First Female President of Cape Verdean Progressive Club Recalls Challenges and Successes

The Cape Verdean Progressive Club in East Providence was originally started by a group of women in 1939 as a social club.

The women were told that it wasn't appropriate for them to run their own social club, and the organization was taken over by men, current president Elaine Gonsalves recalled earlier this week.

It took more than 50 years for a woman to return to the helm of the organization, Gonsalves told a group at City Hall celebrating Women's History Month.

"Not an easy job," she said. "Not an easy job at all."

She described the early history of the organization and told of the challenges she sometimes faced as she pursued an unconventional career path. Check out the videos of her speaking above.