In 2005/2006, we launched a strategic project through the literacy program to incorporate women’s voices into the governance structure of WISH. Funded by Status of Women Canada, Emerging Voices Part II was designed to bring the voices of women who use WISH into the organization’s de-cision-making committees. The project has had a profound impact on the organization. Emerging Voices participants have helped re-write the volunteer manual and are now part of orienting new volunteers. They also helped design a new peer volunteer program at WISH and created a successful application to the Vancouver Foundation to support the coordination of this new program. The work of the EV2 participants also inspired WISH to change its by-laws to ensure three Board positions are occupied by women who use WISH.
Emerging Voices Part II used a co-operative learning curriculum that supported women in the development of committee skills. We created a chart which showed the progression of four skills: discussion skills, note taking, problem solving and hosting/chairing. We used this rubric as an individual assessment and goal-setting tool and a way to bring awareness to the literacy and thinking skills involved in committee work. Women were able to practice and use these skills within the group, at monthly Women’s Advisory Group meetings and at WISH’s committee meetings. We have included the committee skills chart and a note taking format that helped to structure the job of taking minutes (everyone’s least favourite job!)
As part of the program, Emerging Voices participants were registered in a non-credit course at Capilano College and received Capilano College student cards. Women were also paid a small honorarium for their committee work. This project has been successful in many ways, including graduating 7 out of 8 participants and demonstrating the value of women’s voices throughout the organization.
Women’s experience and the perspective were highly valued in the project. The participants’ compassion, wisdom and take action energy propelled us through difficult issues and challenging projects. Women also initiated and carried out their own projects such as the Mother’s Day Care Package Project. The group applied for funds, usually earmarked for field trips, to create 90 care packages for women working the streets the night before Mother’s Day. Individually, we all benefited from the weekly support offered by the group. It helped us through many traumatic experiences over the course of the project such as the death of loved ones, homelessness, violence, court appearances and serious health issues.