Issue
Women continue to be under-represented at all levels of employment in skilled trades settings across Canada. Systemic barriers limit the participation of diverse women in these fields. Women Unlimited is a not-for-profit women’s organization in Nova Scotia working with industry, government, educational institutions and the community to enable the full participation of women in trades and technology occupations. A facilitated meeting was needed among women in trades and system stakeholders to identify barriers and potential solutions.
Solution
Working with Women Unlimited and the local apprenticeship agency, See Meaning designed and graphically recorded a symposium for 100 women working on learning skilled trades on International Women’s Day. This inaugural event helped women give voice to the real challenges they are facing and collaboratively identify solutions across system stakeholders.
End Result
Through graphic facilitation, we helped demonstrate the complexity of the issue, ensure participants felt heard and amplified ‘first voice’ challenges and solutions. Ultimately, the symposium lent credibility to long-standing issues and Women Unlimited has since advanced several key initiatives.