The Windsor Essex Community Foundation invested in nine local organizations that are supporting women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals in the community.
A total of $280,000 was distributed through the federal government's Fund for Gender Equality.
One of the organizations receiving funds is Cook Up, a food services business incubator that provides mentorship and kitchen space for entrepreneurs. The grant will go toward a launch program that provides four months of workshops for new start-ups.
"After the four-month period they will be in a much better place to be able to access markets around the city and engage as a business in our community," said Delna Buhariwalla.
Beauty is Me is a local organization that encourages a positive self-image for Black and bi-racial girls. The organization holds workshops for young women and works with the Windsor Essex Children's Aid Society to support families who foster Black children. BiM received a grant to launch a new program, Perfectly Me, that aims to connect Black and bi-racial children to successful role models in the community.
"We want to connect to Windsor-Essex to find those Black individuals who are great at what they do, who are being awesome and making a difference and connect them back to our children, our Black and bi-racial children so they can share their story," said Co-founder Joan Simpson.
Other organizations that received funding include Trans Wellness Ontario, Art Windsor-Essex, Windsor Feminist Theatre, the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre of Essex County, Maryvale, Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, and the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families.