It took a four-year search, but the Midwest Women`s Center finally has a comfortable home.
”We`ve got room to grow,” said Virginia Robinson, executive director, strolling through the group`s spacious new quarters at 828 S. Wabash Ave.
The occasion was ”Amazing Graze,” a recent fundraising food fest marking the move-consolidating two smaller former locations-and the group`s 15th anniversary. A non-profit entity, the center helps women achieve economic independence through job skills programs, with an emphasis on training for non-traditional occupations.
The new 10,000-square-foot rehabbed facility itself provided hands-on education for some center clients who hung doors, laid tile and did carpentry work.
But the celebration actually took place in the still-unimproved area adjacent to the sleek offices and classrooms. Festooned with balloons and pulsing with music, the cinder-blocked space became a showcase for the creations of women caterers and artisans.
About 300 of the organization`s supporters and clients sampled the culinary and art offerings at the Graze, which reaped about $8,500.