2016-17 annual report

COMMUNITY CENTRE

2016-17

To provide women with opportunities to improve their quality of life through self-development and community action.

ANNUALREPORT

2 WWCC 2016-2017 Annual Report

MESSAGE from the PRESIDENTOver the past year, we saw global politics play a defining role in making the world seem an uncertain place for immigrants and refugees. Yet, Working Women Community Centre (WWCC) continued to provide the programs and services necessary to give a warm welcome to newcomers starting their lives in Toronto. Our approach to supporting women and their families has grown from the belief that women are at the core of thriving communities, and this continues to ground our work and pave the way toward success. Thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, and the strong leadership of WWCC Executive Director Marcie Ponte, we had another productive year, and once again, I was honoured to serve as the President of the WWCC Board of Directors.

Despite ongoing uncertainty in the social services sector, WWCC has thrived. We were thrilled to be selected as a United Way Anchor Partner, which signals stability for our organization. Funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation enabled us to launch the FLOCK and Food Security projects that help WWCC address and reduce experiences of poverty. The generosity of private donations to HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents and Preschool Youngsters) and On Your Mark provided financial assistance to our Education programming. Without this support, we would not have the resources to extend existing programs and serve many diverse communities across the GTA.

Our work to further economic development for women is an ongoing commitment. Our facility for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) students is one of the few in Toronto that offers child-minding onsite, which removes a significant barrier for mothers of young children who want to improve their English skills. Through the Accelerated Family Integration Project (AFIP) for Syrian refugees, the Career Pathways Project for women with young children and Connector Co-working Space that supports local entrepreneurship, we are helping immigrants succeed during their transition into Canadian life.

Another important theme in our work is food security. We have taken the lead by expanding Oriole Food Space, a partnership with North York Harvest Food Bank and the Flemingdon Community Health Centre that receives funding from the City of Toronto to establish its long-term sustainability. This additional support allows WWCC to explore additional food initiatives from community gardening and opportunities for resident engagement to food-handling certification and community kitchens.

WWCC has also seen Toronto change over the years. As our city grows, we remain an active stakeholder with its planners, developers and politicians to ensure that the long-term interests of our communities are considered and protected. Specifically, WWCC has taken an active role in discussions regarding the redevelopment plans for the Dufferin-Bloor neighbourhood and Victoria Village.

All in all, we have had a busy year! On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank all of our staff, volunteers, funders, donors, and community partners for their hard work and dedication. We are very grateful for your ongoing support and commitment to the Centre.

Thank you.

Karen Sun President, Board of Directors WWCC

3WWCC 2016-2017 Annual Report

PROGRAMS and SERVICES at a Glance

• Community Development

• Volunteers

• Peer Leadership & Community Ambassadors Training

COMMUNITY SUPPORT & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - 8,260 SERVED

• Community-driven Initiatives at HUB

• Peer-led Programs and Activities

• Entrepreneurship Support

• Oriole Community Garden

• Oriole Food Space

FOOD SECURITY - 4,085 SERVED

• Community Engagement Initiatives

• LINC

• HIPPY

LEARNING & EDUCATION PROGRAMMING - 2,551 SERVED

• Career Pathways Project

• On Your Mark

• Settlement Counselling Services

• One-to-one Support

SETTLEMENT & INTEGRATION - 6,454 SERVED

• Accelerated Family Integration Project

• Live-in Care Support program

Making a Difference in the Lives Of Toronto’s Immigrant Women and their Families Since 1974.The Centre’s woman-focused and integrated settlement approach addresses the following:

SPECIALIZED WOMEN’S SUPPORT SERVICES - 7,211 SERVED

• Economic empowerment

• One-to-one Support

• Women’s Groups

• Personal Action Plans

• Violence Prevention

• Adjustment - learning English skills, adjusting to Canadian culture and redefining home in a new environment

• Adaptation - building a new life in Canada

• Integration - living in Canada free of barriers to economic, social, cultural and political inclusion


The FLOCK project, launched in the spring of 2017 from the Victoria Park HUB’s Connector Co-Working Space, is an innovative platform for women that bridges self-employment coaching and skills-training to local social services and community involvement.

Through FLOCK, WWCC will deliver programming that provides local women with the assistance and support to explore entrepreneurship. Project initiatives seek to impact the lives of 50 women, including newcomers, youth, and single mothers who have experienced poverty, and help them move toward employment and income security. This two-year project was developed as a response to their desire to contribute to the economic life of their communities.

The Victoria Park HUB was proud to WELCOME The Victoria Park HUB was proud to welcome Peterborough-Kawartha MP and Federal Minister of Status of Women Maryam Monsef, Don Valley East MP Yasmin Ratansi and Scarborough Centre MP Salma Zahid. All three MPs met in a small group setting with the women from the FLOCK project, demonstrating their support for the work we do in the community. For our participants, it was an unprecedented opportunity to engage in an intimate and informal setting with government officials.

FLOCK Project

During the launch, we introduced our first cohort of local women interested in starting their own journeys toward building wealth for themselves, their families, and their communities. Among this courageous and diverse group were newcomers, youth, and single mothers who have experienced poverty and multiple barriers. They shared their entrepreneurial visions in an Ideas Marketplace with attendees.

