Partners
PARO has a long history of bringing together community groups
and developing partnerships,collaborative's and networks both in
Thunder Bay and across the North. PARO actively participates in
a variety of national CED/Social Economy and policy initiatives.
Putting our core values into action, PARO members seek, respond
to, offer and nurture
alliances with local, regional, provincial and national groups.
The nature of these partnerships ranges from participation on
boards to funding partnerships with other CED organizations. The
organization is mindful of avoiding duplication of service and
conscientious about utilizing existing community resources.
Our
partners include:
Thunder Bay Ventures, a Community Futures Development
Corporation (CFDC), plays an integral role in PARO's highly textured
and integrated program by:
• providing investment funding and other supports to PARO's
peer lending groups
• providing partial sponsorships for PARO “networking
opportunities”, conferences, and
special projects such as PARO Presents and the Thundering
Women Festival
• contributing recycled office equipment and furniture
• funding to initiate the networking of PARO Centre Computers
CFDC's
in Thunder Bay, Patricia, Atikokan, Greenstone, and Superior North
areas partner to sustain the peer lending services while enhancing
the impact of community resources. Each provides access to PARO
loans and loan
administration support for women entrepreneurs living in these
areas.
North
Superior Training Board/ /Comité de formation du Nord Supérieur
is a NOW Project Partner for research and development. Several
PARO members serve on the NSTB women's reference group.
Thunder Bay Community Mentoring Program was incubated
by PARO. Now housed at the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, it
provides business development mentoring. PARO continues to support
this partnership through Board representation.
Canadian
Women's Community Economic Development (CED) Council is a
national organization fostering the advancement of women's CED.
PARO provides administration services and our Executive Director
serves as a director.
Canadian
CED Network: PARO is an active member agency, with our Executive
Director serving as Vice-Chair of the Policy Council and facilitating
workshops at national conferences.
Advocates for Community-based Training and Education for Women
(ACTEW): PARO partnered in the development of a website for
women entrepreneurs: www.entrewomen.ca .
Ontario CED Network: The Executive Director is a member
of the Steering Committee
Women's Leadership Forum: PARO is a partner and sponsor,
and the Program Development Coordinator of The Accelerator
is MC for the forum.
Building A Bridge to Self Employment for People with Disabilities:
In partnership with Social and Enterprise Development Innovations
(SEDI), PARO is one of five sites from across Canada developing
on-line services for the differently-abled.
Memberships
Canadian Women's CED Council
Social Enterprise Alliance
Canadian CED Network
Ontario CED Network
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
ACTEW
Northern Ontario Development Network
Minister
Pupatello discusses the quality of items for sale at the
PARO Presents retail outlet with volunteer sales clerk Loretta
Shymko.
On April 30th, Sandra Pupatello, Minister Responsible for Women’s
Issues (fourth from left) announced provincial funding for PARO,
a non-profit organization based in Thunder Bay. The funding supports
the research and development phase of a project to improve employment
and entrepreneurial training programs for northwestern Ontario
women. On hand for the announcement at PARO’s retail outlet
in downtown Thunder Bay, were:
(from left) Councillor Rebecca Johnson, Councillor Iain Angus,
Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North, Bill Mauro,
MPP Thunder Bay Atikokan, Doris Rossi, Co-Chair North Superior
Training Board, Rosalind Lockyer, Executive Director of PARO,
Fay Wheaton, PARO Board Member and Pat Lang, President of Confederation
College.
