In 1979, a few "We Can" volunteers gathered in a church basement to teach English to low-income, single, Latina, mothers. The enthusiastic response and rapidly growing numbers of students revealed an intense need among Latinas: to gain language and literacy skills for self-sufficiency and full participation in their communities. In 1982, the group formed a benefit corporation: Mujeres Unidas En Accion (MUA), with a distinctive feature: it is operated by those it serves, as a collective.

Today MUA is recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as an effective and innovative community-based agency in adult education and women's health. MUA works with more than 400 women and their children. The core program is still teaching English for personal, career, and citizenship development; in response to student requests it has added health education units (prenatal care, domestic abuse) to all its courses. It has added several additional programs: Proyecto Companera, which provides follow-through support to the original commitment to education —career and education counseling, emergency translation services, on-site child care, help with domestic violence, community issues forums, citizenship preparation, and family health sessions. Proyecto Hermanas en Salud (Sisters in Health) develops materials for distribution on health issues.

Donations to MUA will be invested in growth, to meet the demand expressed in waiting lists for its services.