Sis to Sis Toronto Year 1 2020-2021

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.


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.


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)


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.


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


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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.


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.


References Eccles,J.S.,&Gootman,J.A.(2002).Featuresofpositivedevelopmentalsettings.InJ.S.Eccles(Ed.)andJ.A.Gootman(Ed.).Communityprogramstopromoteyouthdevelopment.Washington,DC:NationalAcademyPress.

Khanna,N.,MacCormack,J.,Kutsyuruba,B.,McCart,S.,Freeman,J.(2014).Youthwhothrive:Areviewofcriticalfactorsandeffectiveprogramsfor12-25yearolds.Toronto:YMCAof GreaterToronto.Availableonline:http://www.youthwhothrive.ca/resources/Critical- Factors-for-Youth-Thriving-Report.pdf

Lawford,H.,Ramey,H.,Rose-Krasnor,L.,&Proctor,A.(2012).Predictorsofadolescentsuccessfuldevelopmentafteranexchange:Theimportanceofactivityqualitiesand youthinput.JournalofAdolescence,35,1381-1391.

Pancer,S.M.,Rose-Krasnor,L.,&Loiselle,L.D.(2002).Youthconferencesasacontextforengagement.NewDirectionsforYouthDevelopment,96,47-64.

Rose-Krasnor,L.(2009).Futuredirectionsinyouthinvolvementresearch.SocialDevelopment,18,497-509.

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Sis to Sis Toronto Year 1 2020-2021