About ODWIN Learning Center

ODWIN Learning Center was founded in 1964 by Mary Malone, a nurse and educator then teaching at Boston University. The initial goal was to help underserved high school students achieve success in nursing schools (hence the name: ODWIN - Opening Doors Wider In Nursing.)

Subsequently the program evolved in response to demonstrated needs in the community and now focuses exclusively on the educational needs of adults who wish to achieve a professional career that requires a college education. ODWIN's two-fold mission is:

(1) To counteract poverty by enabling non-traditional students (people of color, ethnic minorities, working poor with inadequate educational preparation) to enter the professions, thus enabling them and their families to escape poverty, achieve positions of influence, and enhance economic and social change in the Boston community.

(2) To counteract racism and sexism, two of the key causes of the conditions that cause poverty, by increasing the number of competent women and minorities in the professions.

ODWIN's students and potential students are people who recognize that education is the key to overcoming any obstacles that hamper their ability to obtain professional careers.

There are no geographic restrictions to our program. We draw students from Boston's neighborhoods as well as the broader community, including Malden, Chelsea, Quincy, Brockton, Lynn, Salem, and Lowell. We serve approximately 300-400 students annually who range in age from 18-60, with an average age of 38. The majority of our students are women of color, many of them are heads-of-household.

We have served people from all over the world and varied levels of educational backgrounds.

Don't let academic problems prevent you from reaching your professional goal. ODWIN has prepared thousands of people to successfully complete the college education that is essential to entering a well-paid position in a highly competitive job market.