Our
Profile:
The
word 'paro' is Latin for "I am ready". PARO Centre for
Women's Enterprise is a not-for-profit charitable organization
- a unique grassroots, community economic development organization
with members involved in decision-making at every level. It provides
programs and services designed to increase the economic independence
and self-sufficiency of women and their families. PARO headquarters
are located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The organization
was founded in January 1995.
Women,
as voting members, belong to 30 PARO groups (peer lending circles)
located throughout Northwestern Ontario. The board of directors
is elected annually from the membership.
PARO's
programs are designed to:
- Build
an equitable framework that provides control and
ownership for women through the development of peer lending
circles and participatory training
- Increase
women's access to credit, training, networking
and other programs and activities promoting community economic
development
- Ensure
women's participation and capacity-building through
skills training, child care, and transportation support
- Build
leadership capacity
- Build
community partnerships
Our
Mandate:
PARO is focused primarily on delivering programs
to enhance micro-enterprise development and to provide for the
development and support of peer lending circles. By offering
educational programs, economic alternatives, training, opportunity
to network and mentor with other women, business counseling,
and support, PARO aims to improve the lives of its members and
have a positive impact on the community and the region.
Our
values are:
History
of the Organization
Since
1995, PARO's unique integrated programs and services have made
PARO one of Canada's foremost peer lending organizations and a
widely recognized leader and innovator in the Social Economy /
Community Economics Development sector, in Northern Ontario and
across North America.
PARO
has a long history of bringing together community and developing
partnerships, collaborative's and networks both in Thunder Bay
and across the North.
Based in Thunder Bay, PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise has operated
a peer lending community loan fund since 1995. PARO organizes
circles of four to seven women who meet monthly to exchange advice,
provide support, approve and guarantee each other's loans and
monitor payments. Since the program was established, almost
$200,000 has been disbursed through 35 circles.
In 1998, PARO expanded its services throughout Northwestern Ontario.
To
sustain the peer lending services while enhancing the impact of
existing community resources, PARO works with five area Community
Futures Development Corporations in Atikokan, Greenstone, Patricia,
Superior North and Thunder Bay. Each provides community
partner support, which includes access to PARO loans and loan
administration support for women entrepreneurs living in these
areas.
PARO
provides ongoing support to individuals, peer lending circles,
and the community, including:
- training
workshops and seminars
- business
development counseling
- marketing
events
- a
weekly e-newsletter
- networking
opportunities
- regional
annual conferences / events
In
1999-2001, PARO worked to build an alliance of community partners
to develop a community mentoring program. Thunder Bay Community
Mentoring Program is now an independent non-profit corporation
providing one-on-one mentoring for new entrepreneurs.
In
2000, the organization opened PARO Centre to house its
administration and an incubator for women's businesses with shared
space, technology, equipment and access to other business supports
including a child care corner.
In
2000, PARO also developed Breaking Barriers Building Bridges
to increase women's skills in:
- decision
making
- creative
thinking
- time
management
- money
management
- balancing
work and family
- building
self confidence
- reducing
stress
In
2001, PARO opened PARO Presents,
a social purpose enterprise designed to give women retail, marketing
and sales experience while selling their products.
In
2001-2002, PARO led Advancing Women's CED, the catalyst
for a new Canadian Women's CED Council
(CWCEDC).
In
the past two years, PARO has completed three research reports
relevant to self-employment, employment, unemployment and training
as they pertain to women living in Northern Ontario.
In
2004, PARO launched a special business Accelerator program
funded by FEDNOR and the Canadian Women's Foundation Collaborative
Fund, to assist women who are motivated to strengthen their businesses.
This regional program provides:
- technical
support from an "ask the experts team"
- larger
loans up to $5,000
- increased
access to information and training in the areas of marketing,
accounting, human resources, money management, communication
and markets
- promotion
of technology and trade to enhance success
In
2004, PARO was renamed to reflect the significant expansion
of programs and services beyond its original loan circle activities.
The PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise is a registered, charitable,
not-for-profit organization and in 2005 celebrated its tenth anniversary.
(read about New
Logo design for PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise, - September,
2004)
PARO
has been actively involved in research, policy and program development
with the Economic Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, the National
Skills Institute, the Canadian CED network, and Northern Opportunities
for Women. PARO currently administers the new Canadian Women's CED Council (CWCEDC)
In
recognition of its outstanding achievements, PARO has been the
recipient of numerous awards including:
2002
- The Soroptomist International of the Americas
(Eastern Canada) for advancing the status of women
2004
- The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Award
for Business Excellence (Not-for-Profit)
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