PresentedbyTheStudentsCommissionofCanada,July2021
Sis to Sis Toronto Year 1 Report: 2020-2021
2/ SharingtheStoriesYouthProgramEvaluation–TheStudentsCommissionofCanada
Contents
TableofContents
Contents 2
ExecutiveSummary 4
ProcessandToolstoDate 5
OrganizationoftheReport 5
ParticipantsVoice:FocusGroups(n=21) 6
Initiators 6
Sustainers 6
ProgramQualities 7
OutcomesandChanges 9IndividualOutcomes 9SocialOutcomes 12CommunityandSystemOutcomes 12Recommendations 13
Discussion:Makingmeaningofthefindings 14
Conclusion 14
References 15
Amara,F,Everall,C,TheStudentsCommissionofCanada.(2021).SistoSisTorontoYear1Report:2020-2021.
SistoSisTorontoYear1Report:2020-2021 |3
Origin Story SistoSisTorontoisayouth-ledgrassrootsorganizationlaunchedinJanuary2019.TheirmissionistosupportthepersonaldevelopmentofBlackandracializedwomen,betweentheagesof18and29,throughcommunity-informedprogramsandevents.TheirworkfocusesonstrengtheningthewayyoungwomeninTorontoperceivethemselvesandeachother.
Inlinewiththeirmission,theyholdvibe-filledspacesthatallowyoungwomentoshowupauthenticallywhileworkingtowardsbecomingthebestversionofthemselves.SistoSisTorontoaimstocreatespacesfilledwithconversationsthatintegratetheculturalandlivedexperiencesoftheircommunity.
SistoSisemphasizesthreevalues:awareness,connection,andsocialimpact.Awarenessreferstospreadingknowledgearoundsocietalperceptions,norms,andexperiencesthatimpactBlackandracializedwomeninToronto.Intermsofconnection,regularprogrammingandcommunityeventsarehostedtofosterrelationshipsamonglike-mindedwomenwhoarepassionateabouttheirpersonalgrowth.Finally,SistoSisvaluessocialimpactbycenteringthevoicesandlivedexperiencesoftheircommunitytochangethenarrativearoundhowtheyaresupported.
SistoSisTorontoreceiveda$152,800grantover24monthstoprovidesafespacesofconnectionandskill-buildingtosupportthepersonalgrowthofBlackandracializedwomeninToronto.Therearethreeprimaryoutcomesthattheirprogramaimstodeliver:
• Toemphasizetheimportanceofareflectivelearningjourneyaroundself-awarenessandself-care.
• ToencourageandsupportasafeenvironmentforconnectionandhonestconversationsforBlackwomenandracializedwomen.
• Tosupportparticipantsinapplyingtheprinciplesofpositiveself-talk,boundary-setting,personalfinance,andgoal-settingwiththeaimofestablishinghealthierlifedecisionsoverall.
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Executive Summary ThepurposeofthisreportistogaingreaterunderstandingofthepositiveoutcomesoftheSistoSisprogrammingonyouthparticipants.Sixfocusgroupswereconductedtoevaluateindividual,social,andcommunityoutcomes.Throughoutthisanalysis,itisevidentthattheprogramyieldspositiveresults.TheprogramhascreatedopportunitiesforBlackandracializedwomenbyprovidingtransformativeandculturally-relevantsupport.
OneofthemostnotablefeaturesoftheprogramisthesafespacecreatedforBlackwomenintheGreaterTorontoArea(GTA).MembersnotedhowcrucialsafespacesliketheseareforwomenofcolorinCanada,sinceitallowsthemtoconnectwithotherwomenwithsimilaridentitiesandexperiences.Moreover,membersespeciallyenjoyedthepositiveenergyandvibes,theusefulsessionswhichgavethemnewskills,andthesenseofcommunity.
Onanindividualbasis,membersgrewbothpersonallyandprofessionally,andbecamethebestversionsofthemselves.Memberslearnedalotfromtheprogram,andflourishedintomoreempowered,confident,andcourageouswomen.Membersalsolearnedtobemoremindfuloftheirbodiesandtocommunicatebetter.
