YWCA Toronto - The Feminist Edge

“I raise up my voice — not so I can shout, but so that those

without a voice can be heard... we cannot succeed

when half of us are held back.”

~ Malala Yousafzai, Activist for Female Education

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Dear YWCA Toronto Community,

June marks Indigenous History Month , an opportunity to celebrate the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post celebrating Indigenous History Month!

June is also Pride Month, offering us a time to embrace and celebrate the diversity of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, honour the progress that has been made, and advocate for further change.

In the midst of collective celebration and commemoration, we also pay tribute to the third anniversary of the Islamophobic attack on the Afzaal family in London, Ontario. I am reminded that it is our shared responsibility to confront all forms of hate in our society, including the disturbing rise of Islamophobia.

Lastly, I encourage you to participate in the Ontario Nonprofit Networks’ 2024 State of the Sector survey. ONN uses survey results to advance public policies that benefit our sector – so please make sure to fill it out!

Warmly,

Jasmine Ramze Rezaee

Director of Advocacy and Communications

YWCA Toronto

ADVOCACY CORNER

National Advocacy, Community Action

Earlier this month, YWCA Toronto joined YWCA Member Associations from across the country at YWCA Canada’s Annual Members Meeting (AMM). The event brought YWCA leaders together to make critical decisions to advance the YWCA movement, and offered the opportunity to share knowledge and best practices, discuss emerging trends and issues, strategize on collective actions and foster relationships.

The AMM included a full program of incredible speakers, workers, panels and activities that helped YWCA volunteers and staff consider how our collective action and advocacy can create a more gender-equitable world.

PROGRAM UPDATE

Empowering Newcomer Women to Succeed in the Healthcare Sector

We are thrilled to launch a new initiative, YWCA Health Connect. In partnership with YWCA Metro Vancouver and funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, this free Employment and Training program supports newcomers self-identifying as women to pursue their healthcare careers and credentials in Canada.

Participants gain individual and group-based mentorship and coaching, financial wrap-around support for skills training, employment-related workshops focused on the health sector, and work placement support.

To learn more and to register for upcoming sessions, call 437.441.0413, email HealthConnect@ywcatoronto.org or visit our website.

PHILANTHROPY HIGHLIGHT

Leave a Legacy Gift

YWCA Toronto’s Monarch Society is a special group of supporters who, through a legacy gift today, will transform the lives of women, girls and gender diverse people tomorrow.

To learn more about planning your legacy gift, contact Monika Sormova, Manager of Foundations and Planned Giving at MSormova@ywcatoronto.org or 416.961.8101 x327.

Photo | Courtesy of The City of Toronto

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21^st, at Nathan Phillips Square for a Sunrise Ceremony starting at 5:30 a.m.

The Sunrise Ceremony is held around a Sacred Fire and consists of many ceremonial elements that hold cultural significance for Indigenous Peoples. Learn more here .

Photo | Courtesy of The National Right to Housing Network

The Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing

The National Right to Housing Network recently released a report on the financialization of purpose-built rental housing. The report, built on evidence and testimony from civil society and community, provides human rights-based recommendations for the federal government to address financialization.

Read the full report and recommendations here.

Edgy

Inspirations Studio on The Social

In late May, Jess Allen from CTV’s The Social visited YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio to learn from staff and program participants about how transformative pottery can be. This program helps women and gender diverse individuals who have experienced the impacts of poverty and housing instability heal from trauma through arts education.

Watch the episode here.

Celebrating the Month of June

This month in celebration of Pride Month and Indigenous History Month we are installing Pride and ‘Every Child Matters’ flags at our 87 Elm Street office!

These flags are a reminder that we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous communities.

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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