"Alright, Now What?" is a podcast from the Canadian Women’s Foundation. On the first Friday of every month, CKUT will air one new episode and two episodes from the archives where the CWF's experts and partners put an intersectional feminist lens on one topic or story we’ve all been hearing about … the issues and stories that just seem to keep resurfacing and make you wonder, “What’s this about?”, “Why is this still happening?”, and “How is it possible we haven’t fixed this yet?” They explore the systemic roots of these things and the strategies for change that will move us closer to the goal of gender justice.

Every 4th Friday of the month, 11am - Noon (EDT)

March 3, 2023: Stitching for Sustainability, Good Food in Tough Times, Leaning In

The Canadian Women’s Foundation, in partnership with CKUT, is pleased to join you once a month to share episodes of our podcast, Alright, Now What, where experts and our partners put an intersectional feminist lens on one topic or story we’ve all been hearing about … the issues and stories that just seem to keep resurfacing and make you wonder, “What’s this about?”, “Why is this still happening?”, and “How is it possible we haven’t fixed this yet?” We explore the systemic roots of these things and the strategies for change that will move us closer to the goal of gender justice.

Today’s first episode: Stitching for Sustainability

Economic stability is the ultimate goal of the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Investment Readiness Program, funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Innovation/Social Finance Strategy. It equips women and Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people to succeed in social entrepreneurship.

Caught in the daily news cycle of rising costs and inequities, Investees of our Investment Readiness Program are a bright spot. Munira Abukar represents one such Investee in Toronto, Ontario. She’s Project Coordinator of Social Enterprise at Scadding Court Community Centre and Co-Founder of Stitch Lab T.O. Stitch Lab works with local women designers to create their own one-of-a-kind products. It offers women skill development opportunities, and their products are made from repurposed and rescued fabric.

Two thirds of people in Canada know a woman who has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, but only 1 in 5 feel very confident in their ability to support someone experiencing abuse.   If someone in your life used the Signal for Help or told you they were experiencing abuse, would you know how to help?  

The Canadian Women’s Foundation has launched the Signal for Help Responder online mini course to help you learn how to support a friend, family member, or colleague who is experiencing abuse: http://learn.signalforhelpresponder.ca

Second episode: Good Food in Tough Times

In these rocky economic times, affordable, sustainable food seems elusive. Can you do food business in a way that does good? How are women and equity-seeking people leading the way? Lots of women and equity-seeking people get into entrepreneurship. It makes sense. Those who face barriers to stable, safe employment have to get creative. They often get entrepreneurial. They have dreams of not only running their own businesses, but doing good in the world while they do it. But these same entrepreneurs also face barriers to growing and financing their business ambitions. That’s why our Investment Readiness Program is so special. It helps business enterprises that do good in the world - run by and for women and gender-diverse people - get investment-ready. Some of these social purpose businesses are still in the concept stage. Some are in a launch or growth stage. This brings us to Brianne Miller, founder of Nada in Vancouver, British Columbia, a certified B-Corporation and carbon negative package-free grocery store and delivery service on a mission to connect people to a more equitable, just, and regenerative food system. Nada is one of our Investment Readiness Program Investees that's up and running and doing its thing.

And now an episode from our vaults on The Trouble With Leaning In:

Many of us know what it's like to be told to "lean in". And there are lots of articles on how women and equity-seeking people can better ask for what they need and want at work. It's all meant as helpful advice, but especially in a pandemic where we've experienced historic setbacks in gender equity in the labour market, how helpful is it? Does "leaning in" actually work? What are the more useful question to ask about building gender justice at work, and what are some of the more useful answers? Sagal Dualeh, Director of the Investment Readiness Program at the Canadian Women's Foundation, speaks to this issue broadly, as well as to her specific work changing the landscape of entrepreneurship so more of us can access its opportunities and promises.

Listen to the latest episodes of our Alright, Now What? podcast wherever you get your podcast content.

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