With Canada welcoming more newcomers than ever, the non-profit sector faces pressure to not only scale up its operations but also innovate in its approaches to support and integration. The experiences of four visionary leaders highlight some key lessons.
Canada’s non-profit sector is at the heart of ongoing efforts to support and integrate immigrants and refugees. With hundreds of organizations dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of newcomers, this sector forms an ecosystem that aims to help individuals from around the world settle and thrive in Canada. However, with Canada welcoming more newcomers today than ever, the sector is facing pressure to not only scale up its operations but also innovate in its approaches toward support and integration.
This article delves into the experiences and strategies of four visionary non-profit leaders who are at the forefront of empowering newcomers. Learning from them, we can gain valuable insights into how the non-profit sector can best serve Canada’s growing newcomer population.
Visionary leadership in non-profit organizations
The Windmill Empowerment Award recognizes outstanding contributions to immigrant and refugee services in Canada that exemplify an empowerment approach. Sponsored by Windmill Microlending as part of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, this award honours one winner and three other finalists each year for their exceptional efforts. This year’s honourees offer a unique perspective on how the non-profit sector can meet the challenges of increased immigration and evolving newcomer needs.
Uzma Bhutto, Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo
The Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo (CMW), founded in 2010, has made a significant impact in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region through programs that empower racialized and immigrant women. Co-led by Uzma Bhutto, director of development and training and recipient of the 2024 Windmill Empowerment Award, this grassroots organization connects vulnerable women from diverse backgrounds with vital information, resources, and support.
The Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo connects vulnerable women from diverse backgrounds with vital information, resources, and support.
Starting with just a few volunteers, CMW has grown into a full-time team of 16, with projects tackling hate, Islamophobia, and domestic abuse while promoting financial literacy, business skills, and leadership among women. Each year, CMW engages thousands of community members through educational materials, cultural events, online sessions, and presentations to children in schools, aiming to raise awareness and reach women living in oppressive home environments.
CMW was formed in response to a proposed ban on Islamic religious dress in Quebec, uniting women to oppose such policies in Ontario. Bhutto recalls the saying “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the plate,” regarding the importance of involvement in policy-making. Over the past decade, CMW has advocated for immigrant women, launched entrepreneurial careers, and increased female leadership by encouraging participation on boards of directors, strengthening both community and economic health across the region.
Shamaila Akram, Centre for Newcomers, Calgary
Shamaila Akram is the vice president of vulnerable-population services at the Centre for Newcomers (CFN) in Calgary. Under her leadership the past seven years, CFN has expanded its services to address the needs of the rapidly growing immigrant population in the province, with 80,000 clients projected for this fiscal year, up from 50,000 the year before. Akram’s approach is centred on a holistic case-management model of support, which she describes as a “wraparound, ecological approach” for all newcomers, regardless of their circumstances.
“We see the whole individual,” Akram says of CFN’s unique case-management model. CFN’s services are tailored to the individual needs of each client, addressing a wide range of issues, including language barriers, food security, mental health, housing, employment, healthcare, and community integration. Recent initiatives have included a culturally sensitive food hamper program, a local housing program for Ukrainian newcomers, programs for immigrant youth, an ethnic catering program, and Indigenous education for newcomers. For those in immediate crisis, CFN offers therapeutic support, resilience training, and referrals to other agencies, creating a network of interconnected services. This approach has been particularly effective in building bridges within the immigrant-serving sector, fostering collaboration among more than 200 organizations in Calgary and advocating for policy changes that address the needs of newcomers at a systemic level.
At the system level, non-profits need to be at the table speaking for the needs of newcomers.
Shamaila Akram, Centre for Newcomers
Akram attributes CFN’s success to its client-centred approach, which is rooted in the social determinants of health. Its services are not one-size-fits-all, but rather consider the circumstances of ethnic groups, individuals, and families new to Canada. By considering what are sometimes multiple vulnerabilities case by case, CFN can provide comprehensive support beyond spot treatments or surface-level solutions. “At the system level, non-profits need to be at the table speaking for the needs of newcomers,” Akram says.
Suman Roy, Feed Scarborough, Ontario
Feed Scarborough, led by Suman Roy, is a shining example of how grassroots initiatives can evolve into important tools for community empowerment. What began as a response to the sudden closure of a local food bank during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into an organization that serves 8,000 clients per week. Roy’s innovative approach to food security challenges traditional models, incorporating technology and entrepreneurship to better serve the community.
Suman Roy’s innovative approach to food security challenges traditional models, incorporating technology and entrepreneurship to better serve the community.
One key innovation at Feed Scarborough is the introduction of a points-based card system, which allows clients to shop for groceries the way they would at a regular grocery store. This system not only preserves the dignity of those in need but also allows them to make choices based on their dietary preferences. The program has been particularly successful in reaching immigrant communities who may otherwise avoid food banks because of stigma.