Intermsofsocialoutcomes,theprogramallowedmemberstoformvaluableconnectionswithotherwomenwithsharedidentitiesandexperiences.Membersexplainedhowimportantthesesocialconnectionsaretothem,andthattheyvaluethesmallcommunitytheycreated.
Finally,onacommunallevel,membersfeelmoreconnectedtoothersandtotheircommunities.TheSistoSisprogramofferedmembersaccesstovaluableresources,skills,connections,tools,andinformation.
Itisevidentthattheprogramyieldsnothingbutpositivebenefits,andfillsthegapswithintheGTAcommunitytoprovideasafespaceforBlackandracializedwomentoconnectandgrow.
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Process and Tools to Date SistoSisTorontoheldsixfocusgroupstoidentifytrendsandmeasureoutcomesoftheprogram.
Program SharingtheStoriesTools OtherTools
SistoSisToronto - FocusGroups(n=21)
Thefocusgroupprovidedaspaceforparticipantstoreflectontheirexperiences,shareideasforimprovingtheprogram,andshareimpactsthatparticipationhashadontheirlives.ThefocusgroupswerefacilitatedandrecordedbySistoSisstaffandsenttotheStudentsCommissionofCanadatobetranscribedandanalyzedforsignificantthemeswithcountsofhowmanytimeseachthemewasmentioned.Significantquotesweredrawnfromtheanalysistosupportthenumberswithparticipants’thoughts,feelings,andpersonalexperiences.Namesoridentifyinginformationhavebeenremovedfromthequotesandreplacedwithdenotationssuchas“[blank]”oraletterinplacetoinsureanonymity.
Organization of the Report Thisreportwillbebrokenasfollows:
1) FocusGroup:Theanalysisofthefocusgroupisorganizedbasedontheyouthengagementframework1:
• Initiators:Thereasonsforyouthjoiningtheprogram.• Sustainers:Whyyouthcontinueengagingintheprogram.● ProgramQualities:Featuresoftheprogramthatyouthenjoyed.● IndividualOutcomes:Outcomesthatyouthexperienceasaresultofthe
programthatimprovethemasindividuals.● SocialOutcomes:Outcomesthatyouthexperienceduetotheprogramthat
affecttheirsocialnetworksandrelationships,suchasfriendsandfamilies.● CommunityOutcomes:Outcomesthatyouthexperienceduetotheprogram
whichhaveanevenlargerreachingimpact,suchthatitaffectstheircommunitiesororganizations.
11Theinitiators,sustainersandqualitiesofengagementareallassociatedwithoutcomesofengagement;havingstronginitiators,sustainersandqualitiescanleadtoamoreeffectiveyouthprogram(e.g.,Eccles&Gootman,2002;Lawford,Ramey,Rose-Krasnor&Proctor,2012;Pancer,Rose-Krasnor&Loiselle,2002;Rose-Krasnor,2009)
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Participants Voice: Focus Groups (n=21) SistoSisTorontoheldsixfocusgroupswithparticipants.Theywereaskedquestionsregardingtheirexperiencewiththeprogram.Corethemesandsupportingquoteswereidentifiedthroughoutthetranscriptsandmakeupthecontextofthisreport.Thefollowingsummarizestheinitiators,sustainers,programqualities,aswellasperceivedoutcomesandchangesbroughtuponbytheprogram.Theoutcomeswillbecategorizedintoindividual,social,andcommunitychanges.
Initiators ParticipantsdiscussedwhatinitiatedthemintotheSistoSisprogram.TheydiscussedhowtheylearnedaboutthegroupthroughsocialmediaandwereveryinterestedinconnectingwithotherBlackandracializedwomeninasafespace.Theywereeagertomeetotherlike-mindedwomeninthecommunityandtocreatenewsocialconnections.Theyalsorevealedthatthepandemicinitiatedthemsincetheywerecravingsocialinteractions.Memberssawthegroupasanopportunitytogrowandworkonthemselvesaswell.
