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.

December 6th Karma Yoga Classes

YWCA St. John’s is pleased to announce that we are once again organizing our Karma Yoga initiative!

Karma Yoga Classes will be held on December 6th at various yoga studios in Metro St. John’s to commemorate Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and to provide a safe space for self-care and healing. Yoga is restorative in nature, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and can open the door to new beginnings and emotional healing.

Current schedule for December 6th:

• 12:10-1:00pm - Exhale Pilates and Yoga Studio, 11 Rowan Street, St. John's, NL (Suggested Donation: $15) [Level of Class: All levels - Hatha Flow]

• 4:45pm - Elements Yoga & Wellness, 12 Gleneyre Street, 3rd floor Wedgewood Medical Centre, St. John's, NL (Suggested Donation: $10) [Hatha Vinyasa]

• 6:00pm - Nova Yoga,  125 Long’s Hill, St. John’s, NL (Suggested Donation: $10, no one turned away for lack of funds) [Level of Class:1-2]

• 7:00-8:15pm - Embody Yoga and Wellness, 10 Forbes Street, St. John’s NL (Suggested Donation: Pay what you can, no one will be turned away for lack of funds) [Yin Yang Flow with Maria - all levels gentle yoga class with yin yoga focus; beginners are welcome]

• 8:30pm - Modo Yoga, 223-233 Duckworth St., St. John’s, NL (Suggested Donation: $10)

• TBA - Hot Yoga Bodies, 558 Old Broad Cove Rd, Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, NL

Admission is by donation, and all proceeds will go directly towards our anti-violence programming. Check back frequently as we announce participating yoga studios!

If you are a yoga studio owner or instructor and would like to host a Karma Yoga class, please email us at wendolyn@ywcastjohns.ca before November 30th.

Nominations Now Open for the 2019 Women of Distinction Awards!

Nominations for YWCA's 2019 Women of Distinction Awards are now open! The deadline to submit your nominations is November 18th, 2018.

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 fifth annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony will take place on March 8th, 2019 at Clovelly Golf Course (100 Golf Course Road, St. John's). 

Registration for the Young Women's Leadership Program is Now Open!

Join us for the Young Women's Leadership Program on July 17th and 18th!

This program is for young women and non-binary youth between the ages of 15 and 18. Throughout the two-day training, you will have the chance to build on your leadership skills, network with like-minded peers, and gain insight and confidence in your leadership abilities. Together, we will explore and build on our self-awareness, basic facilitation skills, building group dynamics, conflict resolution skills, and how we can all contribute to creating safe spaces. We will even have time to practice these skills by working together to co-facilitate four short, pre-developed workshops. 

The two-day training is FREE and will take place on Tuesday, July 17th and Wednesday, July 18th at the NL Housing and Homelessness Network (77 Charter Avenue). This space is accessible. Snacks and lunch will be provided on both days. 

Interested in attending? Registration is required. Please click here to access and complete the online registration form. 

Registration will close at the end of the day on July 4th, 2018. Please note: due to limited resources, registration for this program is limited. Make sure to register early to ensure you secure your spot!

Interested in joining but don't have access to transportation? Please reach out - while we have limited resources, we will do our best to make sure you are able to attend the program. 

If you have any questions or have trouble completing this registration form, you can reach us at kimberly@ywcastjohns.ca or 726-9922. 

Tickets Now Available for the 2018 Women of Distinction Awards

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here!

Introducing the 2018 Women of Distinction Nominees

We are proud to announce the 34 amazing women nominated for the 2018 Women of Distinction Awards! Interested in celebrating the accomplishments of these remarkable women? We will be highlighting each of these nominees on social media from February 12th until the Awards Ceremony on Mach 8th. Be sure to follow along and join in the celebrations.