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Reflections on Women at the Center

Twelve years ago, a group of passionate Brookline Center board members with a bold vision to support women’s and girls’ mental health launched Women at the Center to champion mental wellbeing in our community, raise funding for the Center’s work, and nurture connections among local women. 

Over the years, Women at the Center, affectionately known as WAC, has evolved from a small group holding events in homes and the Center’s conference room, to a thriving community. WAC’s annual Kickoff brings together women across the community and features guest speakers like Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, former CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, authors Elizabeth Gilbert, Sherry Turkle, and Judith Viorst, and former First Lady of Massachusetts Diane Patrick. 

In addition to the Kickoff, WAC hosts Hand in Hand, an annual “philanthropy in action” event where community members assemble custom care packages intended to nurture and bring joy to caregivers experiencing economic hardship or mental health challenges. Through partnerships with the Brookline Housing Authority and the Brookline Food Pantry, and with the participation of dozens of Center clinicians, these care packages are distributed across the Brookline community to caregivers in need, 

We asked three long-standing WAC leaders to reflect on the group’s origins and its remarkable growth. 

Michele Fishel 

Our initial idea was to bring women from the Brookline community together—not just to support women and girls receiving care at the Center, but to create a network that could nurture women supporters of the Center, as well. 

More than 65 women attended the “soft launch” at Georgia’s house. There was so much excitement—a real desire to participate and make an impact.  

Everything we did circled back to the Brookline Center’s core mission. The first WAC Kickoff was met with great enthusiasm. We kept hearing from attendees how lovely it was to reconnect with women from across the community, some they hadn’t seen in years. Dr. Alice Domar was our speaker that year, and her message about the importance of self-care hit just the right notes. 

Georgia Johnson 

What really struck me at the beginning was the energy created by bringing women together. It was exhilarating, and that feeling has carried through. People who attend a WAC event always comment on how inspiring it is to be surrounded by hundreds of women from across the community. 

I’ve sponsored a table at the WAC Kickoff for years, and everyone I invite loves it. The events are so compelling, and the speakers are always insightful and relatable. It’s a space that fosters unexpected connections—there are women I’ve met through WAC who have become close friends. 

WAC has raised the visibility of The Brookline Center enormously; it’s incredible how much more a part of the conversation the Center has become, and to see how far WAC has come. 

Dana Lazowski 

By prioritizing women’s mental health, WAC is helping build healthier families and create a more compassionate society. For me, the most rewarding aspect of WAC is witnessing the impact we make in our community.  

The Brookline Center changes the lives of women and girls in remarkable ways. Knowing that WAC plays a vital role in this keeps me motivated and deeply engaged. It’s incredibly gratifying to work alongside such an amazing volunteer committee and the development team at the Center. 

One of my proudest moments with WAC was at last year’s Kickoff, when two dear family friends, Nancy and Madelyn, shared their story about how the bryt program helped save Madelyn’s life during her time at Brookline High School. It was an unforgettable experience.