WomenatthecentrE, working with the Peterborough Domestic Abuse Network, met with some amazing women from the Peterborough region to support them in their efforts to get involved in their community. The meeting was facilitated by Eleni Rautiainen, the coordinator of the Peterborough Domestic Abuse Network, and was an opportunity to listen, to network, and to talk about some of the challenges women face in speaking up about abuse.

However the focus was on opportunities available for women, and the ways such participation can transform not just the individual, but the community. WomenatthecentrE will be following up with training for the woman in the fall of 2010.

On June 4th, WomenatthecentrE met with Susan Jewett, the community lead on the Halton Violence Prevention Council, to discuss ways to engage women survivors in the region. WomenatthecentrE will be developing a strategy to support the community, and to identify women who are interested in using their experiences to inform service providers on ways to make systems more responsive to the needs of women and children who have experienced abuse.

On May 19th, WomenatthecentrE held our first fundraising event – the 3 Degrees of Sisterhood Dinner, organized by our creative consultant ReiCura.

Approximately 50 women gathered at Olivia’s at 53 to enjoy the prix fixe 4-course dinner. The night raised money to support the training initiatives WomenatthecentrE delivers to it’s members, such as workshops on self-representation in the family courts.

The 3 degrees represented the fact that every woman in the room was seperated by at most 3 degrees, and reminded us that are all no more than 3 degrees away from a woman who has experienced gendered violence.

Mothers and daughters, sisters and best friends, all turned up on a perfectly sunny evening to enjoy the live music and professional photography courtesy of the exceptionally talented Light Monkey Photography team.

Click here to view the official press release.

On May 2nd the exceptionally talented photography duo Mark and Terri from Light Monkey Photography came to WomenatthecentrE’s offices to photograph the incoming Board of Directors. With hair beautifully sculpted by Linda Amoroso and Dawn Aloe of Rhome, and makeup skillfully applied by Annette King-Alexander, the members of the board looked stunning!

It was such a fun-filled experience for everyone – and pizza and wings helped!

See Light Monkey’s comments here.

Our first fundraising event is fast approaching! Organized by the best PR firm ever, ReiCura, this is going to be a wonderful girls-only evening. Don’t miss it!

On April 28th and 29th, WomenatthecentrE’s Executive Director, Nneka MacGregor, facilitated a two-day Women’s Wellness Workshop (W³) with women survivors. Hosted by the York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee, this workshop provided practical tools to help women navigate the family law process as well as develop their communication and public speaking skills.

Coordinated by the brilliant and dynamic Rubaiyat Karim and supported by the wonderful Minni Sehota, everybody in attendance learned and gained a lot.

On March 28th, Executive Director Nneka MacGregor and Vivien Green facilitated a full-day workshop in Owen Sound.

Women at the Centre was a workshop for women in the Grey Bruce/Owen Sound region, who have used services because of abuse, mental health or addictions issues, and for service providers and advocates.

The day was hosted by the phenomenal Colleen Purdon, the coordinator of the Grey Bruce Violence Prevention Coordinating Committee and the Grey Bruce Mental Health, Addictions and Abuse Steering Committee, who sponsored the workshop, which was designed to:

• Build women’s leadership and voice
• Identify opportunities for joint action so services meet women’s needs
• Plan collaboration strategies to involve of survivors at agency and community planning

The Critical Connections Symposium promoted increased awareness of the impact of woman abuse as it relates to the safety and well being of children and families. This event featured internationally recognized keynote speakers, highlighted collaborative programs in Ontario and launched an “ideas and practice guide” – Critical Connections: Where Woman Abuse and Child Safety Intersect – A Practice Guide for Child Welfare Professionals in Ontario – for service providers. This practice guide was heavily influenced by the feedback provided by women survivors in the December 2009 focus group facilitated by WomenatthecentrE in December.

Our Executive Director Nneka MacGregor attended and participated in panel discussions with Janet Meneses (survivor and community activist), Amandeep Kaur and Baldev Muttah (Punjabi Community Health Services), as they addressed ways to make the child welfare sector more responsive to the needs of diverse women in the province of Ontario.

On March 6th WomenatthecentrE’s Executive Director, Nneka MacGregor, facilitated a full-day workshop with women survivors who were representing themselves in the family court. Hosted by the Scarborough Women’s Centre, this workshop provided practical tools to help women navigate the process. Our next workshop will be in April in York region.