25 Feb Five reasons why women of colour in Ottawa need to volunteer with Empower’em.

Is this going to be your year to apply? Whether it’s been on your mind or if it just recently sparked an interest for you, allow us to give you 5 solid reasons to consider volunteering with us!

1. You will authentically empower Women of Colour!

What’s so great about Empower’em is that it was founded for and run by young women of colour (WOC). There is no grassroots organization in Ottawa that is dedicated to bringing together all groups of women of colour, regardless of their background.

What makes us so effective is our authenticity. We are not here to fill a diversity quota. We are not here to prove anything to anyone. We are just here for ourselves.

We often hear about the gender wage gap but did you know that there is an even more of a disparity in wage for women of colour! By being part of our team you will be at the forefront of the movement empowering and connecting WOC in meaningful, hands-on ways.

2. You will find your support system

Empower’em is a family. Every person we choose comes to our home with the principles of respect for all. We take great care in trying to uphold our values of transparency, inclusiveness and enthusiasm. What does this mean for you?

You will not only meet women who will share similar values to you but can also be confident that we will have your back. You will find support in us for your personal journey of struggles and growth.

Here, we take the words “come as you are, be as you are” very seriously. You can come prepared to feel safe, away from the gaze of society – without having to feel like you need to conform to a certain type of person – it will just be you and us.

3. You will build a better future together

Sounds like you are getting married, doesn’t it?

Being part of our team will definitely make you feel like you want to be in it till death do us part because what we are creating here is a movement. We are building safe spaces to normalize the experience of racialized people so that one day our kids can gather in such spaces and always know their worth. As a member of our team puts it …

“This work is important because it is what I wanted to see when I was little and it is what I want to see when my children are growing. So if you wanted to see it and if you need to see it then it’s the work that needs to be done.”

You will play a significant role in getting this work done and creating a better future for generations to come.

Of course, don’t ever forget the impact you will have now. Our work inspires young women who come to our events but just as importantly it will leave you inspired because you will realize how undefeatable we are together.

4. You will grow personally and professionally

The beauty of such an incredibly diverse team and organization is that you are guaranteed to learn something new. Whether it be about another culture, language or the best cafe in town!

Another reason for this growth is that we really value your ambitions as a person. We know that you will be volunteering your time and we want to make this worth it for you. So if you are here to improve your skills at graphic design or become a better facilitator. You will get a chance to do that. Our goal here is to allow you to have the freedom to explore your strengths by making those mistakes and learning from others.

5. You will have fun like never before!

The best part of it all is that you will do all of this while having a ton of fun!

Some days, our fun will be exhausting, but most days this fun will bring joy and warmth to your heart. We will dance to Lizzo at our clean up sessions and talk about trips we have been on, but whatever the conversation is, we will always make time for laughter.

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Are you convinced yet? If so, drop your info here and we will be in touch!

Have more questions? E-mail us at info@empowerem.ca! We are happy to provide more information.