History
1960’s
1969 – AGENCY INCEPTION
The agency begins to focus on the needs of Spanish speaking Puerto Rican residents of Woburn around English language tutoring, housing issues, food and clothing needs, information on government entitlements & rights, job opportunities, and interpretation & translation assistance. A drop-in center is opened to handle these concerns.
1970’s
1970 – Hispanic Kindergarten opens
1973 – Thrift Shop and Children’s Center in Woburn open
1974 – Broadens purpose from focusing on primarily Hispanic members of the community to all lower-income persons and the elderly. Children’s Center in Burlington opens
1975 – Substance Abuse Hotline, Senior Citizen Program, and Legal Assistance Program start
1978 – Youth Service Counseling & Drop-in Center opens
1979 – Home Sharing Program starts
1980’s
1980 – Purchases 19 Campbell Street office building. Family Childcare Program and Senior Center open
1983 – Neighbor Network (foster family-based emergency shelter for teens) opens
1984 – Food Pantry Program opens
1985 – Parent Aide Program opens
1986 – Woburn Veteran’s Memorial Senior Center open
1988 – First auction is held
1990’s
1992 – Youth Service Tracking Program opens
1994 – Family Skill Building – Parenting Education Program beings
1999 – Begins process of transitioning the Senior Center to the Woburn Council on Aging
2010’s
2003 – The agency opens its new 17,532 square foot facility at 2 Merrimac Street in Woburn and offers all of its programs together under one roof
2004 – Supervised Visitation Program begins
2006 – First annual golf tournament begins
2009 – First live telethon is held
2010’s
2012 – The Club of Social Concern is formed at Woburn High School to provide youth with volunteer opportunities in support of the agency and rapidly becomes one of the High School’s biggest and most active clubs
2013 – The club is featured on Channel 7 for the “Can Castle” built by students from collecting cans across all Woburn schools
2019 – 50th ANNIVERSARY
Council of Social Concern celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues to provide the following services: Children’s Center, Family Childcare System, Food Pantry, Parenting Education, and Information & Referral.