IhadthiscravingofconnectingwithBlackwomenorracializedwomenthatwereinaspaceofgrowth,inaspacewheretheywantedtolearnandcollaborate.
IthoughtthatitwasreallygoodtojointhisonejustbecauseCOVIDandthequarantineandeverythingwaskindofgettingtome.
IinitiallyjoinedbecauseIwantedtoconnectwithlike-mindedwomeninthecommunity.ButIalsowantedtogrowpersonallyandprofessionallyandfindareasthatIcangrow,andjustwork
onmyselfthroughoutthisjourney.
Sustainers ParticipantsreportednothingbutpositiveandenrichingexperienceswithintheSistoSisgroup.Theydescribedtheprogramasa“breathoffreshair”,sinceitwasoneofthefewspaceswheretheyfeltcompletelysafeandauthentic.Memberscontinuedtoattendthesessionssincetheyfoundthemextremelyenjoyable,informative,andcathartic.TheyalsoenjoyedseeingtheirnewfriendsateachmeetingandhavingaplacetoconnectwithotherBlackandracializedwomen.
Iwouldsumitupasinjust,Iguess,likeabreathoffreshair.
I’mcomingtolikemeetfriendsandlikejustlikecatchupwitheverybody.Andifyoudon’thaveananswerforsomethinglikethenthat’sokaytoo.
Intermsofthecontentoftheprogram,Itrulyenjoyedeverysingleoneofthem.
ThethingthatmadeitthemostenjoyablewasfeelinglikeIcouldbemyselfandtalkto,likeIsaid,like-mindedpeople,andnotfeellikejudged.
Ienjoyedit,becauseitremindedmealittlebitofthesisterhoodthatIhavewithmysororityandthesafespacethat’sthere.AndIlovethefactthatit’sBlackwomenandracializedwomen.
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Program Qualities ParticipantsdescribedseveralqualitiesoftheSistoSisProgramwhichtheyenjoyed,andcertainkeythemesstoodout.
SafeSpace(14)OneofthemostnotablefeaturesoftheprogramisthesafespacetheycreatedforracializedandBlackwomenintheGTA.Membersreportedfeelingwelcomed,included,authentic,andsafe.Thissafespaceallowedmemberstoopenthemselvesup,sharetheirexperiences,andbevulnerable.Thesecatharticexperienceshelpedthesewomenflourishandconnectwithoneanother.MembersnotedhowcrucialsafespacesliketheseareforwomeninCanada,sinceitallowsthemtoconnectwithotherwomenwithsimilaridentitiesandexperiences.Theyappreciatedthesenseofcommunitythattheprogramcreated,astheyallfeltextremelycomfortableandclosewitheachother.
Thesafetythatyouguysestablishedallowedmetoopenupandsharewithoutfearofbeingjudged
also,thefeelingofbeinga…feelingsafeand,andbeingabletobevulnerable(safespace),
especiallyinatimelikethis,especially,therearen’talotofprogramsthatareavailableforBlackwomenorspacesthatareavailableforthemtofreelyshareandbuildthatcommunity,orfeel
liketheycanbevulnerable
IdefinitelythinkthataprogramlikeSistoSisshouldbenational,becausethere’salotofBlackwomenthatneedthistypeofspace,forsure
IthinksettingthattonetobelikeawarmspaceforBlackwomenandjustwomenofcolorinour
community,itamplifiesaroundyouguys
Ifeltreallysafe,andIfeltastrongsenseofcommunitythroughoutthisprogramtheentiretime
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PositiveExperience(11)Participantsdiscussedtheirexperiences,whichwereallabsolutelypositive,enjoyable,enriching,andoverallcathartic.Membersreportedfeelingjoyfulgiventhetremendoussupporttheyreceived.Membersespeciallyenjoyedthepositiveenergyandvibes,theusefulsessionswhichgavethemnewskills,andfeelingasenseofcommunity.
