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 breast cancer awareness program that has been making a positive contribution to many women’s lives since its establishment in 1988. This program has become an important resource for women of the greater Jacksonville area by providing encouragement at weekly breast cancer support group meetings, offering breast cancer resources/references to newly diagnosed women and assisting in breast cancer awareness presentations within the community.

For more information about Bosom Buddies, see Florida Times-Union's multimedia columnist Amanda Warford's video.

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

Please see our Bosom Buddies Calendar for a schedule of support group meetings and other Bosom Buddies activities or call 904-722-3000 x 224 for more information about Bosom Buddies programs and services.

Expanded Horizons Program
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.

Video by Florida Times-Union's multimedia columnist Amanda Warford.

Art and Soul
Art and Soul transforms the walls of the Women's Center into gallery space for fabulous art by regional women artists. While on exhibit, a percentage of all proceeds from the sale of works of art goes directly to benefit the Women's Center. Gallery hours are 11AM to 3PM Monday through Friday or by appointment at other times. Group tours are also available.

Personal growth groups, workshops and support groups
The Community Education Department occasionally offers personal growth groups, workshops and support groups. Personal growth groups encourage women to develop new behaviors, learn new skills, or nurture the self. Workshops offer participants the opportunity to experience something new, whether it is an art technique or a holistic health practice. Support groups offer women with a common concern, e.g., breast cancer (support group offered weekly), an opportunity to share their experiences and wisdom with one another. See the Women’s Center Events Calendar for a 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.

GIRLS Circle (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. To learn more about GIRLS Circle, please call 904-722-3000.