2010 - 2011 - Scarborough Women's Centre

Building Brighter Futures!Scarborough Women’s CentreAnnual Report 2010-2011

Mission StatementScarborough Women’s Centre facilitates theempowerment of women to make long-term positivechanges with confidence.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEI'm delighted to have returned as President for a 2nd year. 2010-11 was filled withgreat achievements. We saw our outreach relationships strengthened with the YoungWomen's (Building Strong Futures) and Women with Disabilities (Expanding theReach) Projects. We also witnessed the outcomes of the Business DevelopmentProject which ended in December 2010. It is through these programs and initiativesthat Scarborough Women's Centre is able to continue its mission to empower womento make long term, positive changes with confidence.Over the course of the past year the Centre has been fortunate to celebrate awonderful milestone - our Executive Director celebrated her 25th Anniversary ofservice! This achievement is a true testament to Lynda's unwavering commitmentand dedication. Thank you, Lynda! You are very special to all of us!As I step down from Presidency this September, I know the Board will continue to drive the mission ofScarborough Women's Centre to ensure our services are available to our community and continue oursuccess in building the Centre through donations and partnerships. With the support of volunteers, staff,individuals, corporate, foundation and government funders - we can support women to make brighter futuresfor themselves and their families!Irene ReyBoard PresidentEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGEWhen a small group of dedicated community members and agencies startedScarborough Women’s Centre in 1982, I’m sure they couldn’t have imagined howfar it would come in 29 years. And when I joined the Centre 25 years ago thispast March, I hoped, but didn’t know for sure, that it would grow into such awonderful place, full of possibilities.We hope you will enjoy reviewing our progress over the past year – women’saccomplishments, our new and developing programs and projects, and thesupport and camaraderie of community working together towards a common goal.I want to especially thank retiring Board President Irene Rey for her excellent workand the many hours she spent with the Board and committee members to help theCentre grow into a mature organization responsive to community needs.Our staff, volunteers and facilitators are so important to making the Centre a greatplace for women. Thank you so much!None of this would be possible without our funders and donors who help keep the doors open. I hope youknow how important you are! Thank you for making women’s well-being a priority in your lives!I look forward to celebrating our 30 th anniversary with you next year...Lynda Kosowan, MSW, RSWExecutive DirectorMary Heinmaa,Ladies Who Launchvolunteer withSpecial GuestSpeaker VickySunohara at the2010 AGMJennifer Kirner ofTELUS presents acheque to Lynda insupport of our YoungWomen’s OutreachProgramScarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20111

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSWomen learn together in small groups with a trained facilitator. The workshops& courses focus on foundational issues such as self-esteem, assertiveness,dealing with anger, communication and finding life purpose.For all courses and workshops: 892 attended courses & workshops 864 women completed 3140 hours of service were delivered 79% of participants paid no fee for theirEducational program: 52% of participants attended a freeworkshop 28% of participants were subsidized -18% received a full subsidy, and 10% apartial subsidy. 21% of participants paid the full fee for their course or workshopFor courses and workshops offered at our Centre: 68% of women participating completed their goal plan during the period 35 workshops, 12 courses and a women’s wellness forum were offered Outcomes reported (some women had more than one outcome): Personal Development (e.g. support networks, problem-solving,confidence-building) - 800 Life skills to move forward - 202 Obtained useful information - 221 Economic Independence (e.g. employment, training, job search,started own business) - 124 Freedom from violence (e.g. make a plan to leave abuse, leaveabuse, not return to abuse) - 69Courses & workshops offered offsite: Growing Healthy Together - 5 workshops on woman abuse for pregnant, at-risk women Expanding the