The focus of the FLOCK project is to reduce the poverty rates of vulnerable populations and gendered experiences of poverty. Funding has been provided provincially through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.


FOOD SECURITY ProjectWWCC is committed to reducing poverty among the communities we serve, and in the spring of 2017, we launched the Food Security project in the Don Mills-Sheppard and surrounding areas to increase direct access to food supports, enhance the sense of community in the neighbourhood, and highlight systemic issues related to food security.

This three-year project funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation focuses on the expansion and strengthening of Oriole Food Space (OFS), a partnership between WWCC, Flemingdon Health Centre and the North York Harvest Food Bank. Funding from the City of Toronto also contributes to the long-term sustainability of activities available through OFS.

OFS will offer increased opportunities for resident engagement, ongoing access to community/resident-led food initiatives, and improved access to affordable options such as community gardens and kitchens.


HELPING IMMIGRANTS SucceedACCELERATED FAMILY INTEGRATION PROJECT (AFIP)

Through AFIP for Syrian refugees, newcomer-families receive support to integrate into the community in key areas. HIPPY is a school readiness program for parents becoming acquainted with the Toronto education system. Community Food Works, a partnership with Toronto Public Health, trains participants for their food-handling certifications and connects them to employment opportunities. Settlement support programs, referrals to other social services and field trips to explore the city are also available to access.

CAREER PATHWAYS PROJECT

The Career Pathways Project, a pilot initiative developed with funding from Status of Women Canada and in partnership with Seneca College, provided the opportunity for mothers with young children to take upgrading classes, and pursue continuing education and employment training programs. Of the women who participated, 75% graduated from the program. Some continued their studies at Seneca College in September 2017.

CONNECTOR CO-WORKING SPACE

The Connector Co-working Space, our centre for social innovation located in the Victoria Park HUB, introduced its workshop series in December 2016 to support local entrepreneurship, small business owners and those who are thinking about starting their own business. Workshops provided guidance for developing a business plan, understanding the fundamentals of setting up a business, running a successful business and establishing an effective website.

THE VICTORIA PARK HUB

Established in 2010 with the help of United Way, the Victoria Park HUB located in East Toronto offers a “one-stop shop” for community supports and services accessible to local residents and newcomers. This includes a wide range of programming such as completing paperwork, children’s programs, language classes, community workshops and counselling. In November 2016, we celebrated the HUB’s sixth anniversary with a community event to highlight our achievements and success.


COMMUNITY EngagementARTS GROUPS

As part of WWCC’s Community and Civic Engagement programming, we offer arts groups through our Gladstone location to provide support to newcomers and local residents outside of a traditional service setting. Our arts-focused activities that include painting and arts and crafts encourage participation in community life, with the goal of ending the cycle of isolation. Funded by the City of Toronto, the program also provides participants with the opportunity to develop professional and social networks, and accelerate their integration into Toronto life.

LATINX PARENTS FOR CHANGE PROJECT

The Latinx Parents for Change Project, an initiative with Mennonite New Life Centre and funded by the City of Toronto, introduced its first cohort of participants in May 2016, and a year later, 32 parent ambassadors across three cohorts have completed 27 hours of training. These parents now have the tools and knowledge to advocate for their school-age children, and be community leaders for other parents. Among their accomplishments are organizing two community forums, facilitating workshops at parent conferences and community education programs, and forming an advocacy committee for Latinx parents in Toronto.


Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services

ACCES EmploymentAdvent Lutheran ChurchAisling Discoveries Child & Family Centre

Alzheimer Society of TorontoBirchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre

Black Creek Community Health Centre

Bloor Gladstone Library Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture

Canadian South Asian Growth and Support Services

Central Eglinton Community Centre Central Toronto Community Health Centre

Centre for Immigrants and Community Services

Children’s Aid TorontoChinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic

Church of St. Jude (Wexford) Anglican Church of Canada

Community Living TorontoDavenport Perth Neighbourhood Community Health Centre: Early Years

Don Mills Family Health TeamDoorsteps Neighbourhood Services East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church

Emery Adult Education Centre

Our PARTNERSErnestine’s Women’s Shelter Evergreen College Family Services TorontoFlemingdon Health CentreFirgrove Learning & Innovation Community Centre

Furniture BankGeorge Brown College Gooch Family Resource Program Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario

Hong Fook Mental Health Association

Humber College Immigrant Women’s Health CentreInjured Workers’ Consultants Institute of Chartered AccountantsIranian Women’s Organization of Ontario

Jessie’s CentreJVSKaren Partnership GroupLabour Community Services Malvern Family Resource CentreMennonite New Life Centre of Toronto

Meridian Credit UnionMETRACMothers of O’ConnorNew Circles Community ServicesNorth York Community HouseNorth York Harvest Food BankOntario Early Years CentreOpen Streets TOParkdale Parents’ Primary Prevention Project (5P’s)

Parkdale Community Health CentrePhilippine Overseas Labour Office Roseneath TheatreRBC (Bloor & Dovercourt Branch)Ryerson Tri-Mentoring Program, Centre of Community Partnerships