Ireallylikedtheenergyoverall,justlikethespacewhenyouwalkedinwasverywelcoming.
ItgenerallybroughtinasenseofjoyandareallygoodroutineformebecauseIlearnedsomuch.
Ididlearnalot.AndIamgratefulthatIgottheopportunitytojoinit.Youguysweresuperamazing,supportive,alwayssmiling.Andbeingabletoseeeveryonebevulnerableatdifferent
stagesinduringtheprogramwasgreattosee.InformativeSessions(6)Participantsenjoyedtheinformationsessions,suchastheself-loveandboundariessessionandthefinancesession,sincethesessionswerenotedtobeextremelyvaluableandenlightening.Membersexplainedhowtheystillusetheskillstheylearnedtoday,andthattheycarrytheirnewknowledgewiththemoutsideoftheprogramaswell.Membersalsonotedhowtheaffirmationexerciseshelpedthemontheirjourneyofself-growth,andthattheyfeltempowered.
Self-careandliketheSelf-loveandBoundariessessionthatwehad,Ireallyenjoyedthat.IfeellikeIlearnedalot.Justlike,ingeneral,thefinancialsessionandliketheBoundarysession
forsure.
Also,thefinanceone,Ithinkwasreallyimportantformeyouknow,inmovingsituationandstartinganewchapterinmylife.
Learningallthatwasreallylikeeye-opening.Anditcreatedalotoflikespaceformetolike
change.
IfeellikeIdidlearnthingsandIdidtakeawaythingsthatIwillcontinuetoinquireaboutandpracticewithinmylifeandlookformoreguidance.
Ithoughtthatpositiveself-talkexercises,thoseaffirmationexerciseswerereallypowerful.
Implementingthoseexercisesintomyday-to-daylifereallyhelpedmeandit’ssomethingthatIstillcontinuetodo.
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Outcomes and Changes
IndividualOutcomesIndividualoutcomesspeaktochangesthathappenatapersonallevel,whetheritbewithstaff/teamorparticipantpopulations.ThebelowisasummaryofsomeofkeyindividualchangesnotedbytheSistoSisprogramparticipants.
Self-Growth(13)
OneofthemostnotableoutcomesoftheSistoSisprogramwastheself-growthitencouragedamongitsmembers.Theprogramhelpedwomenembracethemselves,buildtheirfoundations,takeinitiative,andbecomemoreopen-minded.Membersreportedthattheybegantakingbettercareofthemselves,experiencedhealing,andlearnedtosetboundariesforthemselves.Membersgrewbothpersonallyandprofessionallyandfeelliketheybecamethebestversionsofthemselves.
Icouldfeellikeeveryonewasappreciatingthemselvesmoreandwaslikeseeingthemselvesinanewlightwhichwasbeautifullike,todothattogether.Andjustunderstandinghowto…howto
reallylikeloveyourselfunconditionallyandhaveboundariesforyourself
Ithinkyouguysplayagreatroleinhelpingwomenbuildtheirfoundation.AndIdon’tthinkthatthere’smuchgrowththatyoucandowithouthavingthatsolidfoundation
Becauseofthisprogram,I’mnowabletolike,justbemoreopen-minded,ortaketheinitiativeoncertainthingswhatImayhaveneverthoughtwasthatimportant,butthatdoplaykeyroles,likeyouknow,justlikeeventhinkingaboutgoingbacktotherapy.Becausewhenyoutakecareoflikethosekeythingsinyourself,yourgrowthisjustsomuchbetter.AndIfeellikeI’vebeenso
muchmoreproductiveandsomuchmoreself-motivated
Ifeellikewedefinitelywereabletohavelikebothpersonalandprofessionalgrowth
Ithinkyouguysdefinitelydidhitlike,thekeycore,likefoundationalthingstohelpusgrowpersonally,andlikebethebestversionsofourselves
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Mindful(8)Membersexplainedhowtheprogramencouragedthemtobemoremindfulofthemselvesandtolistentotheirbodies.Memberslearnedtocalmdowntheirintrusiveandanxiousthoughts,andtobepresentinthemoment.TheyexplainedthattheyexperiencealotofstressintheireverydaylivesasBlackandracializedwomen,andthatitwaspeacefultohavetheopportunitytounloadeverythingandbepresentwiththemselves.Membersdescribedhowthisnewmindfulapproachcontributedtotheirjourneyofhealingandself-growth.Andthatmovementsessionwas–No,justfeel,likedon’tthink,nothinkingisinvolvedhere.Just
letyourbrainrestandjustfeelandbeinthemoment
Thisreallytaughtmetoslowdownandbepresentandnotbesomuchinmyheadandjustlike,justbe
justfeelingpresentandbeingabletokindoftakeabeatandthennotbeatmyselfupfortaking
thatbeat
Like,Blackwomencarrytheworldontheirshoulders.AndIthinkforme,forthoseoneandahalfhourseveryweek,itwasamomentwhereIunloaded,Ididn’tfeellikeIwascarryingeverything.
