YWCA St. John's Names Dr. Janice Fitzgerald the 2021 Honorary Woman of Distinction

Happy International Women's Day!

Today, on International Women’s Day, YWCA is pleased to announce that Dr. Fitzgerald is the recipient of an honorary 2021 Woman of Distinction award. From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald has carried the province of Newfoundland and Labrador through distressing and unprecedented times with strong leadership, grace, and integrity. Her role in the pandemic response and recovery has been invaluable to our communities, and YWCA extends a sincere and heartfelt appreciation for her dedication in these trying times.

Since YWCA cannot host the awards ceremony this year, we are excited to be working with a local filmmaker, Allison Short, to produce a short film which brings together previous Women of Distinction recipients to highlight the history of the awards ceremonies, and to inspire future nominees and recipients. This film will be released in the coming months, as a way to reflect back and to provide inspiration for years to come.

The Board and Staff of YWCA St. John’s extends a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful women and gender-diverse folks in Newfoundland and Labrador, and wishes you a day of support, love and celebration. You deserve it.

#LeadershipButMakeitFeminist - Webinar Series

YWCA St. John’s has just concluded the #LeadershipButMakeitFeminist webinar series, designed by our youth council, The Collective!

We heard from three INCREDIBLE speakers;

Dr. Delores Mullings (Interim Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, Associate Professor, School of Social work Memorial University) on Decolonizing Leadership Spaces and Holding Space for Others ;

Anjum Sultana (MPH, National Director - Public Policy & Strategic Communications, YWCA Canada), on Connecting Professionally with Yourself and Others.

• Anjum shared key insights and learnings from her experience as co-author of YWCA Canada’s Feminist Economy Recovery Plan. The world’s FIRST nationally-focused Feminist Economy Recovery Plan.

as well as,

Kate Lahey (PhD Candidate, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto) on Radical Care for Community and Self.

YWCA St. John's is incredibly grateful to have hosted the #leadershipbutmakeitfeminist series. Special thanks to Delores Mullings Anjum Sultana MPH and Kate Lahey for the care, thoughtfulness, and knowledge that each of you brought to this series.

From the staff and board of YWCA St. John's, THANK YOU to our followers, friends, supporters and colleagues. We are sincerely grateful for all of the support and encouragement for this series.

Stay tuned for future events! 2021 is looking like an exciting year ahead!

Miss us on the St. John's Morning Show?

Listen and learn more our new project, “Fostering Collaboration of Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers” !

One of YWCA St. John’s close collaborators and project partners, Dr. Sulaimon Giwa, was recently joined by our Executive Director on CBC’s St. John’s Morning Show in discussing this exciting project. Click the “play” button below to listen to the audio recording and learn more about how our project for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers began, what we aim to achieve, and how to get involved.

“We are hoping to […] get a better sense and representation from people with lived experiences around 2LSGBTQIA+ and settlement and integration, to better inform the scope of programs and services that could eventually be developed.”

- Dr. Sulaimon Giwa

We are currently seeking people with lived experience to join our Project Advisory Committee. Are you a 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer to Canada, currently residing in Newfoundland and Labrador? We want to hear from you!

Reach out to our 2SLGBTQIA+ Services Coordinator at kimberly@ywcastjohns.ca for more information or to schedule an informational phone call.

Now Accepting Applications for our LAUNCH Employment Program!

What is the Launch Program?

A 19 week employment program for young women and gender diverse youth experiencing multiple barriers to employment. Launch includes:

• A PAID 7-week virtual employment skills development group program

• A 12 week PAID work experience in a field of interest

LAUNCH Offers

Each LAUNCH participant engages in PAID classroom workshops including:

• Portfolio & resume development

• Computer software training

• CPR & WHMIS Certifications

• Career & education exploration

This Program is For You If You Are…

• A young woman or gender diverse youth aged 16 – 30

• Currently out of school, unemployed, or underemployed

• Able to fully attend programming for 30 hours a week

• Available Monday-Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm for 19 weeks

Applications are encouraged from all members of diverse and minority groups and from folks facing various barriers to employment (including but not limited to folks who: live with disabilities, live in rural or remote locations, are single parents, experience language barriers, are recent immigrants, have not completed high-school).

