South Asian Women's and Immigrants' Services Inc.

Published purpose

Through this 33-month systemic change project, South Asian Women's and Immigrants' Services Inc. (SAWIS) will scale the “Pandemic Response by Highly Impacted Communities” project to advance women’s economic security and prosperity and increase representation in leadership and decision-making roles. It will work with visible minority newcomer women (VMNW) in SAWIS's catchment community (Scarborough and Greater Toronto Area (GTA)) previously identified as women leaders and activists to scale-up the scope and level of engagement in system change activities. It will address inequalities related to gender, race, ethnicity, immigration status and labour market position and initiate collective action. To do so, the project will a) recruit and activate project leaders and working groups; b) consolidate knowledge of community impact of inequities and response for systemic change; c) conduct GBA+ and environmental scans to understand the community’s needs for social policy change and decision making d) activate working groups led by community leaders; e) engage affected communities in systemic change initiatives; f) communicate and network; and g) monitor and evaluate. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the South Asian Women's and Immigrants' Services Inc. will A) Transition Equity Leaders from Foundational Activation to Advanced Policy and Systems Leadership; B) Transform Previously Consolidated Community Knowledge Into a New Action Oriented Policy Reform Agenda (CAP); C) Generate Advanced Equity Analyses to Support Policy Submissions, CAP Advocacy, and System Engagement; D) Empower Working Groups to Deliver New Community Driven Policy Engagement and Advocacy Activities; E) Host a New Community Led Systems Change Summit to Catalyze Cross-Sector Policy Commitments and Coordinated Collective Action; F) Formalize Strategic Partnerships and Access Agreements (MOUs) to Position VMNW Leaders Within Decision Making Spaces; and G) Embed Adaptive Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) for Next Stage Policy Influence. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.