Reach: Outreach to Women with Disabilities - 4 workshops,1 leadership development training program Building Strong Futures - Outreach to Young Women - 15 workshops, 1leadership development training program Newcomer Women’s Wellness - 7 workshopsSpecial thanks to the City of Toronto Community Service Partnership, theProvince of Ontario through Ontario Women’s Directorate (Investing inWomen’s Futures Program), The George Lunan Foundation, J.P. BickellFoundation, The McLean Foundation, St. Andrew’s CharitableFoundation and the RBC Foundation for theirgenerous funding of our Educational programs!Tracy Lytle, AdministrativeAssistantBoard Members ChristinaFriend and Irene ReyGreg Hopper of Victoria VillageHockey League presents adonation cheque to LyndaGrants Review CommitteeSharleen Mascoll, Cindy TanLadies Who LaunchEllen Bear, Jackie Davies, LynnFournier-Ruggles, Mary HeinmaaPlacement StudentsGeorge Brown CollegeTheresa Palmer-Mariani, JoannaViolante (Assaulted Women &Children Advocate Program)Natasha Pelage (Community WorkerProgram)Seneca CollegeEmerald Massey (Social ServiceWorker Program)University of Guelph (at Humber)Samantha Robinson (Family &Community Social Services Program)University of TorontoReshma Dhrodia, Lauren McInroy(Faculty of Social Work)Mentors/TutorsPamela Ayearst, Bilkes Bassirullah,Nasreen Bhatti, Kiran Chandra,Linda Chavez, Karen Clarke,Suchana Das, Manduni DeFreitas,Diana D'Souza, Crystal Duncan,Penelope Dunlop, Debra Garside,Francine Hickman, Ruby Jaswal,Alexandra Jocic, Natasha Josiah,Karolina Kazinczi, Shirlanne King,Marcela Kupfer, Anjana Magapu,Sunaina Mannan, Judit Marincan,Ann Marks, Lipika Mitra, SamaraMoore, Nkele Motshwane, CarmenNg, Gabriella Puschel, Krista Roesler,Naila Ruba, Kiran Samra, KoreenSimon, Razia Thadani, SandhyaUduwawala, Estella Williams, LolitaWilson, Christine Wood, SheemaYousefzaiHost VolunteersShahaz Begum, Selina Boatemaah,Kathy Christie, Diana D'Souza,Bharati Guha, Roshan Kahi, LipikaMitra, Sonia Prashad, Krista Roesler,Koreen Simon, Sandhya Uduwawala,Denise WallEvent VolunteersYvette Bailey, Elaine Dandy, KristineEwing, Christina Friend, StaceyGrammick, Mary Heinmaa, RoshanKahi, Lynda Kosowan, KimberleyLeyde, Adam Lytle, Tracy Lytle, JuditMarincan, Kathryn McKechnie, LipikaMitra, Theresa Palmer-Mariani,Natasha Pelage , Irene Rey,Samantha Robinson, Neeti Sharma,Koreen Simon, Lambrini Soulos,Cindy TanScarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20113

WebmasterSimi LachmanDONORSGovernment FundersService Canada, The Government ofOntario through Ontario Women’sDirectorate, City of Toronto -Community Service PartnershipCity of Toronto – Community SafetyInvestmentFoundationsCatherine Donnelly Foundation, TheGeorge Lunan Foundation, J.P.Bickell Foundation, Johansen-LarsenFoundation, Lee Tak Wai FoundationMackenzie Financial CharitableF o u n d a t i o n , T h e M a c L e a nFoundation, The Ontario TrilliumFoundation, RBC Foundation,Realtors Care Foundation, RoyalLePage Shelter Foundation St.Andrew’s Charitable FoundationCorporate/Group DonorsA s s o c i a t i o n o f F u n d r a i s i n gProfessionals, Bad Boy FurnitureW a r e h o u s e L t d . , C a n a d i a nFederation of University Women(Scar borou gh Cha p ter) , C BAManagement Services, CentennialCollege School of Business, CIBC,Dell Direct Giving Campaign, DirectEnergy, Elementary TeachersFederation of Ontario, ElementaryTeachers of Toronto, ElementaryTeachers of Toronto - Status ofWomen Committee, Eli Lilly CanadaInc., Etobicoke-Brampton SleepClinic, Insync Organizing Services.Local 558 Ontario Public ServiceEmployees Union. Malvern Cricket &S o c ia l C l ub , O n ta ri o P owe rGeneration Inc. Employees' &Pensioners' Charity Trust, RoyalLePage Estate Realty, ScarboroughGolf Club - Ladies Golf Section,Shoppers Drug Mart Store #1382,SSAB Central Inc., St. Mark's UnitedChurch, TD Bank Financial Group,T E L U S C o r p o r a t i o n , T E L U SEmployee Charitable Giving Program,Torkin|Maines LLP Barristers &S o l i c i tors , T o ro n Inv es tmentManagement, Victoria Village HockeyL e a gu e , W i l l ia m s Mc Co nn e l lAssociates Inc., Woodside Square“I feel that I am closerto reaching healing.”