Just completed the Impact Natural Step & Cooperators Training
Part sustainability training and part start-up accelerator
You get feedback on your business idea and then you pair up with a mentor from the local community
Best part of it is the people you meet and the network you develop
Took away the skills and advice to use youthfulness as an asset
14-18 girls we can program to explore partnering
Undergrad in International Development with a minor in communications from Ottawa U
Realized INDEV is such a broad field
In third year took a course from Joshua Ramish on Urban Food security and blew her mind
Governance in local communities and self sufficiency
In some conversations, realized that there isn’t a lot of research funding for food security currently and being practical explored options for paid research. Looked into the Mitacs Accelerate Internships
This was a continuation of Dr. Sean Geobey’s research on credit unions and market place lending. The research focused on the opportunities and challenges of market place lending platforms, specifically debt-based crowd funding apps. Some examples are The Lending Club, Zopa
In Canada this is emerging – there are only 3 platforms and the regulations are playing catchup as they are very strict and limit a lot of engagement.
Alterna and Meridian are working with these platforms
Institutional lenders are on the fence about the technology and smaller credit unions can’t enter the space yet
It will definitely disrupt business as usual
And the big question is what will happen to the relationship model currently embraced by credit unions?
Opportunities are
New markets for consumer demographics
Bring on new members
Under-represented population in banking
Credit union members to local business opportunities
Investments in local initiatives e.g. ice cream shop
Sept – Dec 2016 internship ½ mitacs ½ ccua/Filene
Industry report and now drafting thesis out of the research
Greenhouse pitch
Idea brewing for a year
Wellness journey – picked up habit
Reflected on why I did not do it
You don’t see racialized women in fitness, intramural activities, programs,
Where do we see these women?
Big ideas poster beside my office- see it every day
Friend from Belize who runs his own organization – what do you have brewing? – he really pushed her
Did some research and assumptions were verified
Culturally familiar programming – and not seeing your own community represented in the space
Service costs
Time – pressure on single mothers taking care of elders and children
Gender exclusive spaces that are private
Lack of awareness of these needs
Her big idea- online platform for racialized women in communities with existing services. Create a space for members to share experience or tips etc.
Stats Can projects that by 2031 3 in 10 people will belong to a racialized community
Pitch feedback was great – panelists saw it as an issue of supply and that they pushed Indi to explore the programming side of things
Change from within institutions
Be more ambitious and build from scratch
This summer job is to do market validation within the Somali community in KW
Baby boomer need is high but part of work is to determine the age group
Goal would be 6 weeks of weekly programming
Getting over insecurities of racialized women
Lack of funds/not a priority for girls to be active
Lack of representation in media/community. This will show communities
Research for Mitacs for thesis
Urban food security is still seen as main interest
If there’s interest in the Big Idea she will keep going
Open minded as to where it goes
Currently writing thesis
GSA executive team – as communications and marketing officer 10-15 hours a week
Main win for that role was to create opportunities for students with families be part of activities
Inclusive activities built with diversity – not everyone wants to socialize in a bar drinking.
Sneiders farm for the pumpkin patch