conduct meetings and events, institutional backing and the opportunity to be an active decision maker in how funds are raised and used for their organizing efforts.

Current Events
We request a $5 - $15 donation for all our events, but no one is turned away for lack of funds!

Newcomers to San Francisco Gatherings

Occurring quarterly at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates).

One of the latest ventures of CWP is Newcomers events where women who have been in San Francisco for less than two years can come together and meet and network with one another. We are interested in providing this opportunity for newcomers because of the strength that many of us gain through the women's community.

Moving to a new city can be a big adjustment and our goal is to help women make much needed connections. Through this activity women provide each other with ideas on places to visit and support each other by attending external events together. Resources are provided to women attending events and the unique challenges and excitements of living in San Francisco are discussed.

Matchup

Occurring quarterly at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates)

Matchup is a singles’ event where women have the opportunity to meet other single women in a fun, low-pressure, low-risk environment. All women, aged 18 and over are invited to participate. This has been one of our most popular activities and encapsulates our vision of women being able to meet other women in an open and inviting environment. Participants engage in discussion and formal game to meet each other in an intimate setting that is lively and provides its participants the option to continue meeting each other outside of the event.
Girls on Film
Occurring monthly at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates)

Come bring blankets and picnic baskets, lawn chairs and refreshments, get cozy and enjoy queer women-focused films. This activity is modeled after free screenings in Dolores Park and compliments Frameline’s free screenings for the community occurring at The Center each month as well. CWP partners with other organizations including Wolfe Video (http://www.wolfevideo.com) and Hillgirlz.com for these events.

Girls on Film

Occurring monthly at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates)

Come bring blankets and picnic baskets, lawn chairs and refreshments, get cozy and enjoy queer women-focused films. This activity is modeled after free screenings in Dolores Park and compliments Frameline’s free screenings for the community occurring at The Center each month as well. CWP partners with other organizations including Wolfe Video (http://www.wolfevideo.com) and Hillgirlz.com for these events.

Big Bunch of Whatever

Occurring quarterly at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates)

Big Bunch of Whatever (BBOW) is a happening where participants have the opportunity to engage in activities that range from board games to cards, from jigsaw puzzles to bingo. BBOW will also provide the artistic ingenuity and all necessary art supplies for attendees to engage their creativity in new and inventive ways. This monthly gathering is an opportunity for community members to get together in an easygoing and friendly environment to form new connections, deepen friendships or just relax in a safe space.

Radical Lesbian Feminist Group

Occurring in six week sessions - group size limited to 12 participants.

Come discuss radical and lesbian feminist ideas in a fun and thought provoking atmosphere. Moderated by D. Rita Alfonso, Ph.D., radical feminist philosopher and Gender and Women’s Studies/LGBT Studies professor at UC Berkeley, we will seek to understand the history of radical and feminist thought, learn how to embrace anger, lust, and creativity as tools for resistance and growth and discuss strategies for undermining conservative and homogenizing cultural forces. Come for the ideas… Stay for the revolution.

Currently in session. Send an email radlezfem@gmail.com for more information on upcoming sessions. These session do not occur at The Center.

Women’s Self-Defense Class

Occurring semi-annually at The Center (check the calendar or join our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cwp for specific dates)

Triangle Martial Arts & CWP co-hosted a safety and self-defense training session to support all women, with an emphasis on those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or queer.

You will learn common sense techniques and different tools to protect yourself under the careful guidance of experienced teachers.

Community Fundraiser
Occurring once a year to be held either at The Center or other venue

CWP will also hold a community fundraiser this year to leverage additional financial resources. Past events have raised between $200 - $1,000. Two events have been held to date including a launch party held in December of 2006 and a beverage benefit at Elixir Bar in June of 2007. Fundraisers provide opportunity for community members to contribute restricted funds to CWP, meet steering committee members and promote offerings.    

Community Party
Occurring once a year to be held either at The Center or other venue

CWP holds one major social event per year which brings women together for socializing, dancing, music and celebration. These events are broader in scale attempting to reach 200 + women at each one of them. Large social events also help to bring increased visibility to the initiative and promote other activities to women attending events.

New Venture Seed Fund Grant Winner!
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2366

 

Get Involved!!
We are always looking for volunteers to help us with events and are actively recruiting new members for our steering committee. Email us for more information about getting involved with us!

What we're looking for from you as a volunteer :
-Assist in advertising events online through facebook, myspace, craigslist, hillgirlz, and various yahoo groups
-Write press releases
-Post fliers at coffee shops, in restrooms, at bars or distribute at women’s dance nights
-Help run errands before an event, pick up supplies, deliver food/snacks to The Center
-Come early before an event to help set up chairs
-Be the first point of contact at an event and get attendees to sign in and/or donate money
-Help facilitate an event
-Clean up crew
-Become a steering committee member!

Contact us:
Sarah Deragon or Ondine Kilker - Co-Chairs of CWP
Centerwomenpresent@yahoo.com

Check us out on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/cwp   

Join our Yahoo Group:

Click to join cwp