-Maria, Service UserSPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSBuilding Strong Futures: Young Women’s Project is geared towardpreparing young women for their futures by assisting them to become aware ofthe issues they face, and giving them the necessary tools to make positivechoices in their lives.We have touched the lives of 275 young women in the Scarborough areathrough workshops and outreach efforts. Our workshops include: “BuildingSelf-Esteem,” which encourages discussion, awareness of self-esteem andwhat actions may be taken to achieve and maintain a good self-esteem;Relationships 101 explores various types and characteristics of relationshipsincluding abuse; “What’s Next? Creating Directions to Desired LifeDestinations” encourages young women to envision their lives in 10 years andassists them in narrowing that vision down to steps they can take today to getthere; “Through a Different Lens: Self Image and the Media” uses criticalthinking questions and pictures from the media to demonstrate how it affects ayoung woman’s view of herself and the resulting choices she makes.In Fall 2010 we introduced an 8-week Young Women’s LeadershipDevelopment Program. Ten young women graduated as YW Ambassadorsfrom this program and created a community project aimed at raising awarenessabout young women’s issues in the community. They developed and staged aperformance using dance, poetry and interactive quizzes, and performed for anaudience of over 50 youth at a high school in one of the high-priorityneighbourhoods. Three of the YW ambassadors also volunteered to perform foran International Women’s Day celebration at a community organization inanother high-priority neighbourhood in an effort to further spread their message.Thank you to our valued volunteers and generous sponsors: City of Toronto’sCommunity Safety Investment Program, TELUS Corporation, TheJohansen-Larsen Foundation and Mackenzie Financial CharitableFoundation.Alyssa Muzaffar, Project CoordinatorExpanding The Reach: Women With Disabilities ProjectThis outreach to women with disabilities operated until December 2010, andhas just received new funding to June 2014. Conducted in partnership withBirchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre and Springtide Resources(formerly Education Wife Assault), it provides an opportunity for women withdisabilities to come together in a safe and supportive environment to addressissues in their lives. The purpose is to support women to build economic and/oremotional independence in their lives, free of abuse.Workshops and trainings were attended by 72 women during this period. Theworkshops included: “Exploring Invisible Boundaries,” “Believing in Yourself,”“Understanding Healing and Loss,” and “Launching Your Life With CreativeTools to Thrive.” We piloted a leadership development training in Fall 2010, withspecial support provided by Springtide Resources. This training was designedto equip women with disabilities with skills they can use to take a leadership rolein their communities – including self-advocacy, supporting others, co-facilitation,communication and networking. The women were actively involved indesigning, delivering and critiquing the training.Project Coordinator Margaret Shalma has returned to post-graduate studies.We will miss her great work and her passion for this project. With the excitingnews of new funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation and the CatherineDonnelly Foundation, we look forward to telling you about the growth of thisproject in the years to come!Our thanks to Canadian Women’s Foundation and The Catherine DonnellyFoundation for their support of this project in 2010-11.Scarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20114

SUPPORTSupport Programs at the Centre consist of One-to-One Counselling with aprofessional Counsellor, or a One-to-One match with a trained volunteermentor or tutor. This year, 341 women used the Support Programs – 327women came for Counselling, and 14 women had mentoring/tutoring matches.Counselling ServicesThe Counselling service provides women with options to explore any goalsthat they would like to work on. This includes issues of domestic violence,healthy relationships, settlement, employment and education. TheCounselling provided is one-to-one and is primarily from a cognitivebehaviouralapproach, although other models are used based on the women’sneeds.“I will take one bravestep forward.”