Connexxus/Centro de Mujeres collection, 1985-1991

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Summary

Creators:
Connexxus (Center)
Abstract:
The Connexxus/Centro de Mujeres Collection contains the administrative records of Connexxus / Centro de Mujeres, one of the first Los Angeles non-profit organizations that catered and provided services to lesbians.
Extent:
11.5 linear feet (16 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Connexxus/Centro de Mujeres collection (Collection 1848). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Biographical / historical:

Historical note (version 2) by Tiffany-Kay Sangwand

In early 1984, Adel Martinez and Lauren Jardine conceived the idea behind Connexxus, a women-run center in Los Angeles that provides quality and comprehensive services that cater to women, particularly lesbians. In May 1984, Martinez, Jardine, and a group of women met in the home of Vivian Brown to discuss the idea and how to bring it into fruition. They envisioned a space in which lesbians could thrive professionally, personally, and socially.

In January 1985, Connexxus opened its doors on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Connexxus' initial space was a 1400 square foot facility with ten rooms which served as a space for a library, workshops, rap groups, counseling, meetings, and other social activities. Lauren Jardine, Ph.D. was hired as the Executive Director. Connexxus operated under the non-profit auspices of Southern California Women for Understanding until receiving its own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status in July 1985.

Connexxus operated for six years out of West Hollywood. In 1986, it opened Connexxus East / Centro de Mujeres, a satellite location in East Los Angeles. Connexxus offered a variety of services at its two locations including referrals, support groups, the Alliance (Connexxus Business and Professional Women's Alliance), the West Coast Lesbian Collection / June Mazer Lesbian Archive, counseling / therapy services, workshops, social events, and a coffeehouse. Connexxus East specifically did outreach to Latina lesbians in East L.A. Connexxus also collaborated with a number of other non-profit organizations in Los Angeles, such as Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU), Alcoholism Center for Women (ACW), and Lesbian Central at the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center (currently the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center).

At its peak, Connexxus operated on a budget of over $200,000, which was anomalous among grassroots lesbian organizations at the time. Their funding was made possible from the City of West Hollywood, donations from the women who utilized its services and gay men who were allies.

When Connexxus opened, it filled the vacuum for a women / lesbian public space in Los Angeles. During its six years of operation, other specialized organizations and businesses emerged to serve the dynamic Los Angeles lesbian population. This was reflected in a decline of Connexxus users; in 1990 Connexxus decided to cease operations. Two of its programs, the June Mazer Lesbian Archive and Connexxus East, remained open and operated independently after Connexxus' closing.

Historical note (version 1) by Joy Novak

In 1984, a group of lesbian activists led by Del Martínez and Lauren Jardine founded Connexxus Women's Center/Centro de Mujeres. Connexxus was first located on Santa Monica Boulevard and later on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. At its peak, Connexxus operated on a budget of over $200,00, which was unheard of in grassroots lesbian organizations.

Connexxus programs included referrals, a variety of supports groups, a business alliance, mental health services, workshops, social events, dances and a program for Latina lesbians in East Los Angeles. Connexxus also co-sponsored the first Latina Lesbian Mental Health Conference in 1986. In 1987 Connexxus took over the management of the West Coast Lesbian Collection, which was moved from Oakland and was renamed the June Mazer Lesbian Archive.

Connexxus collaborated with other community groups such as SCWU (Southern California Women for Understanding), ACW (Alcoholism Center for Women) and Lesbian Central at the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center (now the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center). Connexxus closed in 1990.

Missing Title
Date Event
May 1984
First meeting led by Lauren Jardine and Adel Martinez to discuss the idea of Connexxus.
January 1985
Connexxus opens its doors on 9054 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.
June 1985
First Board of Directors meeting with Carol Anderson, Beverly Cook, Jeanne Cordova, Sue Dell, Adel Martinez, June Mazer, Anne Mosbergen, Pat Pimentel, Carol Przbycien, Terry Scannell, Pepper Sheaffer, Sharon Siegel, Karen Sterling, Linda Wineland and Judith Wright. Adel Martinez served as the first Board President.
July 1985
Connexxus gains 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status.
July 1985
Counseling / therapy services first offered.
September 1985
Receives grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council to host writer and performance artist, Terry Wolverton, as an artist-in-residence.
November 1985
The Alliance (Connexxus Business and Professional Women's Alliance, CBPWA) holds its first meeting.
Februrary 1986
Connexxus Connects Us, a documentary on Connexxus airs on Falcon Cable television.
May 1986
Connexxus Latina lesbian rap groups meet at El Centro in East Los Angeles.
October 1986
Connexxus purchases Bunches of Balloons, a for-profit business as part of its Economic Empowerment Project.
November 1986
Connexxus co-sponsors Latina Lesbian Mental Health Conference
December 1986
Connexxus adopts West Coast Lesbian Collections
January 1987
Connexxus co-sponsors Boundary Dilemmas in the Client-Therapist Relationship: A Working Conference for Lesbian Therapists
January 15, 1987
Board member June Mazer passes away due to cancer
April 1987
The June Mazer Lesbian Collections (formerly the West Coast Lesbian Collections) made available to the public
August 1987
Connexxus Softball Team plays in the West Hollywood Women's Athletic League
October 1987
Connexxus East opens in El Centro Human Services Corporation in East Los Angeles
December 1987
Founders Lauren Jardine, Executive Director, and Del Martinez, Board President, retire from Connexxus. Pat Martel is elected new Board President.
March 1988
Five Plus Connexxus campaign begins.
May 1988
Denise Wheeler named new Executive Director.
May 19, 1988
Connexxus hosts "Courage to Heal: A presentation for Child Sexual Abuse Survivors" by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis.
October 1988
Connexxus moves to facility located at 1017 N. La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood.
October 1988
Cheryl Mendoza, Ph.D, is hired as new Clinical Director.
January 1989
Connexxus / Centro de Mujeres awarded Community Organization of the Year by Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos.
January 1989
The June Mazer Lesbian Collections move to 626 N. Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood.
March 11, 1989
Connexxus and Southern California Women for Understanding co-sponsor "Passionate Politics: Lesbian-Feminism for the '90s" with feminist thinker and activist Charlotte Bunch.
April 1989
Wahneeta Pacheco named new Assistant Director
May 29, 1989
June Mazer Lesbian Collections Archivist Bunny MacCulloch passes away.
September 1989
Campaign SAVE CONNEXXUS! begins.
February 1990
Connexxus announces that it will be closing in June 1990.
February 1990
The Latina Lesbian Support Group announces their formal separation from Connexxus and Connexxus East.
June 1990
Connexxus closes.
Processing information:

Processed by Tiffany-Kay Sangwand, September 2007 - February 2008.

The Connexxus Collection was partially processed by Joy Novak and Yolanda Retter at the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. Additional boxes of unprocessed materials were later found at the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive which were processed and integrated with previously processed material by Tiffany-Kay Sangwand under the auspices of the Center for the Study of Women from September 2007 to February 2008. The collection is now under the custody of UCLA Center for the Study of Women, not the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center.

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Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
Connexxus (Center)

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Connexxus/Centro de Mujeres collection (Collection 1848). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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