Itwasatimeformetobejustpresentinmyself,so.That’sall
Ireallysawhowimportantitreallyistodothingswithintention,notjustdoitjusttogoby,getbyand,youknow,reallythinkaboutwhatyoureallywant,lookintoyourselfandreallyconnect
withyourinnerself
I’minawaybetterplacebecauseIlearnedthathealingisacollectivething.Healingrequirescommunity,andtohaveacommunitythatisactuallyaccessible,actuallydoesn’tfeellikea
strainonyoumentally
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Empowered(7)Theprogramempoweredwomentousetheirvoices,setboundaries,andtakecareofthemselves.Theyexplainedhowtheprogramhelpedthemcomeoutoftheirshells,andthattheywerecomfortabletoexpressthemselvesandsharetheirthoughtswithothers.Theprogramempoweredthemtostandupforthemselvesandtobeproudofthemselvesandoftheiraccomplishments.Memberslearnedalotfromtheexperiencesandstoriesofothersandithelpedthemgrowintomoreconfident,courageous,andpowerfulwomen.
Itrulyenjoyedtheprogrambecauseitgaveeverybodyavoice.
I’vesetboundariesnowformyselfwhichIneverdidbefore.
Bestrongandbetheonesthatkindofcarryourselvesandthencarryeverybodyelse.SothatissomethingthatIfeellikeyouguysreallyrepresent,andthankyouforrepresentingthatbecause
that’ssomethingthatIdidstrugglewithalot.
Iwouldsayasenseofconfidence,aswellascourage,especiallywhensettingboundaries,Ifeellikethatboundaryworkshopreallydidhithomeforme.
IthinkthenumberonethingIgainedwaslikeasenseofempowerment,especiallyfromlearning
andhearingotherpeople’sstoriesandexperiences.CommunicationSkills(5)Membersexplainedhowtheyacquirednewcommunicationandlisteningskillswhichtheycarrywiththemoutsideoftheprogramaswell.Theylearnedtobetterconnectwithothers,andtobetterexpressthemselves.Theyalsolearnedexamplesofbeingmoreopen-minded,andtobebetterlistenersthroughexperiencingtheprogramtogether.Thatmomentofsharingreallyopeneduponsomeonetocontactandconnectwithmejustfrom
beingvulnerableanditjustkindofhadlikearippleeffect.
Iwouldprobablysay,verycommunicative,justbeingmoreopentojusttalkingingeneral.
OneoftheskillsIwantedtoaddbecauseIforgotitisyouguysreallyhelpedmewithlistening.
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SocialOutcomes Socialoutcomesspeaktochangesormaintenanceofrelationships,connections,andnetworksexperiencedbySistoSisprogrammembers.
