Member Carole Berry started the programme with her presentation on women in Rotary. Carole was a two term Club President (1996-97 RC Mississauga Airport, 2013-14 RC Brampton).
Carole provided a brief summary of the 37 year period starting with the first proposal to allow female members in Rotary to May 4, 1987 when the US Supreme Court ruled that Rotary Clubs could no longer exclude women on the basis of gender. She provided a summary of some of the accomplishments and activities by her Clubs since women were admitted as members.
Sandra Burton introduced guest speaker Linda Bui, President and Founder of Peel Girls Empowerment Movement (Peel GEM). Linda provided biographical summary of her experience as a youth and a young woman in her changing communities, school and university.
In 2013 Linda and cofounder of GEM Annaleshia Jamieson received an Action grant which allowed them to undertake a one-time project based on Linda’s life experiences which became the foundation of Peel GEM. Today GEM provides leadership, mentorship and empowerment opportunities to youth in Peel Region.
Peel GEM has hosted 30 initiatives and engaged over 600 young people guided by values of radical empathy, equity, collaboration and reflection. GEM is dedicated to cultivating community level skill building opportunities, knowledge sharing and safe places for youth including gender diverse individuals in the Peel Region. Its members take an intersectional, anti-oppressive, arts-based and peer-to-peer approach in their work.
Carole Berry thanked the presenter.