YW Kitchener-Waterloo is dedicated to improving the lives of women, girls and gender diverse people by providing services and programs that support the holistic individual through physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, and economic choice and independence.  

As a gender-equity advancing organization, we work to build a safe and inclusive environment for all to ensure individuals feel respected, valued and protected. We do this through active leadership, representation and the ongoing application of intersectional and gendered lenses to drive positive change in our community. Our goal is to empower women, girls and gender-diverse community members to choose change. 

We stand with the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code and as such will not tolerate unjust, unfair or unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, political belief, marital or family status, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, gender, sex, sexual orientation or age.  

YW Kitchener-Waterloo is committed to fostering an environment free from racism and discrimination. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour within our organization. Individuals who engage in these actions may face serious consequences, including disciplinary measures up to and including termination of employment or removal from programs. 

YW Kitchener-Waterloo promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in our organization by: 

• Creating welcoming and accessible physical spaces for all clients, staff, volunteers and board members, and adapting our services to meet our individual needs to the best of our abilities; 

• Adapting communication styles that enhance and improve our communication and comprehension of clients’ goals, needs and unique circumstances. In our work, this has included exploring creative person-centred solutions for language and literacy barriers, and physical barriers which includes but is not exclusive to mobility, sight, or hearing accommodations;  

• Valuing diversity within our staff and volunteer teams with an agency-led focus on identifying systemic or other barriers to employment or program participation and delivery; 

• Engaging with those who have lived experience and DEI practitioners to help us continually reflect and deepen our inclusivity practices;  

• actively using our privilege to support and uphold anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and anti-oppression practices. We are committed to integrating equity and inclusion into every aspect of our work. 
• Deepening the integration of truth-telling in our work by following the actionable steps towards reconciliation laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s report Calls to Justice.