SocialConnections(8)Theprogramallowedmemberstoformvaluableconnectionswithotherwomenwithsharedidentitiesandexperiences.Membersexplainedhowimportantthesesocialconnectionsaretothem,andthattheyvaluethesmallcommunitytheycreated.Membersfeelsafe,close,comfortable,andsupportedwithinthegroup.Theynotedthattheywereabletomeetpeoplefromdifferentcities,andtheylovedhearingotherpeople’sdifferentexperiencesandstories.
We’restillinterconnected,eventhoughIdon’tseeyou,likeIstillseeyou.
You’recreatingthecommunitywithusinmind.AndIthinkthat’swhyitfeelssocomfortable,anditfeelssosafe.Becauselikethelike-mindedpeoplearekindoffindingeachother.
Yougottoconnectwithpeoplewhoarebothclosetoyou,likepeoplethatlivemaybefiveminutesawayfromme,butyoualsoconnectwithpeoplelikethatliveinScarborough,people
thatliveindifferentcities.
AndIalsojustreallylovedgettingtoknoweveryonebecauseeveryonewassokindanditwasjustalwayssuchagoodspacetobein.It’s…it’strulythespaceandthepeoplethatmadeitwhat
itwas.
IthinkIgainedalotofthingsfromthisexperience,notonlyanewsenseofcommunity,andIfeellikeIhaveconnectedwithalotofpeople.
Weallhavedifferentexperiences,butatthesametime,there’sasenseofsimilaritiesthatIfeellikewhat’spredominantlylikewomenofcolordoexperienceinplaceslikeTorontoandother
areas.
100%theconnectionslikeIwouldsaythatwasprobablythemostsignificantbecauseit’ssonicetokeepupwitheveryoneandseetheirownjourneysandjustlikehavethatsupportin
communityandbeingabletodothatforotherpeopleaswell.
CommunityandSystemOutcomesCommunityandsystemoutcomesspeaktochangesthathappenatacommunityorsystematiclevel.Thesechangeshappenbeyondtheprogramandimpactawiderrangeofpeople.
CommunityConnectedness(6)MembersdescribedhowtheprogramisfillinggapswithinthecommunityandprovidingsafespacesandsupportforBlackandracializedwomen.Theyexplainedthat,especiallyduringthepandemic,itisessentialtohavethesesafespaceswithincommunities.Membersfeelmoreconnectedtoothersandtotheircommunities.
Thetonethatyouset,likegoingoutintothespacesthatyou’rein,itamplifies,anditaffectsthecommunityatlarge.
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We’reactuallydoingthesethingsforourselvesandfillinginthegapswhereIfeelliketheoldergenerationmayhavemissedafewsteps.
GTAissodiverse,there’ssomanyBlackandBrownandIndigenousfolks…we’remarginalizedgroupsandwe’reignored,especiallyduringthepandemic,likeit’sbeensomuchworseandso
muchhardertofindcommunity.
Iwantedtoreturntothecommunitybecause,withallthat’sgoingon,we’realldeparted
Thewholecommunitycomingtogetherthing,thatpart,newconnections,aswellasoldonestoo.
AccesstoResources(6)
TheSistoSisprogramofferedmembersaccesstovaluableresources,skills,connections,tools,andinformation.Membersexplainedhowtheyshareresourceswitheachother,suchasresourcesonBlackhealthpractitioners.Theyexplainedhowalltheresourcesprovidedtothemwereextremelyusefulfortheirpersonalandprofessionalgrowth.
Ialsoreallylikedtheresourcesthatwereprovided.
IstartedtheprogramandI’mlike,IhopeIgetsomethingoutofthis,likejustonething.AndthenIleftwithlike,myheartbeingfull,somanylikeskills,somanylikeresources.
AndIfeellikeyouguyshavegivenustoolstoreachouttosomanyconnectionsacrosstheGTA,it’snotreallyjustcenteredinonelocationlikewehavethatfluidityandaccessibilityaswell.
I’veconnectedwithpeoplewhosharethesamelike,healthissuesasmeandlike,we’dbeable
to,like,shareresourcesonthatandsharelike,resourcesonBlackhealthpractitioners.