Virtual access accommodations can be arranged on an as needed basis.

We are currently accepting applications for our November, 2020 intake!

Deadline to apply is November 1st, 2020

Submit your application online by clicking here.

Have questions about the program, application process, or training? Schedule an informational phone call by contacting Nourin at nourin@ywcastjohns.ca OR call or text (709) 689-0164.

Have questions about work placements? Are you employer interested in hosting a work placement? Contact Nourin at nourin@ywcastjohns.ca.

Now Accepting Applications for our LAUNCH Employment Program!

What is the Launch Program?

A 19 week employment program for young women and gender diverse youth experiencing multiple barriers to employment. Launch includes:

• A PAID 7-week virtual employment skills development group program

• A 12 week PAID work experience in a field of interest

LAUNCH Offers

Each LAUNCH participant engages in PAID classroom workshops including:

• Portfolio & resume development

• Computer software training

• CPR & WHMIS Certifications

• Career & education exploration

This Program is For You If You Are…

• A young woman or gender diverse youth aged 16 – 30

• Currently out of school, unemployed, or underemployed

• Able to attend programming for 30 hours a week

Applications are encouraged from all members of diverse and minority groups and from folks facing various barriers to employment (including but not limited to folks who: live with disabilities, live in rural or remote locations, are single parents, experience language barriers, are recent immigrants, have not completed high-school).

Virtual access accommodations can be arranged on an as needed basis.

We are accepting applications for our September, 2020 intake now!

Deadline to apply is September 17th, 2020

There are three ways to apply:

• Open, save, and email the fillable form by clicking here

• Print and complete the application by clicking here

• Submit your application online, clicking here

Have questions about the program, application process, or training? Contact Nourin at nourin@ywcastjohns.ca.

Have questions about work placements? Are you employer interested in hosting a work placement? Contact Nourin at nourin@ywcastjohns.ca.

Opportunity for LGBTQIA+ Newcomers!

Are you a newcomer to Canada? Do you also identify as LGBTQIA+?

Join our committee!

YWCA St. John's is seeking LGBTQIA+ newcomers to join our Project Advisory Committee for our new project "Fostering Collaboration of Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador".

About the project:

• This project aims to identify gaps and service needs of LGBTQIA+ newcomers, build & strengthen local partnerships by collaborating with community stakeholders, and directly support LGBTQIA+ newcomers through peer support, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.

• Through this project, we hope to increase newcomer participation in their communities, and enhance their settlement and integration experience.

  Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Project Advisory Committee members will:

• Share their experiences to inform and guide the project

• Assist in program development

• Identify barriers and gaps in service

• Receive an honorarium (payment) for participating

Eligibility criteria:

• This opportunity is open to anyone who is a newcomer to Canada, and identifies within the LGBTQIA+ community.

• This opportunity is open to all newcomers regardless of immigration status. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding eligibility criteria.

• This project aims to address the needs of LGBTQIA+ newcomers across the province. Individuals from rural areas, as well as Labrador are welcome to apply!

*LGBTQIA+ = refers to sexual and gender minorities who identify as, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, asexual, and plus.

*Newcomer = an individual who is new to the country. (i.e. immigrants and refugees)

Interested? Have questions?

Please email Kimberly Offspring, at kimberly@ywcastjohns.ca OR call 726-9922

Now Accepting Applications for our NEW Launch Program!

Please note - registration for this program is now closed. Stay tuned for more information about our September intake!

What is the Launch Program?

