So, what is the Skirt Mafia?
Action Canada recently had the privilege of spending the day with Diane Roussin, Project Director of the Winnipeg Boldness Project.
While hosting us at the Project’s site, Diane provided an overview of the innovative governance structures guiding the work of the Project to address gaps in early childhood development programming in the Point Douglas area of Winnipeg’s North End.
I was immediately overtaken by the headway Diane was describing. One question kept replaying in my mind “HOW?!” How was this project funded? How was this project maneuvering between jurisdictions? How did this project get the funders to agree to a First Nations led approach? I’ll tell you how – the Skirt Mafia.
The leadership demonstrated by this group of seven women, the Skirt Mafia, is inspiring. I was nearly brought to tears listening to her talk and learning that, through effective leadership, the Skirt Mafia had built collaborative relationships with the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba.
We learned of the incredible work this leadership has made way for, including a community service of volunteers that take on a variety of roles, from protecting young girls to needle pickup; a First Nations/Inuit/Metis foster parent system of 200 foster families; and commitment by the province for new housing in the North End.
As a First Nations woman and working for the Federal Government in First Nations and Inuit health, I live and breathe the good and bad realities that my community faces. It’s not easy, but it’s leadership like the Skirt Mafia’s that is leading the change on the ground, inspiring me to continue advocating for innovative change reflective of the needs of our clients.
