Center for New Words

CONTACT:

186 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-876-5310
www.centerfornewwords.org

Ann Donner, Interim Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The 1970s-1990s were a heyday for feminist literature, bookstores, curricula, consciousness-raising, and culture in general. Lately there has been a cooling, as younger women take many of the gains for granted and as literature itself has yielded ground to electronic media. The Center for New Words is keeping both flames alive. Founded in 1974 as a feminist bookstore in Cambridge, it was until its retirement in 2002 one of the three largest in North America, hosting many nationally significant and influential programs. When it closed, its sister charitable corporation continued, and was selected by the Ford Foundation to study new models for 21st century feminist literary culture and influence. CNW is a product of that study. Its five-part program reaches out to women and girls of all ages and ethnicities in every phase of the “word cycle” (i.e., from basic literacy to publication), in community forums and the media. Its “Women & Media” project has featured nationally-known authors in discussions and writing workshops. CNW plans to build a new cultural center that will again include a bookstore. If you are interested in feminism and literature, this is for you.

(2004: CULTURE: Education: Informal: General)