Community Education

The Community Education Department is dedicated to improving women's lives through education. Our goal is to increase women's sense of self-worth. All the programs that we offer and all of the special awareness events that we organize and/or participate in are designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of all women. We recognize and celebrate that which is unique to the female experience.

Bosom Buddies Program

Bosom Buddies is a self-help, survivor-to-survivor program established 15 years ago to inform, educate and provide emotional support to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Bosom Buddies teaches women how to advocate for themselves while empowering them with knowledge necessary to become full partners in making essential health care decisions. We provide direct services, free of charge, to women of all ages, with an emphasis on medically underserved women.

For more information about help with breast cancer, see also the Donna Hicken Foundation.

Bosom Buddies' Support Group meets weekly at WCJ. Please call 904-722-3000 for more information.

Expanded Horizons Literacy Initiative

Expanded Horizons is a gender-specific program designed to meet the learning needs of women and reduce the barriers to access such as child care, transportation and scheduling. The program addresses many types of literacy needs, such as reading, writing, math, computer skills, GED preparation and life skills such as financial and health literacy. Participants work with a corps of trained volunteer tutors, individually and in small classes to create individual learning plans to help them meet their goals.

Art and Soul

Art and Soul transforms the walls of WCJ into gallery space for fabulous art by regional women artists with a different theme for each quarterly exhibit. While on exhibit, a percentage of all proceeds from the sale of works of art goes directly to benefit the Women's Center. Workshops and lectures are offered to highlight the theme of each exhibit. Gallery hours are 11AM to 3PM Monday through Friday or by appointment at other times. Group tours are also available. For more information on upcoming exhibits and openings, please call 904-722-3000. Artist Application.

Personal growth groups, support groups and workshops

Four times a year the Community Education Department offers a new selection of personal growth groups, support groups and workshops. Personal growth groups run from six to twelve weeks and encourage women to develop new behaviors (Assertiveness Training, Learning for Leadership etc.), learn new skills (Women Writing, Guitar Basics etc.), or nurture the self (Yoga, Self-Discovery through Dreams etc.). Support groups offer women with a common concern, e.g., breast cancer, an opportunity to share their experiences and wisdom with one another. Workshops run from one to six hours and offer participants the opportunity to experience something new, whether it is an art technique or a holistic health practice. See the last two pages of our Newsletter for current list of group offerings.

Sojourner Truth Lending Library

The Sojourner Truth Lending Library offers a unique collection of books and periodicals specifically designed for women. The Library also hosts a series of educational forums and guest author lectures entitled "Females and Books" (FAB). For more information on dates and times of FAB events, please call 904-722-3000.

G.I.R.L.S. Circles (Gaining Independence, Respect, and Learning Self-Awareness)

Designed to encourage girls' development of positive body images, self-confidence and self-esteem, this program works with girls in a small group setting, i.e., a girls circle. Targeted curriculum and activities are utilized by trained facilitators within the circle to foster the girls healthy development. For more information about G.I.R.L.S. Circles, please call 904-722-3000.