Rose Anguiano Hurst

Humanitarian Award Recipient

Rose Anguiano Hurst is the Executive Director of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) where she leads a team of 50 staff. Rose has served in the capacity of Executive Director at WEST since 1995. During this time, the organization has grown from administering one grant, one program to serve more than 3000 women annually through many grant programs offered through a diversified funding base.

Rose attributes the growth in programs to the support of a committed board of directors and professional staff who led strategic efforts ecognizing needs of participants and the local labour market. Her greatest satisfaction at work is witnessing participants’ confidence flourish as they attain skills and find jobs where they can make enhanced contributions in society for themselves and their families. Rose is grateful to have the support of a committed board of directors and professional staff who work together to ensure the goals of the organization and the employment needs of women in our community are being addressed.

Rose possesses extensive professional knowledge and background in all aspects of non-profit program management and administration which she strengthened at WEST and previously in similar organizations.

About WEST:
The mandate of the WEST organization is to provide women with the skills and confidence to further their education and find employment. WEST participants include women from Canada as well as many who represent more than 50 cultures who call Windsor home. Current programs and services are funded by the federal government, the Ontario government and other sources.

Introduction
2019 marks the WEST organization’s 32nd year of service to the community in meeting the goals of assisting women in our community. Since 1987 WEST has assisted thousands of women to prepare themselves for employment by offering a variety of full- and part-time classroom training and job placement services.

WEST is a non-profit, community-based organization serving Windsor and Essex County that provides training to visible minority and immigrant women who are trying to beat the odds of situational barriers to reach goals of employment. The barriers faced by our participants are varied and include lack of Canadian or recent work experience, international credentials not recognized, breaking the cycle of poverty, unemployment and underemployment, and balancing childcare responsibilities with employment and educational aspirations.

Building on our organizational strengths, WEST has been successful in enhancing services to the unemployed while maintaining its commitment to providing quality services for participants. WEST has accomplished its goals by implementing a variety of full- and part-time programs related to integration, settlement, and pre-employment training and services leading to employment and self-sufficiency.

Program Participants: An Asset-based Philosophy
WEST participants, staff and Board of Directors represent women from more than fifty nations and cultures. Our work is unique and important for our community as we recognize and build on the strengths of our participants as they strive to meet their individual employment goals. At the same time, we provide important information to local employers regarding the benefits of a trained multicultural workforce. WEST has assisted thousands of women over the years and currently serves more than 2000 women and
their children each year.

Awards

Under Rose’s leadership, WEST as an organization, along with Board members and staff have been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for excellence in service delivery and community service on several occasions including:

2018 Selected as 1 of 4 in Ontario, 1 of 10 in Canada to deliver a pilot employment program; Visible Minority Newcomer Women Program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

2018 100 ABC (Accomplished Black Canadian) Women Award given to WEST Board member Sheila Barker.

2017 Leading Women, Leading Girls Award from the Ontario Government given to WEST Board member Gemma Grey-Hall.

2016 100 ABC (Accomplished Black Canadian) Women Award given to WEST board member Daphne V. Clarke.

2015 Share the Light Award for Leadership– Georgia Graham – The award pays tribute to its Leaders, Staff, Clients and Volunteers, for their dedication and commitment to helping those in need, and to improving community life.

2014 Woman of the Year Award – Rose Anguiano Hurst – The award presented by Ladies Exclusive Alliance, a locally-run business networking group that uses supportive mentoring and relationships to drive economic gains.

2012 CMA Canada National Recognition Award – The award is presented to a group, company or institution that has made a significant contribution to the overall development of CMA Canada’s growth and specifically to the discipline of management accounting.

2012 Community Service Award – The Windsor and District Black Coalition (WDBC) Executives has chosen WEST to receive their special 50th Anniversary Community Service Award.
2006 Herb Gray Harmony Award, Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County presented to WEST as a non-profit organization that promotes a harmonious, multicultural society assisting newcomers achieve full participation in Canadian society and to build a more inclusive society by empowering women in vulnerable situations to improve their employability and fully integrate into the community.

2005 Proclamation from Mayor and Council acknowledging the organization’s role in partnership with CanElsa International and Ten Thousand Villages in organizing the “Day of Microcredit 2005” information session to inform women about micro-enterprise as a means to increase the economic independence and self-sufficiency with the goal of eliminating poverty through the establishment of micro-businesses.

2004 Executive Women International, Detroit-Windsor Chapter, Philanthropic Award, selected WEST as an organization which exemplifies goals which supports literacy and educational opportunities for women in transitional period in their lives.

2002 – Windsor Essex Non Profit Excellence Award, acknowledged the proven record of excellence in governance and administration and for setting and maintaining high standards of accountability and professionalism, given by the Windsor Essex Non Profit Support Network.

1998 – New Spirit of Community Partnership Award, this national award of the Imagine Program of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy recognized the long-standing community – corporate partnership in which WEST has worked together with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to meet local needs of unemployed women to fully participate in the Canadian labour market and local economy.

