In 1969 Jan Peterson moved to New York City and joined the Conselyea Street Block Association, which consisted of many local women from the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

In 1973 Peterson met other grassroots activists and professional women at an event sponsored by the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs.

[1] Located at 145 Skillman Ave in Brooklyn, the group made sought to give a voice to poor and working-class women, encouraging them to become community leaders.

In 1986, NCNW opened an alternative education, pre-employment, leadership training program for young people called "You Can" Community School.

The program provided workshops and training at regional and national conferences, bringing in affiliated organizations from the United States to participate.

These workshops formed support groups, which allowed neighborhood women, nationwide, to become aware about class struggle, racism, sexism, and the effects of these issues on community leader empowerment.