For decades, the Wellesley Centers for Women has focused on education access as a key component of the fight for gender equality, social justice, and human wellbeing. We believe that all children should have an equal chance at academic success, no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, ability, or geographic context. Our research shows us how to work towards equity, and through our action programs, we transfer that research to the classroom.

The National SEED Project partners with schools, organizations, and communities to develop leaders who guide their peers in conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward social justice. The National Institute on Out-of-School Time helps before-school, afterschool, expanded learning, and summer programs get better at what they do. For 34 years, Open Circle provided a unique, evidence-based social and emotional learning program for grades K-5. And what was formerly known as the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute -- now an independent non-profit organization called the International Center for Growth in Connection -- promotes Relational-Cultural Theory, the idea that growth-fostering relationships are central to positive human development.

Whether guiding educators to have transformational conversations among their peers, develop their students’ social and emotional learning skills, or improve the programs they lead outside the school day, our goal is to ensure that all children have the tools they need to succeed. Through our action programs, we make evidence-based research accessible and useful to those who have the power to make positive change.