03/04/2026
In December 2025, the International Center for Family Welfare (ICFW) successfully organized and delivered a Leadership Capacity Building Workshop specifically designed to strengthen the political leadership aspirations of racialized women across Ontario.
This initiative forms a core component of the International Center For Family Welfare (ICFW) project, “More Racialized Women in Politics”, generously funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
The workshop brought together racialized women with clear ambitions to participate or advance in political leadership roles, offering them practical skills, strategic insights, and networking opportunities to support their future public service and civic engagement journeys, addressing barriers that have historically limited diverse representation in Canadian politics. The initiative aligns with national efforts by WAGE to remove systemic barriers and expand leadership opportunities for women and gender-diverse people, particularly those from underrepresented and racialized communities.
These strategic areas were covered by the training
• Political communication and messaging,
• Campaign planning and strategy,
• Leadership and community mobilization,
• Fundraising and sponsorship skills.
The workshop solidified ICFW’s commitment to amplifying the voices of racialized women and ensuring they have the confidence and capability to pursue leadership and decision-making roles at all levels of government,” said Catherine Ako, President & CEO of ICFW. “By investing in skills development and political confidence, we aim to contribute to a more representative and equitable political landscape in Canada.”
This workshop was made possible through financial support from Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), a federal government entity committed to advancing gender equality and inclusive leadership in public, economic, and political life across Canada.
Women and Gender Equality Canada
International Centre for Family Welfare
