Grants and Contributions

Through this 20-month systemic change project, Black Girls Gather will scale the Graduate to Employment Program to advance women’s economic security and prosperity. It will scale to increase representation in leadership roles in Atlantic Canada. It will address systemic barriers to employment, such as race and age bias, gender-based discrimination, and lack of qualification recognition for internationally trained newcomers, for young, Black women and create pathways to overcome them. The project participants are intentionally matched with a senior leader sponsor who can support them on their transition to full-time employment. Upon completion, participants will be enrolled into an alumni program, where they can continue to access resources and engage in a network of mutual support. The project is rooted in Afrocentric principles and prioritizes sponsors who are equipped to center the experiences of Black women to transform their economic potential.

Through this 23-month systemic change project, Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS) will help advance women’s economic security through systemic change. Specifically, the project will address systemic barriers affecting the employability of racialized newcomer and immigrant women. The project will achieve this by 1) training and mentoring racialized newcomer/immigrant women to become Feminist Leaders; 2) mobilizing racialized newcomer and immigrant women and their allies to identify barriers to employment and develop strategies to address employment inequalities; 3) developing a social media campaign to raise public awareness; and 4) facilitating dialogue with Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Government and employers to advocate for policy changes that enhance economic security for racialized newcomer and immigrant women. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project.

Through this 32-month project, the Réseau des services pour victimes de violence du Nouveau-Brunswick will help advance women’s economic security and prosperity through systemic change. In particular, the project will address systemic barriers in government employment services by analyzing, creating tools on, and making recommendations on standards, policies, and practices surrounding gender and gender-based violence. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of this systemic change project.

Through this 11-month capacity project B-Women on Wings International Canada (BWOW) aims to advance gender equality by strengthening the capacity of the board and volunteers to advocate for gender equality, community sensitization and empowerment across generations. The project will improve digital literacy, leadership and financial acumen through strategic training, consultations and mentorship in Leadership and Skills Development as well as Information Technology and Communications, Data Management and Financial Management. This vital uplift and comprehensive approach will strengthen BWOW’s ability to deliver impactful services which strive to transcend barriers that hinder Black women and girls from realizing their full potential and that promote gender equality and inclusivity in the community.

Through this 20-month systemic change project, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights will advance women and 2SLGBQTI+ people's economic security and prosperity by addressing financial and health systems barriers to accessing birth control and full productive health care services. While strengthening their reproductive autonomy, increased access to these services will enable them to make informed decisions about their lives, thereby fostering their economic empowerment. Activities will include developing and implementing a policy reform framework and a public engagement campaign; creating tools and resources; hosting skills-building sessions for local and regional stakeholders to engage in policy advocacy; developing and implementing a system to monitor policy and practice changes on abortion and contraception; adapting resources and approaches as needed; and sharing methods and findings with partners.

The project will nurture advocacy networks, enabling groups to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in challenging and removing barriers within their communities and local institutions. A focus on local engagement will ensure that advocacy efforts are relevant and responsive to specific regional needs, fostering coalition infrastructures that drive systemic change. Ultimately, the project will contribute to creating a sustainable impact by empowering communities to advocate for and achieve equitable access to essential reproductive health services. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project.

Through this 32-month systemic change project, Times Change Women's Employment Service Inc. will help advance women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles through systemic change. Specifically, the project will address systemic barriers within workplaces affecting women’s advancement to senior roles. The project will achieve this by engaging with employers and women, particularly marginalized women to identify specific barriers; developing a mentor/sponsorship program to increase the representation of women in senior roles; and promoting the adoption of this program by employers. The organization will then support employers to implement the program and to adjust the program based on the feedback from stakeholders through on-going monitoring. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project.

Through this 20-month systemic change project, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), in partnership with the Accelerator Centre (AC), will scale the #RaisetheBar workplace equity program and the AC:Incubate program to advance women and gender diverse individuals’ economic security and prosperity. It will scale to work with the target population entering and working within STEM fields in the Waterloo Region. It will address the fact that gender-based violence (GBV) is a leading barrier to the target population’s economic advancement, especially entrepreneurs in STEM industries as well as to their access to funding, resulting in limited opportunities for advancement into leadership roles within the entrepreneurial and STEM community. To do so, the project will research existing resources; verify current needs via community engagement; design and develop best practices curriculum to address identified barriers; recruit project cohorts of target population-led start-ups; deliver cohort education programs; evaluate programs on an ongoing basis; showcase the progress by hosting a public cohort graduation; report on the impact of the project; and share the curriculum and learnings with the broader network of sexual assault centres in Ontario and other organizations who are looking for pathways to economic prosperity work with the target population.

Through this 32-month project, the Aboriginal Women’s Association of PEI (AWAPEI) will help advance women’s economic security and prosperity through systemic change. Specifically, the project will work with partners to improve social, educational, and employment opportunities for Aboriginal women in Prince Edward Island. AWAPEI will do this by conducting a holistic review of the current barriers and success factors that exist for Aboriginal women and girls in relation to the pursuit of post-secondary education. The project will host focus groups with Aboriginal women and girls across the province, connect with post-secondary institutions and other stakeholders to learn about systemic barriers and identify opportunities for change, work with an advisory group to support solutions to that change, and pilot initiatives such as information sessions, mentoring opportunities and in-person retreats. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project.

Through this 20-month project, Informed Opinions aims to expand their Amplifying Women’s Voices in Media and Creating Parity in Politics initiative. The project will increase the representation of women and gender-diverse individuals in media and political leadership roles. Key goals include integrating 800 new sources from underrepresented fields and identities into their database, and gaining 400 new journalist subscribers. They plan to enhance database functionality, identify and fill knowledge gaps, and improve user experience to engage more journalists. Additionally, the project will involve influential figures in politics to broaden engagement and insight, while training 25 young women and gender-diverse individuals in research and messaging to reach new audiences effectively.

Through this 20-month project, Femmes en Emploi will build its capacity to advance women’s equality, particularly for immigrant and racialized women in Laval. It will address human resources management, governance, and strategic planning. The project will include reviewing and improving human resources management practices and methods, strengthening governance, performing an in-depth diagnosis of the current structure and internal processes, and creating a three-year strategic plan.