Founded by Pamela Jeffery, The Prosperity Project is a not-for-profit organization comprised of 62 driven female leaders working together to address the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian women. Combining years of experience as corporate leaders, mothers, and community members, these founding visionaries recognize how significantly the pandemic can, and has, undermined female prosperity in Canada. Mary Aitken, one of the Founding Visionaries, notes: “Over the last 50 years, women have made many advances in terms of gender equality, but the pandemic is putting these advances severely at risk”. Facing challenges, such as increased job loss, amplified caretaking responsibilities, and domestic violence, Canadian women need support. Without this support, women may be “held back from being successful and from reaching their full potential.” says Ani Hotoyan-Joly, also a Founding Visionary.
The Prosperity Project’s mandate was built on the guiding principle that when women succeed, we all prosper. To protect Canadian girls’ and women’s economic security and prosperity during the COVID-19 pre-recovery, recovery, and post-recovery periods, they are working on a combination of five advocacy and research-driven initiatives. These initiatives include:
Matching – This program will pair NPO’s, that serve women, with private-sector employees. As many of these NPO’s are suffering from the economic impacts of COVID-19, these experts will help them develop new strategies to get through this challenging time.
A National Long-Term Prosperity Study – A study of 10,000 Canadian women from all socio-economic, geographic, and ethnic groups will capture the realities and changes experienced by working women during a ten-year span, from 2020 to 2030.
Evaluating Canadians’ Household Perspective on the New Economy – This pan-Canadian study will take a close look at how specific elements of Canadian households are being affected as a result of COVID-19 and how this is invariably impacting the Canadian economy as a whole.
The Rosie the Riveter-Inspired Awareness Campaign – This campaign, based on an interesting WWII turn of events, will encourage Canadians to come together in a “better normal” where women have access to the support and opportunities they need to stay in the workforce. The goal is to improve the labour force participation rate of women by increasing, for example, the number of female STEM graduates, as well as women going into skilled trades and women in leadership roles.
The Annual Gender Diversity Tracking Initiative – A report that will track women in executive and/or senior management roles within Canada’s largest 500 crown corporations, and private and public companies. This report will track the progress of professional women and highlight organizations that are leading the way for inclusive workspaces.
The Prosperity Project is working toward launching and implementing these five initiatives, and we are looking for student volunteers! In Pamela’s words, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to push reset,” requiring all of us to work together to build a better future for Canadian women. Post-secondary recent graduates can apply to join our team through our posting on Outcome Campus Connect.
For more information on TPP (The Prosperity Project), visit our site at https://canadianprosperityproject.ca/, or any of our social pages linked below.
Twitter: @CA_prosperity
Instagram: @cdnprosperity
Facebook: @CanadianProsperity
*This blog was guest written by Emily Cummings, a recent graduate and team member of The Prosperity Project