Current and Past Programs and Services

Newcomer Services

Visible Minority Newcomer Women – Employment Program.
Orientation and Skills Development programs for newcomers – teaching about life in Canada and providing connections to community resources.
English language training classes-Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada.
Enhanced language Training for Internationally-trained Professionals – Accounting.
Newcomer settlement services.
Management Training Program (MTP) for Internationally Trained Accountants.
Newcomer settlement programs for female youth.
Networking program to help newcomers build professional relationships for personal and career success.
Public Speaking club for newcomers.
Mentorship program for newcomers – connecting newcomers with local professionals and employers.
West on Wheels – Provides WEST services off-site in Windsor and Essex County.
WEST In Motion Program – a series of culturally appropriate workshops for newcomer women and girls to build healthy communities.

Training

Computer training program – Microsoft Officer User Specialist certification in MS Word and MS Excel.
Keyboarding for Success.
Social Empowerment Through Technology Program – a series of workshops to increase newcomers knowledge of computers for academic and professional success, and knowledge of online resources relating to health and community resources.
WIST CNC Industrial Mechanic Millwright Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Program is designed to facilitate the entry of individuals without prior experience and knowledge into the millwright/machining trade.
Women in Transportation Logistics and Supply Chain Management: The program trains young women for careers in inventory, warehousing, and material movement, and transportation operations.

Community-Based Research

Women’s Financial Preparedness: Bridging the Divide in Windsor-Essex – working with local women and financial industry to identify gaps and barriers that limit financial preparedness of women.
Women in Trades: Local Strategy to Filling the Gaps – community-based labour market research on occupations with high under-representation of women.
We Succeed Beyond the Status Quo – working with youth, industry and associations to explore participation of girls and young women in STEM and the Skilled Trades.

Current and Past Programs and Services

Youth Services

Science Engineering Arts and Technology The project will be geared towards the female newcomer, immigrant, Indigenous, racialized and other youth facing social inclusion barriers, ages 15 to 30 and will focus on assisting them in developing their leadership skills and to impact changes in the community.
Young Women in LEAD (Leadership, Employment and Development) The program offers groupbased employability skills and work experience for youth ages 18-29. Intakes are ongoing.
Youth Job Connection – Connecting youth with employers and offers workshops that enhance employment skills
EDGE2 – Empowered Diverse Group for Education and Employment – engage youth and young adults in learning and gaining skills needed for employment and academic success.

Employment Supports

Pre-employment sessions, Job development services, Individual employment counseling.
Paid placement opportunities.
Volunteer experience opportunities.
COJG – Canada Ontario Job Grant –grants for employers to train their employees.

Supports

Licensed Day Care.
Clothing exchange program.
Community information and referral.
On-site childcare program for eligible participants.
The ” Right on the Money” Financial Literacy and Goal-setting Program.
One-time projects focusing on domestic violence education prevention.
Community interest projects – computer and internet classes for people 50+.
Seasonal initiatives – a summer program for school-age children whose parents attend our programs.
Specialized initiatives to enhance the self-sufficiency of women and their children.
Build a Dream Event – Industry, educators, employers and community come together to share with young girls and their parents, information on opportunities in the skilled trades and STEM.

Current Gaps

Still, we know there is more to be done. Current gaps in our delivery include:

Newcomer women and other visible minority women with no recent attachment to the Canadian workforce as a result of their newcomer, age, or employment status are at different stages of employment readiness and face challenges with securing employment continues to be an ongoing issue. Newcomers possess different skill sets, education, and experience and therefore, have unique needs prior to entry into employment.
Women need the skills and tools necessary to be competitive in order to achieve economic independence. Participants benefit from local community-based comprehensive skills training program.
Certain funding has specific eligibility criteria and restrictions, such as newcomers only, or Social Assistance Recipients and well as limits on staffing. This excludes participation by certain segments of the community and limits their access and ability to achieve goals of integration.
WEST received more than 3000 requests from participants and prospective participants for all WEST programs and services; we expect this trend of increased interest in our programs to continue.

Funding

WEST receives funding from the federal government programs of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (formerly Citizenship & Immigration Canada). WEST is funded from the Ontario Women’s Directorate, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and from the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration provincial government in partnership with the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County and through Employment Ontario and through the Lawson Foundation. WEST is also a recipient of funding from Status of Women Canada, The Canadian Women’s Foundation and a past recipient of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

While our primary source of funding comes from government grants, we also rely on community partnerships and corporate-community grants and fundraising events to ensure our future and, with it, the future of women and their families in our community. The International Women’s Day fundraiser gala supports non-funded WEST programs which support women in reaching their full educational and employment potential.

Conclusion
WEST is heartened about the opportunity to address local issues facing visible minority and newcomer women with community-based solutions in partnership with the local business and government organizations. Please contact Rose Anguiano Hurst at the WEST office at (519) 256-6621 in Windsor, Ontario for further information.