Women Unlimited Revisited
Women Unlimited Students, photographed by Vasna Wilson (Salt Class of 1998)
In 1998, Salt students Cathy Lafferty and Vasna Wilson spent several weeks documenting a class of Women Unlimited students learning carpentry as they restored the Androscoggin Mill Block House at 269-71 Park Street in Lewiston, Maine. Today, the Mill Block House is on the National Register of Historic Places. But Women Unlimited is no more.
For 28 years, the Maine nonprofit Women Unlimited trained women for jobs in the trade industry. In April, finance director Jessica Childs plead guilty to defrauding money from the organization, and the nonprofit was forced to close. Producers from the 2019 Class at the Salt Institute revisited the story of Women Unlimited to find out what its closing means for women in trades.
Dale McCormick, founder of Women Unlimited, in her home in Augusta, ME.
Vasna Wilson captures a photograph of a Women Unlimited carpentry class in Bangor.
Vasna Wilson captures a photograph of Melissa Hass and Cathy learning carpentry skills with Women Unlimited.
Dale holds her favorite Women Unlimited poster.
“What women need is a pathway to a job that pays a living wage and that has a ladder that allows them to advance. And that's what trade and technical jobs do.”
— Dale McCormick, founder of Women Unlimited
A promotional flyer for Women Unlimited trainings. Georgette can be seen on the right in her work coat.
The Androscoggin Mill Block House in Lewiston, ME today.
Photograph of the Androscoggin Mill Block House (Kirk Mahoney, 2000).
Photograph of the Androscoggin Mill Block House (Kirk Mahoney, 2000)
The Androscoggin Mill Block House in Lewiston, ME today.