About Us
The North Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Young Adult and Youth Clubs, Inc. was founded in 1909 at the Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina, by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Minnie S. Pearson, Cottie Dancy Moore, Maggie Jones, and Julia M. Warren. Rooted in the early Black women’s club movement, the Federation began as the North Carolina Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs and was recognized from its inception as North Carolina’s official state affiliate of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NACWC).
Today, the Federation proudly continues its 116-year legacy of “Lifting As We Climb”—supporting women, strengthening families, empowering youth, preserving history, and advancing justice throughout North Carolina as an active member of the NACWC national network.
Sunrise: June 11, 1883
Sunset: January 11, 1961
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Join the Movement —
State to National
If you feel called to serve, to mentor, or to help shape a new generation of women leaders, we invite you to become part of this enduring legacy.
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Explore your local and state chapters through the North Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc (NCFCWC).
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Connect nationally through the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc (NACWC).
where women continue to unite “Lifting as We Climb.”
✨ What happens to one woman touches us all.
What we build together will outlast us all.
Our Mission
To advance the moral, educational, economic, and civic welfare of women, youth, and families throughout North Carolina; to uphold the enduring principles of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs; and to exemplify the Federation’s guiding motto, “Lifting as We Climb.”
Our Priorities
To promote high standards of character, integrity, and service; to foster leadership among women and young people; to cultivate educational opportunity and cultural enrichment; to support community stability and family well-being; and to preserve the legacy and history of African American women’s organized work in North Carolina.
Our Objectives
To unify clubs across the state in constructive community service; to encourage scholarship, self-improvement, and responsible citizenship; to develop programs that strengthen homes and communities; to guide the growth of Young Adult and Youth Clubs; and to maintain faithful affiliation with the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs in purpose and practice.
Modern Era & Rebuild Opportunity (2015–Present)
History of Leadership & Ongoing Efforts
(Affirming • concise • non-comparative • aspirational)
Current Era: Renewal, Continuity, and Community Presence
Since 2015, the North Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs has continued its legacy of service while navigating a changing civic and organizational landscape. Leadership during this period has focused on sustaining the Federation’s mission, preserving institutional history, and maintaining member engagement amid generational shifts and unprecedented challenges.
Ongoing efforts include:
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Stewardship of the Federation’s historical legacy, including formal recognition through state and cultural institutions
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Continued district-level programming, community service, and commemorative activities
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Adaptation to digital platforms for communication, membership, and recordkeeping
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Commitment to rebuilding momentum through archives, outreach, and renewed public visibility
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This era represents a bridge between legacy and future growth—honoring the work of past leaders while laying groundwork for the next generation of civic leadership.