Community Credit Lab Receives First Recoverable Grant from the Fund to Pilot New Financial Lending Programs
Thursday March 31, 2022
The WES Mariam Assefa Fund is excited to announce its partnership with Community Credit Lab (CCL). With a $100,000 recoverable grant from the Fund, CCL will pilot and test new financial lending programs with input and direction from local lending partners and communities …
Newcomers from the Peel Region are Tackling Systemic Challenges Through Participatory Grantmaking
Friday March 25, 2022
Originally published on the Future of Good website, this post was written by Neha Chollangi. The WES Mariam Assefa Fund is partnering with Future of Good on a series of digital stories to highlight the Fund’s first ever participatory grantmaking project. Developed in …
WES Mariam Assefa Fund Partners with Echoing Green to Invest $1.5M in Social Innovators of Color Addressing Racial Equity and Immigrant Justice
Wednesday February 16, 2022
The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced a new $1.5 million partnership with Echoing Green to launch a fellowship that supports immigrants and refugees of color in the United States and Canada. Through Echoing Green’s fellowship program, the Racial Equity …
Meet the First Graduates of the Migrant Systems Change Leadership Program
Tuesday February 15, 2022
At the end of last year, 22 inaugural graduates completed the Migrant Systems Change Leadership program, created for inspiring individuals with lived immigrant and refugee experience who are passionate about working with and supporting their communities. This first-of-its-kind program was launched in 2021 …
How Workers Action Centre is Advocating for Frontline Workers in Ontario
Monday January 24, 2022
“The COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse, not better, for marginalized workers,” said Deena Ladd, executive director of Workers Action Centre (WAC) in Ontario, at a recent emergency town hall. WAC, a grantee partner of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, is addressing many of …
Our Reflections on 2021 – and What We’re Looking Forward to in 2022
Friday January 14, 2022
Happy New Year! As we kick off 2022, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund team is reflecting on the remarkable organizations, leaders, and efforts that inspired us last year amid many challenges, and looking ahead to what we’re excited about in the new year. …
New Impact Investments to Build Wealth for Workers and Entrepreneurs from Immigrant and BIPOC Communities
Wednesday December 15, 2021
The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced two new impact investments totaling US$900,000 aimed at supporting economic mobility and expanding shared ownership models among workers and entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities. These impact investments, in Apis & Heritage Capital Partners …
Announcing $1.8 Million Commitment to Advance Inclusive Employer Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Job Seekers and Workers
Thursday December 9, 2021
Support will focus on health care and agricultural sectors, employer collaboration, and worker organizing and power-building The WES Mariam Assefa Fund today announced the award of US$1.8 million in grants to 12 U.S. and Canadian organizations working to improve the economic mobility of …
Community Members Are Leading This Participatory Grantmaking Project – Here’s How It Works
Wednesday December 8, 2021
This piece was originally published on Future of Good, written by Neha Chollangi. The WES Mariam Assefa Fund is partnering with Future of Good on a series of digital stories to highlight its first-ever participatory grantmaking project in Peel region, Ontario facilitated by …
Philanthropy Across WES: How WES’ Fund Ambassadors are Making an Impact
Tuesday December 7, 2021
In February 2021, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund kicked off its second annual Fund Ambassadors program, which is a corporate philanthropy and professional development initiative. The program engages staff from across WES to learn about philanthropy and identify mission-aligned organizations to receive donations. …
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