Founded in 2014, Women of Banglatown (WOB) is a neighborhood-based community arts organization that provides a supportive, culturally-sensitive space for arts and well-being programming for first generation and immigrant girls and young women (10-26 years of age) from the Banglatown neighborhood of Detroit and Hamtramck. Our weekly programming includes workshops led by local women artists, WOB members, and trauma-informed facilitators and entrepreneurs. Over the past decade, we’ve held over 500 workshops (in-person and virtual) and events, collaborating with women artists, entrepreneurs, teen members, neighbors, and trauma-informed facilitators on topics and experiences important to members.

Since 2020, Women of Banglatown has grown to incorporate youth and community-led initiatives: (1) A Youth Advisory Council was established, led by WOB members ages 13-18 from our neighborhood; (2) Programming evolved to prioritize member-led classes and events; and (3) our Community Design Initiative launched to plan and build our future Home Base. This dream, defined by our members, is a space by and for first generation and immigrant girls and young women to be unapologetically who they are and explore themselves through nature, art, entrepreneurship and community. Today, Women of Banglatown offers both virtual and in-person programming for our community and we have over 100 WOB members.