For nearly five decades, Mujeres Unidas Avanzando (MUA) has served as a powerful example of what happens when community, opportunity, and women’s leadership come together. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate MUA’s enduring legacy as a United Way partner, and the immigrant women whose courage, resilience, and determination continue to shape our region for the better. 

Founded in the late 1970s by volunteers who went door-to-door connecting families to basic resources, MUA began in a basement classroom. Today, it is a thriving community hub serving nearly 400 learners and their families each year, with programs spanning English language learning, high school equivalency, job training, and on-site childcare—all grounded in dignity, trust, and belonging. 

“Some of our students have already worked a full shift before they arrived,” says Executive Director, Johannah Malone. “Others work overnight, drop children at school, and then come here. Their perseverance is extraordinary. If I ever feel tired or overwhelmed, I think about what our women do every single day.” 

More than 99% of MUA learners are women—many of them mothers, caregivers, and breadwinners balancing multiple jobs, family responsibilities, and the challenge of navigating a new country.  

Malone says it’s the women and their stories that drew her to MUA. Her journey began 25 years ago as a graduate student in applied linguistics, volunteering one summer and quickly discovering a call. 

“I wanted to work with Hispanic immigrants and use my love of language to be helpful,” says Malone. “What drew me in—and what’s kept me here—are the women.” 

Malone gave United Way a tour of the MUA building. Alongside the informative medical diagrams in the clinical training rooms for their CMA program are inspirational sayings meant to encourage students on their own journey. The staff are warm and pictures of five decades of dedications, honors, student gatherings, and graduations line the hallways of the 3-story building in Dorchester. 

“Looking at where they’ve come from, everything they juggle just to show up, and where they’re going—it’s incredibly inspiring,” she says.  

MUA’s model recognizes that education alone is not enough. By offering on-site childcare, referrals for transportation and housing assistance, access to public benefits support, and culturally responsive mental health partnerships, the organization meets women where they are—removing barriers so learning can truly take root. 

“We want this to feel like a second home,” Malone explains. “A place where women feel safe, welcomed, and supported—not just as students, but as whole people.” 

Many learners begin with English or high school equivalency classes and move into career pathways such as home health aide or clinical medical assistant training—fields that are essential to the health and wellbeing of our communities. 

“If someone isn’t ready yet, we tell them: take more classes, get experience, and come back when the time is right,” Malone says. “We’ll always be here.” 

Recent federal policy shifts and economic pressures have created fear and uncertainty for many immigrant families. MUA has responded with transparency, clear communication, and care—offering immigration referrals, digital literacy support to combat misinformation, and emergency assistance when possible.  

 United Way of Massachusetts Bay has awarded MUA $20,000 in emergency assistance funds through the United Response Funs. Malone says the funds have allowed the organization to provide SNAP relief gift cards, holiday support for families, and essential supplies—helping learners stretch household budgets during especially challenging moments.   

“Morale has been low,” Malone shares candidly. “So, we focus on what we can do—keeping people informed, making sure students know they are safe here, and leaning on our partnerships.” 

As we reflect on Women’s History Month, Malone returns to a simple but powerful idea: 

“We want to leave a legacy where women can improve their lives and their families’ lives,” she says. “Women are caregivers, leaders, helpers. One candle touches another. We hope MUA can be a helper for our women—and that they, in turn, become helpers in their communities.” 

That ripple effect—women lifting families, families strengthening neighborhoods, and communities growing more resilient together—is women’s history in the making.