|
 |  | |
2024 will be an important year!
1.5 million women in Canada live in poverty. Every 48 hours, a female is killed in Canada – most commonly due to gender-based violence. And women are still making only 89 cents for every dollar a man makes.
The importance of ensuring women, those who identify as women, and teen girls have the tools, resources, and opportunities to find success through work and school cannot be overstated. With financial financial independence, they can secure housing, ensure basic needs are met for themselves and their families, and have the resources to leave dangerous situations. This is where Making Changes – and you – comes in!
2024 will be an important year as we:
- move our strategic priorities forward,
- shine the light on the difference the right resources can make, and
- collectively work to shift these statistics, and empower women and girls to truly thrive!
In this issue of our quarterly newsletter, we are excited to bring you updates on our programs, upcoming events, and a recap of our busy Fall 2023. Thank you for helping us impact 2,800+ lives annually!
Happy reading!
| |
|
SAVE THE DATE
POWERFUL YOU! 2024 FUNDRAISING LUNCHEON!
Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Venue: Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Time: 11:30 am - 1:15 pm
Join us for a scrumptious lunch, networking, and an insightful conversation with Mandy Balak, Leadership Guide and Transformation Coach, for “Rethink, Reset, Recalibrate: Leveraging Your Experiences for Strengths."
As an award-winning entrepreneur, Founder of The Well (formerly ACE), RISE Retreats, It's Date Night Canada, Host of The Well Podcast, ICF and CCA Certified Business and Success Coach, DISC Certified Facilitator, Executive Coach, and Breathwork Facilitator, Mandy brings over two decades of leadership, business and wellness experience and wisdom to the table.
Ticket sales will open March 1, 2024. Stay tuned for more details!
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Lori James at: [email protected] for details.
| |
|
Making Changes Association is excited to host a no-cost virtual lunch and learn speaker series to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024.
Join us every Wednesday in March from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm to celebrate women's achievements and inspire change.
Register today to learn from inspired women as they speak on a variety of topics focused on helping women from all stages of life and careers feel empowered, relevant, and know they belong. Join one or join all sessions. Pre-registration is required.
March 6, 2024 - Defeating Burnout: The Three-Step Recovery Blueprint
Speaker: Avery Thatcher, Certified Life Coach
March 13, 2024 - Make Money Your Thing: Ditch the Same & Design Your Dream Life
Speaker: Kalee Boisvert, Financial Advisor
March 20, 2024 - Managing Your Career: Network and Relationship Building
Speaker: Lynn Kelly-Sabasch, Career Coach
March 27, 2024 - Leading with Vulnerability and Authenticity
Speaker: Lori James, Executive Director, Making Changes Association
| | | |  | |
|
Join us virtually to see our Women in Technology (WIT) students demonstrate their exceptional technical skills, as they build unique technical-based solutions to a real-world business challenge. Our next virtual hackathon will be held on March 4, 2024, at 1:30 pm. All are welcome to join us as our students present their innovative solutions!
The Hackathon is being organized with the support from the following employers:
The event will be held via Microsoft Teams. If you would like to attend the event, please contact Shalzah Visram at [email protected]
| |
SPRING SALE - DRESS FOR SUCCESS CALGARY | |
|
Shop for a cause!
Dress for Success Calgary will be hosting its Spring Sale from April 17 to 19, 2024. Invitations will be sent through email to book spots on a first come first serve basis.
Want to be added to the email list to book your spot? Sign up at: https://forms.office.com/r/FajkqE2bp8
All proceeds from the sale go towards supporting the Dress for Success Calgary program!
Stay tuned for more details!
| |
CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISER 2023 | |
|
Our Casino Royale fundraising event was held on November 3, 2023, at the Hangar Flight Museum. The event offered a fun-filled night with casino games, fun snacks, raffles, music, a silent auction, and an unforgettable night of fundraising for our programs.
We would like to thank our sponsors and everyone who supported the fundraising event by attending as well as participating in the silent auction. Check out photos of the event on our website.
| |
|
Our volunteers are the backbone of all our efforts! To celebrate and recognize their efforts, a volunteer holiday party was held on November 30, 2023.
Everyone enjoyed the festive evening with great food, networking, and a fun-filled musical performance by a quartet group.
We thank all our volunteers for giving their time and sharing expertise in support of Making Changes and Dress for Success Calgary!
| |
|
WIT SPRING COHORT GRADUATION
A graduation ceremony was held for the Spring cohort of the WIT program on December 7, 2023.
Due to inclement weather, the event was held online to ensure the safety of our graduates and other attendees.
