Explore Our 30 Year Impact Report

Alleviating Poverty and Building Economic Opportunity since 1994

Southwest Creations Collaborative was organized in 1994 as a sewing and handwork poverty alleviation project with a single goal: to provide dignified, living wage employment to women from low-income communities. The founders implemented strategies from projects around the world that recognize when a woman is given an opportunity to earn an income, she will invest in her children and family first.


Our efforts over the past two decades have helped us employ1 over 125 people, create 35 living wage jobs and design college-readiness programs for our employees’ children that have achieved 98% high school graduation and 86% college attendance rates.

Our revenue has grown from $30,000 to over one million dollars, and our business operations are 100% self-sufficient and contribute over $100,000 annually to support our social impact programs.

Our success proves that a sustainable business can be driven by a social vision: provide well-paying jobs with low-cost childcare, invest in employee training and development, and advocate for social change.
— Susan Matteucci, Executive Director