An issue I am most passionate about is the intersectionality that exists between womanhood and poverty. Women represent 27.3% of Canada’s unhoused population and face a myriad of threats to their safety and wellbeing on the streets, such as experiencing disproportionate levels of intimidation and threatening force and violence. While living unhoused presents a constant struggle to find food, shelter, and basic resources, women are particularly affected by these issues and others such as expensive hygiene products. Knowing that unhoused women are especially disadvantaged, I am inclined to take action.

My community has provided me with the means—such as constraint encouragement and allowing me to form meaningful relationships with others—to take charge and bring about change. Organizations like the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton Committee (WAVE) and Girl to Girl Youth Empowerment Group have allowed me to not only actively be involved in shaping my community but have also surrounded me with like-minded individuals who inspire me to do more. Having access to and relationships with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters allows me to inspire other youth in my community to step up and make a difference.

To me, partnership and collaboration mean understanding the close and cooperative relationship between specific joint rights and responsibilities between all parties involved or impacted by an initiative. Collaboration exists when there is an orderly alignment of partners’ actions in joint pursuit of previously agreed-upon goals. Partnerships are established when parties agree to cooperate towards similar goals or to advance mutual interests.