Congratulations to our 15 graduates for completing this important milestone! We wish them all a bright future ahead.
| | |
|
ELS PROGRAM COHORTS
Our Employment and Life Skills empowers immigrant women. It offers a series of online workshops to assist participants in gaining confidence as they plan and prepare for their future in Canada. During the past quarter, two cohorts graduated from the program:
Fall cohort - 18 graduates
Winter cohort - 25 graduates
Congratulations! We wish them all the very best for the future.
| | |
|
CHRISTMAS GIFT WRAPPING
Thank you to Oxford Properties for inviting us to partner to provide gift-wrapping services to their tenants and customers at two of their downtown properties - Bow Valley Square and 400 Third! Thank you to everybody who used us for their corporate and individual gift-wrapping needs and donated to Making Changes!
And an extra big thank you to our volunteers who made this possible. They did amazing work and made the holiday season a little bit more beautiful with their wrapping skills!
| |
|
|
Lu Liu
Women in Technology Program Student
"I am so excited that in three months, I have learned Python, JavaScript, UI/UX design, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, jQuery, and other helpful professional skills.
I am very grateful to be in the Women In Technology program, which has given me the opportunity to improve myself and build confidence. I will continue to work hard and see a better me in the Year 2024!"
| | | |
|
Dress for Success Calgary has recently introduced a Working Women's Group. This 8-week program is designed to help employed women develop skills and knowledge to build a sustainable career.
Women, who are currently employed, can attend weekly one-hour online sessions via Zoom where expert speakers will cover a variety of personal and professional development topics.
Spots are limited!
To learn more about the program, please contact: Michelle Paul, Program Manager, Dress for Success Calgary.
| |
|
PARK in partnership with Richardson Wealth hosted PARKLUXE 2023 in support of Dress for Success Calgary on October 13. The event was a wonderful combination of Canadian fashion, music, and great food.
Event proceeds will support Dress For Success Calgary and the many women from our community who access this program on their journey toward economic independence. We are very thankful to PARK and Richardson Wealth for their continued support.
| |
We are grateful for the remarkable support from our community partners. Whether it’s funding, organizing clothing drives, or teams volunteering to help sort clothing and other donations, they help us in facilitating our mission of supporting our clients in Calgary. | |
SUPPORT FOR MY BEST FRIEND'S CLOSET | |
In November 2023, our team had a meeting with the Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) team and some members of the Giving Committee to learn about the support they provide to Calgary-based nonprofits. During the meeting, we informed them about the impact their funding will have as we are currently experiencing a record demand for My Best Friend's Closet. We are grateful for their support, which will help us make a difference in the lives of teen girls in Calgary!
| |
|
My Best Friend's Closet program received a generous grant from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. This funding will allow us to provide our young clients with the help they need to feel confident and find opportunities for growth and success in their personal and professional lives. We are very thankful for the donation and are thrilled about this valuable collaboration.
| |
COMMUNITY PARTNER VOLUNTEER TEAMS | |
|
Teams from various organizations helped us sort clothing donations and prepare them for our clients. It is a huge support for us in ensuring we are ready to welcome our clients.
We are very grateful to HSBC and RBC for their time and commitment to empowering all individuals identifying as female in Calgary!
| |
CLOTHING DRIVES AND DONATIONS | |
A huge thank you to those organizations who organized clothing drives in support of Dress for Success Calgary and My Best Friend's Closet in the past few months. These donations have allowed us to respond to the increasing demand for our programs and services. Without the generosity of our individual and community donors, we would not be able to support women and teen girls who are looking to improve their lives. We are very grateful to the following groups for their efforts! | | |
|
Environmental Law Society, University of Calgary | |
|
Women in Technology (WIT) Program
Our mission is to empower women through technology training to launch their careers in the innovative and growing tech industry.
Intake for the next cohort is open.
Duration: April to October 2024
Application deadline: March 15, 2024
| | |
Employment and Life Skills (ELS) Program
With ELS program, we empower women to reach their full potential so they can take action to improve their circumstances.
Intake for the next cohort is open.
Duration: March 19 to May 9, 2024
Application deadline: March 11, 2024
| | |
|
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR BINGOS
Making Changes raises critical funds through monthly AGLC bingo events, with an average of $2,500 per event. Your help would be greatly appreciated, as the funds raised from the bingo games go a long way in helping to support our programs and services.
We need volunteers for Bingos at The Grey Eagle Casino for the following dates:
- Sunday, February 25 – 4:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Saturday, March 16 – 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, April 7 – 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, May 5 – 4:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Saturday, June 1 – 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
- Sunday, June 23 – 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Previous experience is not necessary as we provide training. Volunteers get a free lunch or dinner, and the food is delicious! Please note, it is a smoking facility.
If you would like to volunteer, please write to Patti Dalsin at: [email protected]
| |
|
|
YOUR SUPPORT CHANGES LIVES!
With colder weather upon us, we're in urgent need of donations for Dress for Success Calgary and My Best Friend's Closet.
Donation information and drop-off details can be found on our website.
You can also make a financial donation to support our work! Donate today and be a part of someone's success!
| | | |
STAY IN TOUCH WITH US
Did you know that you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube?
If you aren’t already, follow us on social media where we share information about our programs and events. Share links with your networks to help us spread the word!
| | | | |
