{"id":72212,"date":"2021-05-19T14:13:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=72212"},"modified":"2021-06-15T14:29:03","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T18:29:03","slug":"brock-toes-niagara-aim-to-enhance-lives-of-marginalized-women-and-families-through-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2021\/05\/brock-toes-niagara-aim-to-enhance-lives-of-marginalized-women-and-families-through-partnership\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock, TOES Niagara aim to enhance lives of marginalized women and families through partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

After years of working together on projects that empower immigrant and racially marginalized women and their families, Brock University and Tools of Empowerment for Success (TOES) Niagara are formalizing their long-standing partnership.<\/p>\n

The organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their ongoing collaborative relationship.<\/p>\n

Based in Welland, TOES Niagara offers workshops, programs and other support services to remove barriers for women and their families and help enable improved economic and educational outcomes. The organization connects youth with community mentors, provides entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, helps newcomers to Canada navigate the various systems they encounter, offers support with healing from the trauma of anti-Black racism, and encourages civic engagement, volunteerism and personal growth through its programming.<\/p>\n

Supporting immigrant and racially marginalized women is a critical part of building strong and inclusive communities that benefit all Canadians, said Lynn Wells, Brock Provost and Vice-President, Academic.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelping women and their families to achieve their dreams of becoming engaged citizens will only enhance the life and vitality of the Niagara region,\u201d she said. \u201cThrough research, mentorship and other support opportunities, Brock University is pleased to play a role in assisting TOES Niagara with its pivotal work locally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Born through years of research collaboration, the partnership between the two organizations has included a number of projects over time. The latest is an ongoing three-phase research initiative taking place through the University\u2019s Social Justice Research Institute.<\/p>\n

The project, which began in 2019, is led by Associate Professor of Nursing Joanne Crawford and looks at strategies to promote inclusion of immigrant women in Niagara. The research team is examining services and activities that support social inclusion for immigrant women, while also looking at developing and enhancing services to promote social inclusion.<\/p>\n

The University\u2019s research activities are strengthened by working with community partners like TOES Niagara to understand local problems and develop real-world solutions, said Tim Kenyon, Brock\u2019s Vice-President, Research.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe work currently underway by Dr. Crawford is a prime example of how researchers and community organizations can come together to create positive change,\u201d Kenyon said. \u201cEach brings valuable knowledge to the table. When combined, these insights can have a tremendous impact locally and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collaborating with Brock has enhanced TOES Niagara\u2019s ability to assist the people it serves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are simply some things we, as an organization, cannot do on our own,\u201d said Nyarayi Kapisavanhu, Executive Director of TOES Niagara. \u201cThis partnership has allowed us to increase our research capability, our capacity to directly engage with the community and our ability to promote and fund our programming.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MOU \u201copens a world of possibilities\u201d when it comes to future collaborations with Brock\u2019s faculty, staff and students, Kapisavanhu said.<\/p>\n

Initiatives Brock and TOES Niagara have previously collaborated on include:<\/p>\n