“The Women’s Economic Council is excited to announce that we are hosting an annual conference – Breaking Barriers: Promoting Inclusive BIPOC Leadership and Economic Development – where we will bringing together an amazing group of experts, leaders, and advocates from all over the country to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing BIPOC leadership and economic empowerment.” (Source: Women’s Economic Council Website)

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(Source: The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation Website)

The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation is participating in the Women’s Economic Council’s (WEC) May 2023 Conference entitled “Breaking Barriers: Promoting Inclusive BIPOC Leadership and Economic Empowerment”. This theme aligns well with our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Business Conversion Project, as it focuses on engaging more members of Equity-Denied Groups (EDGs) i.e. BIPOC, women, youth etc. into the Social Entrepreneurship space. Representatives from CWCF were invited to present at this free, EDG focused online event.  

Presenters Juliet ‘Kego Ume-Onyido and Janielle Maxwell will share their insights on “ The Need, the History, and the Legacy of Social Purpose”. This will involve an overview of CWCF’s JEDI Business Conversion Project (including its objectives, initiatives and events) and a discussion on why a JEDI centered approach to Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs) and the Canadian employment realm- is needed for true transformational change. 

Juliet ‘Kego Ume-Onyido will tackle themes such as the cultural affinity of EDGs to SPOs, challenges faced by EDGs in traditional realms and in business conversions, and how business conversions to SPOs can benefit marginalized groups. With a focus on women, she will also share insights on how mutual aid and co-operative economics have uplifted women facing domestic violence, financial trauma and abuse. Juliet will share from the perspective of 2 organizations of which she is a co-founder, Black Women Professional Worker Co-op and Whole Woman Network (which is in the process of converting to a non-share co-operative).

Janielle will touch on the challenges various members of EDGs face in the workplace and financial spaces, and the subsequent need for reform. She will also discuss the JEDI Business Conversion Project, as it is situated to help combat such struggles EDGs experience in many traditional business realms. The session will last for ~ 1 hour and will conclude with a Question & Answer period.

Register for this free online event: https://womenseconomiccouncil.ca/conference-register/