The Miami Woman’s Club (TMWC) is among the few organizations crucial to Miami’s development. The club’s early members were responsible for launching the Miami Dade Public Library. The organization and its members have done service projects to help locals through the years. Now, TMWC celebrates 125 years as a charitable volunteer organization and a space inclusive for women. A series of events and initiatives are scheduled through 2025. Plans for the milestone will demonstrate how significant this club is.
“In the past, we may not have fully shared the depth of our impact, but this anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and recommit to our mission,” said Metris Batts-Cooley, president of TMWC.
TMWC announced the 125th-anniversary celebration at a press conference on Wednesday, January 8, in Miami. TMWC was founded in September 1900. Their goal was to enrich the lives of people around them through volunteer service. Some of their service projects have advanced education and the arts for those who live in Miami. TMWC owns the building located at 1737 North Bayshore Drive. Popular restaurants Klaw Miami and Casadonna are housed in that location, while TMWC hosts meetings and events in the ballroom on the third floor. Batts-Cooley became president of the TMWC in 2024. She is the organization’s first Black president. TMWC’s work in domestic violence is what brought her in.
“I came to TMWC because of the work they do in domestic violence. I’ve been a member since 2008. This disproportionately affects African American women more than anyone else. I admire them for their hard work, and they support everything I do,” said Batts-Cooley.
The first announcement from the press conference is a partnership with the Florida Grand Opera. The Miami Woman’s Club will be the new space where all the performers will rehearse for upcoming shows. This is a huge deal because the opera moved its entire studio from Doral and did not take long to find a new home. Tanya Bying is the Chief Advancement Officer for the Florida Grand Opera. She explains how these artists work in a gig economy and how rehearsals are crucial. Transitioning into TMWC allowed the performers to rehearse for the upcoming gig uninterrupted.
“This partnership is wrapping its arms around the artists. Many people don’t realize that for these young artists to work on their craft is extremely expensive. Usually, that cost is on the artist. The Miami Woman’s Club stepped up to the plate to support the artist by providing a space to prepare and spare them this expense,” said Bying.
The rest of the year is packed with service projects that focus on advocacy, literature, and other subjects related to minority groups. One particular group TMWC is collaborating with is the South Dade Women’s Veteran Alliance. The two organizations are assembling a legacy booklet highlighting women veterans in Miami-Dade County.
“We want to honor women who served their country and community. We want to identify senior women veterans so they can share their stories for the next generation to see. The Miami Woman’s Club was the first partner to come on board for this project. We can hopefully have it done by the end of the year,” Julia Robbinson, founder and CEO of the South Dade Women’s Veteran Alliance.
TMWC’s ceremony year concludes with a gala scheduled for November. Batts-Cooley and TMWC are using all of 2025 to reacquaint South Florida with the historical organization. The average age of the women in the club is 70, but Batts-Cooley explains that the service club members do mean more than what is seen on social media.
“We are busy doing the work. We are not recurring for numbers; we recruit for workers. Most organizations usually have 50 members, but only 10 do all the work. As we bring in new people, we have more people doing the work that is making a difference,” said Batts-Cooley.
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