Women's Development Network
For the last 10 years, YSM’s Community Development team has been working to support and develop the Women’s Development Network (WDN).
It started as a gathering of new immigrant women experiencing isolation, personal and family dynamics that were prohibiting them from entering the conventional workforce and from creating a peer support network in their neighbourhood. Eager to start support their families, they began gathering to find solutions.
What emerged is a resident-led collaborative initiative that provides opportunities for women in Regent Park and surrounding areas to overcome their many barriers through entrepreneurship.
YSM’s Community Development Team has supported over 100 women by providing peer support, training and skills development in various business categories such as catering, jewelry making, sewing, child minding, gardening and beauty that have evolved over time into small businesses for participants.
Today, these entrepreneurial women are working hard to sustain their businesses by enhancing their business skills and taking part in local markets.
The end result? They are now able to provide for their families and making a positive impact on their community.
What we do
Since its inception, WDN has engaged over 100 participants and established 7 collectives
WDN Leadership Group
WDN Regent Park Women’s Sewing Group
WDN Jewelry Group
WDN Taste of Four Seasons Catering Collective
WDN Sister-To-Sister Beauty Group
WDN Childminding Training Group
WDN Gardening Group
For your next catered meeting or event
Contact Taste of Four Seasons at wdn4seasons@gmail.com
Hello everyone,
I have been with YSM for over 17 years. YSM is my second home. After getting my food handler’s certificate, I started working with the community kitchen with other caterers. We decided to make a group called the “Taste of Four Seasons Catering Collective”. There are 6 people who work in this group. We work together like sisters. The Community Development Team worked really well with us, helped us with shopping, the orders, the kitchen and many more. After COVID-19, it slowed down and the Community Development Team helped bring the group and she made business workshops and taught us how to do invoices so we can make our own business. We share the orders like sisters and we help each other when help is needed. I learned a lot from the years in YSM.
I am so happy with YSM.
Quote from a member of the WDN Taste of Four Seasons Catering Collective