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Sistering – A Woman’s Place
Sistering is a woman’s organization that offers practical and emotional support to women through programs which enables them to take greater control over their lives. Guided by the principles of Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression, Sistering works to change social conditions which endanger women’s welfare. |
Charting History & Crafting Partnerships
Inspirations was established in 1994, with funding from the Women’s Community Economic Development Network. Inspirations established itself as a woman’s craft/artisan collective by providing under-housed/homeless women an opportunity to participate in meaningful economic activity, by providing direct access to the market place for women working with handmade crafts.
Inspirations was initially sponsored by the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses and later by the 761 Community Development Corporation. The initiative was established via craft groups with women at hostel and drop-in settings in Metro Toronto. There were 4 locations, where women met: including Sistering Drop-In, Hostel Outreach Program (HOP), On Our Own, The Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre (PARC). The women from the five locations became comfortable in their own environment, and with the idea of selling their own goods; they were then invited down to the central location of 761 Community Development Corporation to work as a group.
The women were given skills in artistic craft and production through involvement in Community Economic Development and in micro business development literacy. Inspirations’ members used these skills to produce artistic craft products and participated in off-site market places on a regular basis. They were also able to establish a designated area within Prezents of Mind, a marketplace for crafts people experiencing long-term poverty, including consumers/ survivors of the mental health system.
Sistering has several years of experience in project management and specific knowledge of managing similar initiatives gained through its “Crafty Sisters” project funded by Ontario Women’s Directorate in 1997 and 1998. Crafty Sisters was a multi-component project, which included practical crafts and arts focus, and a community economic development component. The project was developed with these two components, to increase participants self-esteem as there are therapeutic benefits to the self-expression aspects to arts and crafts, and to provide opportunities for women earning income that would supplement their existing income (the majority of the participants were social assistance recipients). With this experience Sistering in 2001 was asked by Inspirations members and funders to assume responsibility for the project after 761 Community Development Corporation closed. Since then Inspirations has been an innovative program of Sistering and has grown since its beginnings in the early 90’s.
Inspirations was established in 1994, with funding from the Women’s Community Economic Development Network. Inspirations established itself as a woman’s craft/artisan collective by providing under-housed/homeless women an opportunity to participate in meaningful economic activity, by providing direct access to the market place for women working with handmade crafts.
Inspirations was initially sponsored by the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses and later by the 761 Community Development Corporation. The initiative was established via craft groups with women at hostel and drop-in settings in Metro Toronto. There were 4 locations, where women met: including Sistering Drop-In, Hostel Outreach Program (HOP), On Our Own, The Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre (PARC). The women from the five locations became comfortable in their own environment, and with the idea of selling their own goods; they were then invited down to the central location of 761 Community Development Corporation to work as a group.
The women were given skills in artistic craft and production through involvement in Community Economic Development and in micro business development literacy. Inspirations’ members used these skills to produce artistic craft products and participated in off-site market places on a regular basis. They were also able to establish a designated area within Prezents of Mind, a marketplace for crafts people experiencing long-term poverty, including consumers/ survivors of the mental health system.
Sistering has several years of experience in project management and specific knowledge of managing similar initiatives gained through its “Crafty Sisters” project funded by Ontario Women’s Directorate in 1997 and 1998. Crafty Sisters was a multi-component project, which included practical crafts and arts focus, and a community economic development component. The project was developed with these two components, to increase participants self-esteem as there are therapeutic benefits to the self-expression aspects to arts and crafts, and to provide opportunities for women earning income that would supplement their existing income (the majority of the participants were social assistance recipients). With this experience Sistering in 2001 was asked by Inspirations members and funders to assume responsibility for the project after 761 Community Development Corporation closed. Since then Inspirations has been an innovative program of Sistering and has grown since its beginnings in the early 90’s.
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Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Circumstances
A Brief History
Sistering began when a group of agency representatives, women living in hostels and community residents came together to discuss the needs of homeless and transient women in downtown Toronto.Women were being discharged from mental health facilities without adequate community support and employment opportunities for unskilled women were scarce. Even those healthy enough to work could not readily become self-supporting. Women leaving abusive family situations, women widowed and pensionless and younger women involved in sex-trade and substance use - and remain - among those for whom Sistering was created. These realities have not changed for the women who come to Sistering today, twenty years later. In addition, low levels of social assistance and the persistent shortage of affordable, safe, and permanent housing continue to undermine women’s hopes for independence and dignity.
Sistering’s Drop In first opened three days a week in an emergency hostel at Bathurst and Dundas in the fall of 1981. In January 1982 the Drop-In moved to Scadding Court Community Centre where it operated seven days a week. In September 1993, Sistering moved again (to College and Bathurst) as the space available at the community centre could no longer safely meet the needs of the more than forty women who were coming each. In 2007 Sistering moved to its long term home at 962 Bloor Street West. This location houses the Drop In Centre and the Administration offices.
In 1987, following a process of program review and needs assessment, a second centre was opened at Masaryk Cowan Community Centre for an outreach program. The Parkdale Outreach Drop In provides transportation and a structured day program to women living in poverty in Parkdale who are socially isolated and cut off from community life. Most of the women live in area boarding or nursing homes.
The Drop-In Centre and the Parkdale Outreach/Drop In Program are primarily funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as well as the City of Toronto. Sistering has been a member of the United Way since 1984. Sistering also receives short-term project money for a variety of projects and programs. Finally, we depend on the support of hundreds of individual donors, businesses and foundations to help us meet the growing demands for our services. During 2007, over 1,900 individual women visited our programs.
May Studio Sale May 7-9 2010