struggle, racism, sexism, and the effects of these issues on community leader empowerment. In the mid-1980s the organization underwent a restructuring, expanding its national program. NCNW co-founded the UN-sponsored International Women's Conference which was first held in Nairobi in 1985. In 1986, the Neighborhood Women of Williamsburg/Greenpoint (NWWG) was formed to administer local programming, allowing the national NCNW to offer national training and programming. During this time, NCNW expanded into Appalachia, the Pacific Northwest, Puerto Rico, and Native American communities. In 1985, representatives from NCNW attended the United Nations Third World Conference, which focused on women in Kenya. Taking notice on the lack of participation of poor and working-class women in Kenya, NCNW worked with other grassroots women's international organizations and formed GROOTS International (Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood). In 1986, NCNW began donating their archives to the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College. Current After the formation of GROOTs, NCNW became the North American representation for the organization. They also began partnering with the Huairou Commission. In the 1990s NCNW gained consulting status with the United Nations, opening an office at the headquarters. The Leadership Support Group remains the organizations primary program, providing national support for women to share experiences and skills with their peers. Martha Ackelsberg summarized NCNW's work aim as "to unite women across differences in work to secure for all people decent jobs, wages, housing and other life basics." References External links National Congress of Neighborhood Women records at the Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College Special Collections Women's organizations based in the United States Neighborhood associations Non-profit organizations based in New York (state) Poverty-related organizations Workers' rights organizations 1974 establishments in New York (state) Women's rights organizations Companies based in New York City Working-class culture in New York City Working class women Working-class feminism