- Sara, Service UserSocial Assets (36% of reported outcomes) Connected with community resources: 214 Built support networks: 79Personal Assets (24% of reported outcomes) Recognized unhealthy relationships andsituations: 125 Left abusive situation: 64 Recognized and built on personal strengths: 5 Develop self care strategies: 4 Became emotionally independent: 4Physical Assets (24% of reported outcomes) Addressed physical and emotional healthconcerns: 176 Obtained safe, affordable housing: 11 Obtained practical supports: 11Human Assets (13% of reported outcomes) Registered for further training: 67 Prepared for and initiated job search: 23 Built communication skills: 11 Improved job performance: 5Financial Assets (3% of reported outcomes) Obtained employment: 13 Financial arrangement: 5 Started own business: 1This past year, 327 women were supportedthrough the Counselling service to achieve thefollowing goals, using an asset-based model. Wetracked the outcomes reported by women usingthe Counselling service (some women had morethan one outcome). Highlights include:Mentoring/Tutoring ServicesBev Dalys of the Johansen-Larsen Foundation presentsBoard President Irene Reywith a donation cheque to theYoung Women’s OutreachProgramTo assist women in meeting their goals, we provide additional supportthrough the Mentoring Program, where we match a woman with a trainedvolunteer. While meeting with a supportive volunteer on a weekly basis,mentees can work on improving their language skills, job-hunting techniquesand transitioning out of unhealthy relationships. Mentors meet with theirmentee in a public place such as a mall, coffee shop or a library. Both areencouraged to set up activities for their hour-long meeting that are appropriateto the mentee’s goals.Thanks to our funders: The City of Toronto, Community ServicePartnership, Government of Ontario through Ontario Women’sDirectorate and RBC Foundation.Individual DonorsTamara Akopcan, Jill Andrew,Anonymous, Donna Arnett, Ina Avote-McWilliams, Yvette Bailey, KarenBoniface, Carolyn Borovicka, GloriaCostello, Elaine Dandy, FilomenaDeSousa, Niroma DeZoysa, Sumeet(Sonu) Dhanju, Sherri Dickie, LorettaFines, Suzanne Gibson, StaceyG ra m m ick , K are n G r im sha w ,Moushumi Hasan, Mary Heinmaa,Debbie Herridge, Francine Hickman,Evelyn Hill, Mary Howe Kapitza,Barbara Jamieson, Heidi Johnson,Allan Kosowan, Nan & Bill Kosowan,Lynda Kosowan, Marcela Kupfer,Alison Leyde, Lorraine Mackie, DianaMaliszewski, Raul Manzano, JuditMarincan, Lyn McDonell, SandraMcNeill, Darcy Miller, ChristineMiranda, Annisa Mohammed,Catherine Molyneux, Xiaolin Ni, TomNorton, Jennifer Paul, David Pauli,Senator Vivienne Poy, Jeff Proc, LeeAnn Ryan, Shary Sawh, RoslynShields, Koreen Simon, Shirley Smith,Lambrini Soulos, Penelope Stuart,Cindy Tan, Craig Thomas, DeniseTong, Loretta Traynor, DarleneWatmanIn-Kind DonorsA l d g a te C o n s tr u c tion , M o n aAzadmanesh, Jhonattan Bonilla -Graphic Designer, Canadian TireGolden Mile, Oshin Chhabra, ElaineDandy, Michael Harkness, Tim Howe,Faissal Hussain, Lorraine KimsaTheatre for Young People, MapleLeaf Sports & Entertainment, OntarioScience Centre, Jane Orend - ProBono Law Ontario, Natasha Ramnath,Shawn Smith - Systems IntegratedSolutions, Swiss Herbal RemediesLtd., Wild Water KingdomFundraising/Third-Party EventsCanadian Federation of UniversityWomen (Scarborough Chapter)Fashion Show, Elaine Dandy / A“Jest” Cause Comedy Event, MalvernCricket & Social Club, Nadia Taylor,Scarborough Golf Club - Ladies’Section, Sears Scarborough TownCentre, Shoppers Drug Mart Store#1383 Tree of Life Campaign, VictoriaVillage Hockey League, WoodsideSquareScarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20115

INVESTING IN WOMEN’S FUTURES PROGRAMTHE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO, ONTARIO WOMEN’S DIRECTORATEInvesting in Women’s Futures is a program focused on Employment support and Prevention of violenceagainst women. The funding program was reviewed over the past 2 years by Ontario Women’s Directorate,to ensure that it is meeting the goals of the Directorate. We were very pleased to learn that this valuableprogram will continue. It funds women’s organizations across the province to provide services appropriate totheir own communities.At Scarborough Women’s Centre in 2010-11, 431 individual women were involved in counselling and/oreducational programs funded through the IWF program. Some women worked on more than one issue. Violence Against Women Services: 194 Employment Support Services: 372 (includes pre-employment)Outcomes Reported:Violence Prevention 143 women were supported to seek healing and freedom from abuse 104 women developed safety plans to be free from abuse 77 women left abusive situationsEconomic Independence 276 women accessed information on strategies to