The idea of the Social Enterprise: Our Own Way (OOW) came out of the need to bring more change to the ever-present challenges faced by underrepresented groups: women and those who identify as, BIPOC community, Indigenous peoples and LGBTQ youth and young adults. The OOW was founded by Dinah Indorato, and later joined by Alina Millar and Shayne McCarthy; three women who have personal lived experience of stigma, systemic abuse, trauma, and a desire to help others like them, who live similar experiences, thrive in all areas of their own lives. As with any Social Enterprise, the OOW is committed to developing the creative and entrepreneurial workforce of tomorrow by putting neurodivergent People, the broader ASD1 Community, and youth transitioning into adulthood, ahead of profits. With a focus on Wellness, Arts, Leisure, and the skilled trades sectors; we aim to create canters of innovation dedicated to collaboration, acceptance, meaningful supports, workforce creation, financial stability, and learning throughout the province of Ontario. Tomorrow's leaders and workforce are not typical in any way; the future belongs to diversity, inclusivity, and equity. To honour these values, our programs and centres of innovation have education, collaboration, respect, and sustainability at their core.
Our workforce creation path is Designed for job seekers with disabilities who are actively searching for work and want to maximize their opportunities. This stream of innovative work has diverse components to consider:
Work readiness
Skills building
Pre-Apprenticeship Program which follows different job paths
Participating in educational classes to improve one’s progress
Creating a study plan vs a job plan
Identifying needs and how to accomplish self-realization
production and sales of goods made by participants in our programs will create revenue both for the Social Enterprise and the existing students working withing their apprenticeship program.
This area is structured by including Mentorship, Facilitation, Resource building and resume writing. The Volunteer Program for which OOW will offer training, internship, and the possibility to gain work as a staff member.
Our equitable sports program is centred around building opportunities within communities for greater access to free diversity and inclusion sports programs and workshops tailored to the needs of the greater neurodivergent and diverse population the OOW serves.
Our Wellness and Art programs have at their core the idea to enhance overall mental health and create suitable wellness plans that can address specific needs and help learn new coping skills.
The Expressive arts have been used for decade to identify and cultivate strengths that can fulfill the need to reach specific goals in fine motor skill building, cognitive functions, social interactions, and self-awareness.
This project aims to build resiliency within the greater community of Ontario and recover the impacts that covid-19 has had on transitioning youth and adults, their caregivers and also to create economic growth withinn the province of Ontario. OOW is determined to hold the outcomes of our project close to the values proposed by those we offer our workplace development plan to and also those who will benefit from the creation of such an innovative Social Enterprise Centre for Excellence.
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