Scott Mission Childcare CentreSeneca CollegeSpringboard Stanley Public School, The Continuing Education Department

St. Stephen’s Community House TAIBU Community Health CentreThe Cross-Cultural Community Services Association

The Peoples ChurchThe Redwood ShelterThe Students CommissionThorncliffe Neighbourhood OfficeToronto and York Region Labour Council

Toronto Catholic District School Board

Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Toronto District School BoardToronto Green CommunityToronto Intergenerational Partnerships

Toronto Public HealthTropicana Community Services University of Toronto, Service Learning & Diversity Outreach Department

University SettlementWelcomePack CanadaWest Neighbourhood House Willowdale Community Legal Services

Woodgreen Community ServicesWorkers Action CentreWorkplace Safety & Prevention Services

Yorkdale Adult Learning CentreYork University, Concurrent Teacher Education Program

Young Parents No Fixed AddressYouth Services Network

WWCC is also a member of the following networks:Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto ChapterChinese Integration NetworkingHIPPY Canada Middle Childhood Matters TorontoOntario Council of Agencies Serving ImmigrantsSocial Planning TorontoToronto Neighbourhood CentresWoman Abuse Council of Toronto


VOLUNTEER Appreciation

There is no way to measure the personal contributions and tremendous commitment of our volunteers. But over the last year, they helped us to deliver more than 400 hours of programming support to our community engagement programs and more than 3,120 hours of personalized mentoring for newcomers to Canada. WWCC volunteers also include our volunteer Board of Directors, the college students who participate in placements at our locations, peer leaders who share their talents and skills, and many others who generously donate their time across our programming. The dedication, support, and warmth of all our volunteers have greatly contributed to welcoming newcomer-families to Toronto, and continue to have a meaningful impact on the diverse communities we serve.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2016-2017

REVENUES 2017 2016

Federal $3,406,090 $3,336,786

Provincial 281,676 309,932

Municipal 314,204 226,832

United Way 841,032 828,658

Foundations 389,779 352,615

Others 158,449 144,868

Total Revenues $5,391,230 $5,199,691

EXPENDITURES 2017 2016

Personnel $3,776,029 $3,626,971

Building Occupancy 843,191 812,989

Program Expenses 463,011 460,798

Administration 62,383 100,597

Equipment 104,798 66,168

Purchased Services 67,748 37,467

Staff Related Expenses 31,180 32,438

Insurance 13,444 12,036

Total Expenses $5,361,784 $5,149,464

Excess Revenues Over Expenses $29,446 $50,227


FEDERALImmigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) LINC Welcoming Communities

Ministry of Labour Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Status of Women Canada

PROVINCIALMinistry of Citizenship Newcomers Settlement Program (NSP) Ontario Womens’ Directorate Pay Equity Funding

MUNICIPALCity of Toronto Community Service Partnership Investing in Neighbourhood Legacy Fund Community Food Works

Our FUNDERS

FINANCIAL Overview

United Way of Greater Toronto

Foundations/Organizations Brookfield Foundation JVS Toronto Ontario Trillium Foundation Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Regional Government of the Azores Tides Canada Toronto Employment & Social Services


• Compassionate and holistic programming with a focus on families• Community and neighbourhood building that is inclusive and engaged• Asset and peer-based • Integrated settlement and community engagement model embedded in all programs and services

Our APPROACH

When a woman is given an opportunity to realize her full potential, we are all better for it.At Working Women Community Centre (WWCC), we’ve been making a difference in the lives of Toronto’s immigrant women and their families since 1974. And through our work over the decades we see time and again that access to the right programs and services build healthy communities. From settlement counseling and community initiatives to economic development and resident engagement, we deliver programs and services based on a dignified model that makes WWCC feel like a trusted friend.

Be OUR PARTNERThe generous support of our volunteers, donors and funders has made the important work we do every day possible. Without it, we wouldn’t have the resources to help newcomer families who are struggling with significant challenges including poverty, unemployment and isolation.

Together, let’s create new possibilities.

Please visit us at www.workingwomencc.org/support/get-involved to find out more about how your contribution would have a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

Thank you.

COMMUNITY CENTRE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Karen Sun

Vice-President Janet McGill

Secretary Bethany Koughan

Treasurer Diane Simpson

Members Sarah Thom Sarah McQuarrie Diana Abraham Deborah Lobbezoo Hema Vtas

Executive Director Marcie Ponte

OUR LOCATIONS

Downtown 533A Gladstone Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6H 3J1Tel. 416-532-2824 Fax 416-532-7432

North York East Centre 5 Fairview Mall Drive, Suite 478 North York, Ontario M2J 2Z1Tel. 416-494-7978 Fax 416-494-5266

Victoria Park HUB 1527 Victoria Park Avenue, 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M1L 2T3Tel. 416-750-9600 Fax 416-750-9606

North York West Centre 2065 Finch Avenue West, Suite 106 Toronto, Ontario M3N 2V7Tel. 647-346-3700 Fax 647-346-3701

Email: [email protected] www.workingwomencc.org

2016-17 annual report

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