YWCA Toronto - The Feminist Edge

“Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.”

~ L.M. Montgomery

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Dear YWCA Toronto Community,

June marks Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Turtle Island.

June is also Pride Month, offering us a chance to embrace and celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We unite to honour the progress that has been made, but also to advocate for greater, necessary, change. As attacks on the lives and rights of 2SLGBTQ+ communities continue to rise across the country, it is crucial that our celebrations also include meaningful action to condemn and dismantle these attacks. YWCA Toronto has endorsed Momentum’s #Act4QueerSafety campaign calling on the Federal Government to address the rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. You can join the call to action by signing the #Act4QueerSafety petition here: www.act4queersafety.ca.

Let us make June a month of celebration, learning, and advocacy!

With hope,

Sami

Interim Director of Advocacy and Communications

YWCA Toronto

ADVOCACY CORNER

It's Time to Show Up for a Better Toronto!

Election Day is Monday, June 26!

YWCA Toronto has joined forces with more than 50 community organizations across Toronto to send a clear message to all candidates in the mayoral by-election – it’s time to Show Up for a Better Toronto!

Our joint campaign – #ShowUpTO – encourages Torontonians to show up for the issues that matter to them and urges candidates to take action to address the escalating poverty and inequality afflicting the city.

This municipal election, join us in showing up for a better Toronto! Learn more about our campaign and take our pledge at www.showupto.ca

Finally, do not forget to vot e on Monday!

PROGRAM UPDATE

Steps to Success

In collaboration with the YWCA Building Sustainable Futures initiative, YWCA Thompson is hosting a virtual event exploring the integration of workplace and life skills development to help participants build confidence and resiliency as they move towards sustainable livelihoods.

Join us on June 29^th from 1:00–3:00 p.m. EST to learn more about Steps to Success, a program that aims to prepare and support women and gender diverse people, many of whom have never worked outside the home, transition into the workforce.

RSVP by noon EST on June 27^th, 2023 by emailing buildingfutures@ywcatoronto.org

PHILANTHROPY HIGHLIGHT

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on June 8^th and helped make the 42^nd YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards Gala a great success. Together, we raised over $600,000 for YWCA Toronto’s transformative programs and services.

Please take a moment to watch our Create Change video and consider making a donation that will make a difference in the lives of women, girls and gender diverse people in our city.

Finally, consider nominating a woman for the 2024 Women of Distinction Awards!

Photo | Courtesy of Toronto Metropolitan University

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

A Framework for Nonprofit Data Strategies

The Ontario Nonprofit Network has shared a report highlighting the complexities, challenges, and opportunities surrounding the nonprofit sector and the use of data into develop better outcomes for communities across Ontario. In the report, ONN outlines key foundational elements along five major pillars – governance, equity, privacy, standards, and capacity — to successful data strategies, and the next steps to build the pillars into data strategies.

Access the report here.

Photo | Courtesy of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Reclaiming Power and Place

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls shared a two volume report, Reclaiming Power and Place, revealing that Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people is due to the persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuse. The report shares the truths of more than 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers and has 231 individual calls for justice including transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

Read the report here.

Edgy

Welcoming A Young Leader to the YWCA Toronto Board Table

Fora: Network for Change’s Rise on Boards program is committed to advancing equity and representative governance in Canada by giving youth experiencing gender-based discrimination the training and support necessary to be exemplary board members. We are so excited to be participating in the Rise on Boards program this year and welcome young leader Naba Saeed to YWCA Toronto’s Board table!

Learn more here.

“You Ok Sis?"

According to a 2021 IPSOS study, 84% of women have encountered sexual harassment in public settings, and 76% have witnessed sexual harassment in public spaces. Earlier this month, we shared a blog post by guest writer Precious Ajunwa about her experience with street harassment. The blog also highlights the impact by-stander intervention can have in creating a sense of community and safety for someone experiencing harassment.

Read the blog post here.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

YWCA Toronto operates on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We are grateful to work on this territory as we strive to build a more equitable and just city for women, girls, and gender diverse people. For a full land acknowledgment, please visit our webs ite.

87 Elm Street, Toronto M5G 0A8 | 416.961.8100 | ywcatoronto.org

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