Serving Southeastern Michigan Since 2000
The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan has its roots in an organization known as Soundings: A Center for Women. In 1995, Soundings merged with Child and Family Services which then combined with Huron Services for Youth to become HelpSource. These mergers diluted the original Soundings focus, which was to provide affordable, women-friendly services. In mid-1999, three Soundings employees decided to try to reconstruct Soundings as an independent nonprofit and return to providing low-cost, context-informed services. The HelpSource board of directors denied their request.
These three strong women (Sandi Cooper, Anne Benedict, and Laura Lies) along with Mickey Katz-Pek were undaunted. They had a heartfelt vision of a safe and supportive resource center where women and girls could gather for conversation and coffee; for library and computer resources; for personal counseling; or for information about employment, finances, and legal issues. They opened for business as The Women's Center of America on January 13, 2000 just four days after leaving HelpSource.
Soon outgrowing the Eastover Pl. space donated by Betty Bishop, PhD, The Women's Center quickly moved twice to temporary offices. In winter 2001, The Women's Center settled in to office space on W. Stadium in Ann Arbor. In 2009, the landlord sold the building and The Women's Center moved to its current location at 510 S. Maple Road in Ann Arbor.
Sandi (Alexandra) Cooper retired as Executive Director in 2005 and was replaced by Kim Cumming, MSW, LMSW who had previously served as Assistant Director.
Anne Benedict died in 2004.
Laura Lies relocated to Chicago in 2002 and remains an honorary board member.
Mickey Katz-Pek, founding board member, remains active with The Women's Center and is a key supporter.
In June 2006, the name of The Center changed to The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan to reflect the agency's regional scope.
Thanks to generous community support, the vision for The Women's Center remains undimmed. The Women's Center continues to offer high-quality services in a welcoming atmosphere for participants and volunteers.
