The Coalition for Women's Economic Development was the first microenterprise development organization in Los Angeles and an early leader in the field of microenterprise development within the United States. The group's training and lending services initially focused on helping impoverished women become self-sufficient business owners and expanded over time to include men and low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs. The Coalition for Women's Economic Development Collection dates from 1980-1999 and documents the group's activities and partnerships. The collection consists primarily of manuscript materials and includes some photographs, news clippings, and video recordings.

The Coalition for Women's Economic Development (CWED) was conceived in early 1987 by a steering committee of women activists who were investigating ways to provide business development support for women. Beginning as a project of the Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management in January 1988, CWED was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in October of that same year with the mission "to help low-income women achieve self-sufficiency through self-employment." With a focus on small-business owners, CWED was the first microenterprise development organization in Los Angeles and one of the first in the United States.

17.96 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

The collection is open for research use.