become economically independent 165 women developed economic independence action plans 106 women achieved economic independence through further training (85), obtaining employment (19) orstarting their own business (2)Jobs obtained were: Permanent Full time: 16 Permanent Part Time: 4Further Training was: Academic upgrading: 17 Skills training: 61 Other (college, university): 72010 Volunteer of the Year,Koreen SimonBoard members Sharleen Mascolland Yvette BaileyLynda accepts a donation from EdChan of Shoppers Drug MartStore #1382Financial StatementsIncome: $347,853Expenses: $355,635Deferred Revenue to 2011-2012 Special Projects: $46,051Unrestricted ContingencyReserve: $28,927Lynda with her parents, Nan & BillKosowan, generous donors andlongtime supporters of the Centre.Marcela Kupfer,Ontario Volunteer ServiceAward recipient (10 years ofservice)Scarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20116

BOARD COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTSWorking with a business plan that is tied into the agency’s strategic plan, committees accomplished manygoals in 2010-11. Each committee is chaired by a Board member. Some committees include a mix of Boardmembers and community volunteers/agency members.In 2009-12, the strategic directions of the Centre are:Increase financial sustainabilityExpand accessibility of existing services to meet the needs of diverse Scarborough womenBuild effective partnerships where appropriateStrengthen the human resource baseRaise profile of Scarborough Women’s Centre in the communityFinance Committee: Ongoing stewardship and accountability for management of donated and granted funds Prepared for the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax and analyzed its impact Reviewed service user fee structures and decided on a pilot test of free educational courses andworkshops (subsidy has always been available, but a fee can be a perceived barrier for some women oflow-income) Reviewed office equipment tenders and selected an efficient, cost-effective system Worked to build the unrestricted reserve of the Centre to meet contingencies Worked with the Grants Review committee to review financial aspects of grant proposals Worked with the Fundraising Committee to review fundraising strategies for the CentreFundraising Committee: Held a successful fundraising event, “Much Ado About Me” Wellness Fair in May 2010, with theCentennial College School of Community and Health Studies Encouraged development of 3 rd party eventsto benefit the Centre – and supported Elaine Dandy’s “A Jest Cause” Comedy Night; the Victoria VillageHockey Tournament Raffle; and the Canadian Federation of University Women (Scarborough Chapter)Fashion Show. Thank you! Partnered with the Finance committee to review fundraising strategies, making the decision to focus onindividual, group, corporate and foundation donors, rather than holding our own events Offered pitch training for Board members, senior staff and fundraising volunteers to increase oureffectiveness in obtaining resources for the Centre Held networking sessions with senior volunteers, Board members and friends of the Centre to identifyconnections to increase our effectiveness in resource developmentGovernance Committee: Planned and hosted the annual retreat of Board and management staff Consulted with stakeholders and recommended revisions to the Board for agency policies, including:Workplace Violence and Harassment, Human Resources, Complaints, Technology and Social networking Oversaw preparation for compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians withDisabilities Act – customer service standards Recruited, screened and oriented 3 Board members and 2 new committeemembersGrants Review Committee: Worked with the Finance Committee and Executive Director to review majorgrant applications, suggested revisions to deliverables and budgets basedon sustainability and capacity, recommended approval to the Board ofDirectorsStrategic Planning: Conducted ongoing environmental scan and analyzed impact on the Centreand the women we serve Began preparations for the stakeholder consultation on agency strategicdirections for 2012-15Board Members Ina Avote-McWilliams and AnnisaMohammedScarborough Women’s Centre Annual Report 2010-20117

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Scarborough Women’s Centre2100 Ellesmere Road, Suite 245Scarborough Ontario. M1H 3B7Phone: 416-439-7111 Fax: 416-439-6999www.scarboroughwomenscentre.ca