IguessIdidn’texpecttohaveasmanyresourcesandasmuchsupportasIdid.
Ifeellikethiscommunitywentabovemyexpectationsintermsofjustproviding,like,youguysprovidedtheresources,theconsistency,andliketheinformationthatwasputin,itwaslike,all
valuable,allservedapurpose.
RecommendationsMembersofferedsuggestionsforcertaintopicstheycouldtackleinfuturesessions.Onemembersuggestedasessionrevolvingaroundcareerskills,suchaspolishingaresume,conductingjobinterviews,andnetworkingtips.Anothermembersuggestedthattheydomoreactivitiesregardingmentalhealthawareness,stayingmotivated,bodypositivity,andemotionmanagement.Finally,memberssuggestedthattheyhavecheck-insatthebeginningofmeetingstocommenceeachsessionwithpositiveenergy.
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Discussion: Making meaning of the findingsSisToSisTorontoisagrassrootsorganizationthatsupportsBlackandracializedwomenontheirjourneyofself-developmentthroughtransformativeandculturally-relevantspaces.
Programparticipantswereabletoclearlyreflectonhowimportantthisorganizationistothem,andhowdifferentSistoSisprogramsareincomparisontootherstheyhavebeenpartof.ParticipantsdescribedhowSistoSisisoneofthefewplaceswheretheyfeltcompletelysafe,supported,andauthentic.MembersnotedhowcrucialsafespacesliketheseareforwomenofcolorinCanada,sinceitallowsthemtoconnectwithotherwomenwithsimilaridentitiesandexperiences.Theyappreciatedthesenseofcommunitythattheprogramcreated,astheyallfeltextremelycomfortableandclosewitheachother.
Astheresultsdemonstrate,membersexpressedverypositive,enriching,andcatharticexperiencesintheprogram.Spaceslikethesearecrucialforyouth,astheyfosterpositiveself-growth,confidence,identity,andconnection.Theprogramalsoactsasatherapeuticandmindfuloutletduringthepandemicforyoungwomentoreleasetension,feelinspired,andconnectwithothers.Itisevidentthattheprogramisenrichingandempoweringforyoungwomen,asityieldsseveralpositiveoutcomes.Itiscrucialforyoungwomentobeinasafeandpositiveenvironmentwheretheycanflourishandbecometheirbestselves.
TheSistoSisprogramalsoencouragesmemberstobemoreengagedwithandconnectedtotheircommunities.TheprogramisfillinggapswithinthecommunityandprovidingsafespacesandsupportforBlackandracializedwomen.Theyexplainedthat,especiallyduringthepandemic,itisessentialtohavethesesafespaceswithincommunities.Moreover,theprogramofferedmembersaccesstovaluableresources,skills,connections,tools,andinformation.
Theresultsdemonstratethattheirworkstrengthenedthewayyoungwomenperceivethemselvesandeachother.Theinformativesessionshelpwomenlearnnewskills,gainself-awareness,andconnectwithothers.SisToSisTorontosucceedsincreatingasafeandsupportivespacefilledwithconversationsthatintegratetheculturalandlivedexperiencesofthecommunity.Itisevidentthattheprogramyieldsnothingbutpositivebenefits,andfillsthegapswithintheGTAcommunitytoprovideasafespaceforBlackandracializedwomentoconnectandgrow.
Conclusion Participants’voicegatheredinthisreportcanhelptobetterunderstandtherealityofthemembersofSistoSis,theimpactofsuchaprogram,andcanhelptodevelopandimprovesimilarprogramsthatarebeneficialformembersofsimilarcommunities.
Additionalopportunitiesforparticipantstosharetheirstoriesoftheprogramwillofferadeeperexaminationofthechangesthatmaybeoccurringasaresultoftheprogramandtheprocess.Ourrecommendationistodiscussthepresentresultswithparticipantsintheprogramtoseeifthisdataportrayswhattheyareexperiencing.
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