Beyond food assistance, Feed Scarborough has launched several programs aimed at empowering newcomers through work and entrepreneurship. The organization’s community garden allows people to work together and learn about growing food; its innovative food hall in North York provides spaces for recently arrived refugees to run entrepreneurial kiosks, offering cuisine from their home countries while gaining valuable experience in the Canadian food service industry. These initiatives not only address immediate needs but also provide newcomers with the skills and confidence to succeed in their new environment.
Joanne Owuor, Uzima Network, New Brunswick
In New Brunswick, Joanne Owuor co-founded the Uzima Network to address the specific needs of Black and racialized immigrant communities. Uzima, which means “wellness” in Swahili, was created in response to the limitations of traditional settlement agencies in supporting long-term community development. After 10 to 15 years in the sector, Owuor and her co-founder, Solange Mudahogora (who is based in Nova Scotia), recognized that many settlement agencies in Atlantic Canada lack anti-oppressive and culturally relevant supports. While these agencies provide essential services and fund major initiatives like cultural festivals, their general approach ignores systemic racism and the unique barriers faced by racialized immigrants. So Owuor and Mudahogora left the sector and began consulting, offering ongoing culturally responsive support to community-led, grassroots organizations.
Uzima provides a range of services to community-based groups, including capacity-building workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and grant-writing support.
Uzima provides a range of services to community-based groups, including capacity-building workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and grant-writing support. To date, these efforts have secured $180,000 in funding to community groups. In addition, Uzima builds partnerships and collaborations whose purpose is to amplify the voices of Black, African, Caribbean, and racialized immigrants and ensure they are heard by decision-makers across municipalities, regions, and the immigrant-serving sector.
As an accessible consulting initiative with strategic insight into social and economic systems and supports relevant to cultural communities, Uzima fills a need for long-term, community-led support of immigrants, and bridge-building between grassroots groups and decision-makers, that was previously wanting in the province.
Lessons for the non-profit sector
The experiences of these non-profit leaders highlight several key lessons for the sector as it adapts to the growing demands of newcomer integration. First and foremost, there is a need to shift from a deficit perspective to one that recognizes the inherent strengths and skills of immigrants and refugees. As Owuor of Uzima Network points out, empowerment is not about giving people something they lack, but about recognizing and building on the value of their lived experiences.
Similarly, Roy of Feed Scarborough emphasizes the importance of connecting the dots for newcomers, moving beyond immediate relief to address the root causes of issues like poverty and food insecurity. By providing holistic support that promotes self-reliance, non-profit organizations can help newcomers build sustainable futures in Canada.
Empowerment is not about giving people something they lack, but about recognizing and building on the value of their lived experiences.
Joanne Owuor, Uzima Network
Another crucial lesson is the need for collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the sector. As Akram’s work with collaborative case management demonstrates, building bridges between organizations and sharing best practices can lead to more effective and efficient service delivery. In a similar vein, Roy is looking to build a national platform to share learnings, research, and best practices across the sector. This is especially important in a time when demand for services is increasing and resources are often stretched thin.
All of these non-profit leaders emphasize the crucial need for culturally sensitive outreach and support. Many highlight that newcomers often experience trauma from their difficult journeys and conflicts in their home countries, which can lead to stress within immigrant households, particularly affecting women and children. Newcomers often face social and economic discrimination and are more likely to experience precarious employment, which leads to other problems. Everyone we talked to stressed the importance of direct community engagement and making services as easy to find and access as possible. This means connecting with cultural communities where they live.
Ultimately, these four visionaries share a commitment to long-term support that fosters self-sufficiency for immigrants and refugees. Roy highlights the importance of helping newcomers fully integrate by learning English and establishing businesses. Akram and Bhutto stress the need for continuous, collaborative support between non-profits, businesses, and settlement agencies, breaking the silos that hinder progress. Owuor’s work addresses gaps in traditional services, focusing on building community capacity. Bhutto emphasizes empowering marginalized women with financial, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills. Across all their efforts, the focus remains on recognizing that newcomers have inherent capacity for successful, independent futures.
The path to effective newcomer empowerment
As Canada continues to welcome more newcomers than ever before, the non-profit sector must continue to evolve and innovate to meet the changing needs of immigrants and refugees. In emphasizing a shift from short-term, immediate relief to long-term, comprehensive support that focuses on self-sufficiency, these leaders advocate for helping immigrants and refugees integrate fully and move beyond dependence on services. By embracing a holistic, client-centred approach, listening and responding to diverse communities, fostering learning and collaboration, and leveraging technology, non-profit organizations can empower newcomers to not only settle but prosper in their new home.
The insights shared by this year’s Windmill Empowerment Award honourees provide a road map for the sector as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of newcomer integration. By building on these lessons and continuing to innovate and advocate, Canada’s non-profit sector can play a vital role in ensuring that all newcomers have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Windmill Microlending/Le Moulin Microcrédits is a national charity founded in 2005. Leveraging a social finance model, it helps skilled newcomers overcome barriers to professional employment by providing low-interest, accessible loans and career services. To date, Windmill has disbursed more than $100 million in loan funds to thousands of clients representing more than 150 countries of origin and a range of professional sectors.
