What does Canada's 2023 Federal Budget mean for young women and those marginalized by their gender in Canada? Fora's Research Assistant, Kassandra Neranjan, takes a detailed look at the Canadian Parliament's newly released 2023 Federal Budget, specifically from an intersectional lens of how it impacts the agency, autonomy, and leadership of young women and those navigating gender-based discrimination.

We face a world beset with unprecedented challenges. A climate in crisis. Spiking inequality. Democracy and human rights under attack. Misinformation weaponized to provoke fear and hatred. We need bold, audacious ideas from bold, audacious leaders if we’re to effectively take back the future.

Being a Black woman in the non-profit sector can often feel like walking a tightrope with a mask on: balancing authenticity while trying to avoid stereotypes, deciding between emotional perseveration and the emotional labour of standing against performative anti-racism, and being forced to compartmentalize our collective trauma and ignore tokenism for the sake of upward mobility at work.

Across the board, there have been urgent calls to “build back better” from the pandemic, and seize the momentum to advance a more sustainable and equitable society. Research shows that going down this path demands real intergenerational collaboration, with young women and underrepresented youth at the centre of the pandemic recovery efforts.

Fora believes that the economic empowerment of young leaders is essential to the progress of Canadian society. One fiscal policy that purports to enhance the financial agency of young people and is gaining traction in societal discourse is that of Universal Basic Income (UBI). In fact, the Liberal Party of Canada in early May 2023 passed it in its official party policies at its national convention (Liberal Party of Canada, 2023). This topical policy solution is one that requires exploring to determine its benefits for young leaders. Specifically, this brief will explore the contours of what UBI is, how it has manifested in Canada previously, and what it may mean for building a young feminist economy.

Fora’s Program Officer, Maxime Matthew speaks to two young climate advocates on the intersection between gender equality and climate advocacy, and the importance of youth leadership in finding sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.

While Fora is committed to advocating for and celebrating Black women and gender diverse leaders year-round, this Black History Month we are shining the spotlight on six inspiring Black women in the Fora community who are driving change locally and globally. Fora's Program Officer, Maxime Matthew sat down with Anna-Kay Russell du Toit, Brianna Nelson, Lindsey Alcy, Nyasha Duri, Schekina Israel, and Tiyi Ayeva for an in-depth conversation about meaningful allyship, and to share ideas on how the Black community can support and uplift each other in professional and academic spaces. They share insights on the causes they advocate for and advice for other young Black leaders.

The Resource List for Black Young Women and Gender Diverse Youth has been compiled by Fora: Network for Change and is shared with the community as one of our initiatives during Black History Month in February 2022.