CONNECTED
Networking opportunities give women support, resources
Women's work is key to the success of the entire community.
Employees, entrepreneurs and women performing unpaid care and domestic work at home all contribute to Canada's Gross Domestic Product. The wages a woman earns supports government programs and services, feeds, clothes, houses and educates herself and her family, and enables charities to do their good work. Women deserve access to well-paying, safe and dignified jobs.
Fortunately, local organizations are offering supportive resources and networking opportunities that can change women's lives in positive ways.
■ WEST OF WINDSOR INC.
Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) was launched to help correct the disproportionately high levels of unemployment among local women in 1984. The charitable organization continues to assist visible minorities through its technical and life skills training programs.
“At our core level, WEST wants to improve a woman's skills and boost her confidence so she can pursue her goals, whether she is searching for her first job or navigating her next career opportunity,” says Rose Angiuano Hurst, executive director.
Approximately 3,000 clients come to WEST annually, some for a oneoff visit to the computer resource room, others for ongoing long-term programs. Staff cheer on clients as they create resumes and complete volunteer work placements to gain marketable experience.
“We help women learn more,” says Angiuano Hurst. “We do that through partnerships. We value networking to bridge the divide between our clients who come to us, often with barriers to education and without connections to the business community. In the time of COVID-19, we are reinventing how we do networking, which is frequently online now. It's safe, convenient and accessible for our clients.”
PRE-COVID, “we made sure to take advantage of local networking opportunities and would always bring our clients with us to various in-person events that were a good fit for our clients and staff,” Angiuano Hurst says.
“We're still using those strategies in the pandemic. We set up events online, present speakers and create opportunities for participants to ask questions. This helps them to overcome their fear, build self-confidence and use their voices. It's empowering.”
Businesses back WEST'S efforts with meaningful supports. “They help us do practice interviews with our clients, which is extremely impactful,” says Angiuano Hurst.
Clients learn firsthand from people in the corporate community who give feedback on their interviews. Normally held at the WEST office at 647 Ouellette Ave., training sessions are occurring online. “We go into secure virtual breakout rooms and do one-onone interviews with participants and corporate partners. It's how companies are interviewing for real positions these days.”
An annual fundraiser on March 8 spreads word of the organization's efforts. This year, WEST decided to take their evening event online and are selling $25 tickets to its International Women's Day Virtual Gala and Journey Towards Success Awards. St. Clair College president Patti France is the guest speaker.
“We work with the college with the Women in Trades program, as well as the continuing education department for other training,” Angiuano Hurst says.
WEST'S diverse board of directors reflect the clients the organization serves – visible minorities born in Canada and other countries. “Many of us can't imagine crossing an ocean to start a new life, whether by choice or need. The success, determination and resilience of the women who trust us to help them on their journey is humbling,” she says.
“We're eager to see more diverse representation in certain sectors, including public service employees in all levels of government. We would love more Windsor-essex women to be in elected positions and on corporate boards. Much has been achieved in improving equality
Much has been achieved in improving equality for women but there remains a lot of work to be done.
for women but there remains a lot of work to be done.”
Information about WEST of Windsor is available at 519-2566621 or westofwindsor.com.
■ RISE WINDSOR ESSEX
RISE Windsor Essex is a recent addition to the roster of local organizations on a mission to level the playing field for women working in STEM and women entrepreneurs.
Founded in 2020 by the Windsoressex Economic Development Corporation's Small Business Centre, RISE is an umbrella organization for its partners, Windsoressex Small Business Centre, the University of Windsor's Epicentre, Workforce Windsoressex, Wetech Alliance, Build-a-dream and Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network. Funding is provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
“These resource organizations have beneficial programs. The missing piece was getting that information to women. Now they can find what they need at RISE'S one-stop shop,” says program director Nicole Anderson.
As word about RISE spreads, “the good news is there are many new faces,” Anderson says. More women are connecting with program organizations and accessing information and support.
Located in the Windsoressex Small Business Centre at 119 Chatham St W. in Windsor, RISE meets clients online during COVID-19. The internet was also the venue for 400 women attending the free RISE & Resilience 2021 Summit on Feb. 11. Guest presenters shared advice on work and life skills relevant to local women.
“I think that together, partnering organizations are creating an environment that is breaking down barriers, that is empowering women in STEM and entrepreneurship,” says Anderson. “We have such incredible women in our area” who deserve encouragement and opportunity.
WEST of Windsor information is available at 519-255-9200, ext. 2255 or risewindsoressex.com.
Some of the other organizations in place to support women in community include:
• Windsoressex Small Business Centre at 119 Chatham St. W. in Windsor. 519-253-6900. Also at 39 Maidstone Avec E. in Essex. 519-776-1116. windsoressexsmallbusiness.com.
• University of Windsor's Epicentre at Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre, 2455 Wyandotte St. W. in Windsor. 519-253-3000, ext. 3553. epicentreuwindsor.ca.
• Workforce Windsoressex at 880 North Service Rd. in Windsor. 226-674-3220. workforcewindsoressex.com.
• Wetech Alliance, located inside the Epicentre Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre, 2455 Wyandotte St. W. in Windsor. 519-997-2863. wetechalliance.com.
• Build-a-dream at 6465 Hawthorne Dr. in Windsor. 519-8001222. webuildadream.com.
• Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network at the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, 1501 Howard Ave. 519-997-2855. eangelnetwork.com.