A 19 week employment program for young women and gender diverse youth experiencing multiple barriers to employment. Launch includes:

• A PAID 7-week virtual employment skills development group program

• A 12 week PAID work experience in a field of interest

LAUNCH Offers

Each LAUNCH participant engages in PAID classroom workshops including:

• Portfolio & resume development

• Computer software training

• CPR & WHMIS Certifications

• Career & education exploration

This Program is For You If You Are…

• A young woman or gender diverse youth aged 16 – 30

• Currently out of school, unemployed, or underemployed

• Able to attend programming for 30 hours a week

Applications are encouraged from all members of diverse and minority groups and from folks facing various barriers to employment (including but not limited to folks who: live with disabilities, live in rural or remote locations, are single parents, experience language barriers, are recent immigrants, have not completed high-school).

Virtual access accommodations can be arranged on an as needed basis.

We are accepting applications for our July 27th, 2020 intake now!

There are three ways to apply:

• Open, save, and email the fillable form by clicking here

• Print and complete the application by clicking here

• Submit your application online, clicking here

Have questions about the program, application process, or training? Contact Deanne at deanne@ywcastjohns.ca.

Have questions about work placements? Are you employer interested in hosting a work placement? Contact Nourin at nourin@ywcastjohns.ca.

YWCA St. John 's: Creating Space Starts This Week

As a way to keep our community supported and connected through tough times, YWCA St. John's is hosting Creating Space, a  free, four week online program for young women and non-binary youth (15 to 18 years old) starting Wednesday, May 27 and continuing for the next four Wednesdays.

The program will provide education, information and concrete resources to youth in our community, and explore a range of themes such as leadership, self-care, racism and discrimination, allyship, and advocacy.

For more information about this program, please contact Constanza Safatle - Youth Programs Coordinator at constanza@ywcastjohns.ca

2020 Women of Distinction Awards - Nominations Now Open!

Nominations for YWCA's 2020 Women of Distinction Awards are now open! The deadline to submit your nominations has been extended to December 8th, 2019 (by 11:59 pm).

Before completing the application, all nominators should read the Nomination Package, which outlines the award categories, the nomination process, and important tips for creating a successful nomination. To review this package, please click here. 

To access the online application, please click here. Please note that you CANNOT save responses in this application without submitting. For this reason, we recommend that nominators complete a draft of the nomination form in this Nomination Template so that progress can be saved over time. While all nominations are to be submitted online through the link above, this document can be used as a tool to prepare responses before completing the online submission. 

In addition to completing the online form, nominators must forward the following three documents via e-mail to info@ywcastjohns.ca:

1) A letter of support - this should be no longer than one full page and can be completed by someone who can attest to all of the great things you've highlighted about the nominee. This can be written by a friend, colleague, etc. Please note that this will be worth a value of 15 points in the selection and scoring process.

2) A photo - please ensure this is a high resolution photo. This will be used in promotional materials and to highlight the nominee.

3) A signed consent form - this form can be found on our website by clicking here. 

The prestigious Women of Distinction Awards are presented annually by YWCA's across Canada to celebrate the achievements of women and provide a platform to share their stories in a way that empowers, inspires, and motivates others to learn, achieve, and participate. Within their respective domains, these women have inspired and empowered others by breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles, and meeting challenges to make a difference in the lives of others. YWCA St. John's sixth annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony will take place on March 8th, 2020; location to be confirmed.

Opportunity Knocks NL: Exploring Solutions to Career and Employment Challenges Facing Women of Diverse Cultural and Racial Backgrounds in Newfoundland and Labrador

We are excited to announce the upcoming Opportunity Knocks NL, a symposium exploring solutions to career and employment challenges facing women of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Join us on March 13th 2019 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at The Emera Innovation Exchange (Memorial Signal Hill Campus). The full day program will include a light breakfast and lunch.

The symposium will offer sessions for newcomer women as well as sessions for businesses, HR manager, and employers.  It will also feature a Un-Panel that will facilitate collaborative sharing of knowledge, experiences, and skills. In addition, the symposium will be an exciting chance to explore strategies to develop employment mentorship opportunities and support entrepreneurial activities by immigrant women.

Read more about the day here.

Registration is now open, click here to register.

We look forward to seeing you.