The Women’s Cancer Resource Center creates opportunities for women with cancer to improve their quality of life through education, supportive services and practical assistance.
In 1986 a small group of women with cancer created the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) to provide direct services to women with cancer and advocate for changes in the health care system. For the first two years, the Center was simply an answering machine in one woman’s living room. As word spread of WCRC’s existence, our founders recognized that they had struck a chord in the community.
Today, WCRC provides an array of services designed to help our clients cope with the physical and emotional changes caused by treatment, the disease, and the challenges of caring for someone with cancer. We provide information on prevention and early detection and outreach to communities throughout the East Bay. WCRC serves women with any cancer, from all backgrounds, economic abilities, and ethnicities.
Our clients include women with new diagnoses, in remission/survivorship, living with metastatic disease, and those receiving end of life care. Core programs include: information and referral to community resources in English and Spanish, support groups, in-home support, psychotherapy, emergency financial support, wellness workshops and navigation through an often complex and overwhelming health care system to ensure appropriate care and treatment.
The Board of Directors consists of women who are cancer survivors, health care and other professionals with expertise and experience that contributes to the strength of the organization. The Board meets monthly and provides strategic and fundraising leadership.
If you are interested in joining the board, please contact Peggy McGuire, peggy@wcrc.org.
Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 3 PM and also available by appointment.
Helpline: 510.420.7900: Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Business Line/Staff: 510.601.4040
Toll Free: 888.421.7900
Español: 510.350.1315
Fax Number: 510.601.4045
Email: wcrc(at)wcrc(dot)org
Mail:
Women's Cancer Resource Center
5741 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
USA
Bus:
5741 Telegraph Ave. (at the corner of 58th St in North Oakland). Transportation: AC Transit 1 and 1R buses stop right in front. There is also plenty of parking if you are driving [map].
Lucero Barajas has a long history with WCRC, but joined as staff in May 2011 as Latino Program Manager. She coordinates the work of volunteer Community Health Advocates in assisting Latina women with cancer through patient navigation, advocacy and referrals, and community outreach and education. In collaboration with other program staff, Lucero engages with providers and community-based organizations in Alameda County to reduce barriers in the cancer care continuum. Lucero holds a BA in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and has extensive academic background in cell and molecular biology. With a particular passion for volunteerism and non-profit work, Lucero has over 10 years experience working with underserved communities to reduce disparities in health and education.
Pat Bregant has been working as a Director of Development for 12 years. She is responsible for all fundraising and development activities at WCRC including: ensuring a diversified revenue stream; engaging the Board in fundraising strategies; developing and implementing all fundraising campaigns and special events; developing relationships with potential and current donors (individuals/ businesses/ foundations); partnering with community organizations around potential revenue streams and events; and working with public officials to engage support and establish relationships with businesses and potential supporters. She has spent most of her career working in hospice, HIV and palliative care.
Eveline Chang joined the WCRC staff in January 2011 as Manager of Program Development to expand our in-home support program and manage the recruitment, screening, and training of volunteers across all programs. Eveline brings over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating volunteer programs focused on advocacy, mentoring, community empowerment, social justice activism, and education with diverse communities in the Bay Area, Chicago, Detroit and Houston. Eveline earned an MSW at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Michigan, and is a survivor of thyroid cancer.
Kelly Doyle joined the WCRC staff in September 2012, bringing over 25 years of non-profit experience. She has worked both as a Program Manager at the Museum of Children’s Art and as Finance and Operations Administrator at the Community Network for Youth Development. Having worked in both the program and administrative sides of the non-profit world, she feels she brings a unique balance to her position, with both her right and left brain fully engaged with the work. She holds a BA degree in Fine Arts and English, and has always proudly listed her position as “Mother–1982 to Forever” on her resume. When not at WCRC, she can usually be found puttering in her garden or making homemade jams and pickles from the produce.
Peggy McGuire joined the staff of WCRC as Executive Director in 2005. She is responsible for all aspects of managing the center – managing staff, supporting the Board of Directors, program quality, financial sustainability and representing the center to the community. She holds an MA in Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco and a BS from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
Dolores Moorehead is WCRC’s Client Services Manager with 20 years of progressive experience in cancer services. Prior to joining the WCRC in 2002, she was employed at the American Cancer Society for over thirteen years. In October 2005, she was awarded the Spirit of Activism Award by Breast Cancer Action (BCA) and in May 2008, she received the prestigious Lane Adams Quality of Life Award from the American Cancer Society. Dolores also chaired the Each One, Reach One Conference Planning committee in 2006. Currently, she co-chairs the committee and the annual breast cancer conference for African American women continues to be a success with more than 300 in attendance.
Yesenia Ramos has been the Bilingual Patient Care Manager for Contra Costa County since August 2011. She provides support to Latina cancer patients at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. Before joining the staff, she was a Community Health Advocate volunteer at WCRC. Yesenia recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology. She participated in breast cancer research at UCSF as a research assistant, analyzing cells of metastatic breast cancer patients and learning more about the biology of human cancer. With these experiences she plans to educate and serve disadvantaged communities affected by cancer.
Margo Rivera-Weiss, WCRC's Manager of Community Wellness Programs, has worked at the center since 1992 and holds degrees in Library Technology and Ethnic Studies. Margo oversees the Cultural and Healing Arts Classes and the JanRae Community Art Gallery. Margo thrives on passion and creativity and strives to bring those to work every day.
Christine Sinnott, Development Manager, has known and loved WCRC since becoming a volunteer in 1997. She has worked in non-profit fundraising since 1993. She coordinates the Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, WCRC's largest annual fundraiser, and is working to integrate the client, donor and volunteer databases.
Ali Vogt, Clinical Manager, Psychotherapy Program, has a long history with WCRC as the Coordinator of the Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer from 2000 - 2011. The psychotherapy program offers 12 sessions of psychotherapy to low income and under-insured women at no charge offered by licensed clinicians. Ali is a Marriage and Family Therapist in San Francisco and Oakland where she works with adult individuals, couples and adolescent girls. She trained at the Women's Therapy Center and Albany High School and has a strong interest in mindfulness and relational psychotherapy.