Current Projects
Alberta Network of Immigrant Women's projects stem from discussion with women at the grassroots level, from which issues are researched and the recommendations are built into projects. These projects aim to build stronger communities and full participation in the economic, political and social fabric of Alberta, the province of their choice. Each project has an advisory committee and members for the committee are selected for their expertise and for their commitment to issues.
ANIW is addressing the recommendation made in this research through the following projects:
Capacity Alberta (Funded by Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism Program): This project builds the capacity of internationally educated/trained professionals, who have been most affected by the lack of recogition of their credentials in Canada. The project is building community and individual capacity for an informative and effective dialogue with all stakeholders in creating tangible solutions. For detailed information see www.capacityalberta.ca
Increasing women’s involvement as Decision makers in Community –Based Organizations (Funded by Status of Women Canada): ANIW is launching an innovative project to Increase the participation of women as leaders and decision-makers in community-based organizations. ANIW will be engaging immigrant women interested in gaining knowledge, skills and experience that lead to decision making and leadership roles. The project will consist of 2 components;
First, ANIW will conduct a gender-based analysis and needs assessment to identify barriers to immigrant women’s participation at the decision making table, as well as an analysis from the perspective of community based-organizations on the barriers and added value of the presence of immigrant women as leaders on their boards;
secondly, a mentorship program will partner immigrant women with board members of a community based organization to work together to create a peer-to peer mentorship learning environment that is inclusive of immigrant women, supportive of their recruitment, retention and advancement as decision makers and as future leaders.
Mapping Anti-Racism (Funded by Human Rights Education & Multiculturalism Fund): ANIW is currently working on continuing its commitment to challenging racism after our last project, An Aspect of Racism Seldom Discussed: Internalized Racism with our new Mapping project that will be mapping anti-racism initiatives across Alberta. This project has 3 components;
1. The stakeholders survey will be identifying organizations work, organizational structure and clients for a province-wide ‘map’ to be available for stakeholders and those who experience abuse through racism;
2. Participatory survey, a confidential survey that will be distributed to clients of those who offer support through counselling services and support. This survey will be conducted from the perspective of those who have experience racism and identify methods used after being confronted with racism.
3. Stakeholder’s forum will take place to share gathered information on anti-racism organizations as well as identifying best practices, available resources and build on future action steps on anti-racism discourse as identified by the stakeholders at the forum.
This ‘map’ will be presented to anti-racism stakeholders and made available to those who experience racism as a resource guide on services available to them when addressing the traumatic experiences of racism.
Equitable Treatment of Immigrant/Visible Minority Women as Employees and Volunteers in the Alberta Voluntary Sector: ANIW documented the experiences of immigrant/visible minority women working in this sector, identified human resources issues, and discussed the possibilities of solutions to the human resources issues within the non profit sector
Our Dignity in Our Hands (Funded by Alberta Law Foundation): A project on knowing one's rights at the workplace. An employment law handbook has been developed. ANIW facilitates workshops for women to learn about their rights in the workplace and how to address unfair treatment at the workplace, as well as employers who may not be following the law.
An Aspect of Racism Seldom Discussed ( Funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada): The project addresses issues of internalized racism - how to correctly identify it, and what one can do to empower themselves to overcome it.
Immigrant and Visible Minority Women: Mentors of Today and Tomorrow (Funded by Status of Women Canada): The aim of this project is to increase awareness and opportunities for women. For a detailed project description.