Jane Addams, born in 1860, was a member of the first generation of privileged, American women who obtained college educations and then dedicated their lives to community service and social justice. Ms. Addams was influenced by the abolitionist movement, the westward expansion of the US government, the industrial revolution, the progressive era of political reform, the Protestant ethic of hard work, and the duty to serve others. Addams attended college and graduated believing that she had been educated to serve, but she wanted to serve in a way that would have a real impact on the lives of people who had not had the same advantages as she. Addams saw an opportunity to improve the lives of the poor by creating a community of people who lived and worked together to provide for the needs of that community of which she was an equal participating member. This community began with Hull House, a place where the underprivileged would no longer have to feel like second-class citizens, and where the social ills of the urban 'ghetto' could be fought at a grassroots level. Jane Addams "aimed to create citizens, not manage clients"; this thinking is important to the Working Centre in its goal of helping people find honest and fulfilling work.
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