Community Development

As communities change and grow, Working Women Community Centre works closely with clients to ensure that we provide responsive, culturally-sensitive and effective programs and services. Our Community Development programs are key to healthy, engaged and successful communities.

Working Women operates community development programs from our West Toronto and North York East offices.

At our West Toronto location, the Community Support Program extends traditional settlement supports for Spanish-speaking clients, many who have been in Canada for more than five years. Through information sessions, outreach, coalition building and community capacity building workshops, the Community Support Program helps to strengthen leadership, resources and supports within Spanish-speaking communities. Specifically, this program provides information and orientation sessions about community resources, develops translated materials related to immigration, housing and income security, helps to create community support groups, and develops volunteer capacity to work on a broad range of initiatives.

Community development programs at our North York East location involve a wide range of initiatives and provide opportunities for learning, civic engagement, social interaction, group development and capacity building.

Current programs include a weekly Conversation Club, where members practice their English, socialize and provide peer supports, the Wednesday afternoon Computer Club, which is run on a peer/volunteer support model, and the Seniors in Cyberspace computer training program in partnership with Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships. The Chinese Women's Group, Farsi Women's Group and Chinese Seniors Group are flourishing with ongoing support and encouragement from staff and group members.

With a large number of our clients keenly motivated to learn, we have successfully showcased speakers and workshops covering important information about health, community services, environmental and legal issues, amongst others.

In new efforts to provide relevant community services, we are developing a Community Garden project with FoodShare and the Oriole Community Services Association, and a Talk and Learn program with Better Beginnings and other partners for parents of young children. We are also in the formative stages of designing a flexible after school program for clients and their children.