NEXT LEVEL

WHAT IS NEXT LEVEL?

Next Level was Fora’s response to the urgent disruption caused by COVID-19. Through this pilot program, we provided young women and youth navigating gender-based marginalization from the retail and hospitality sectors in Canada with social-emotional skills and transferable skills training along with supportive coaching to navigate the changing economy on their own terms. 

The program ran from November 2021 – March 2022 with weekly live,
online workshops and bi-weekly coaching. 

Next Level Leaders strengthened their emotional intelligence and built their skills in:  

Leadership styles, building confidence, and negotiating  

Communications, marketing, and building a personal brand 

Personal and business financial literacy and budgeting  

Job interviewing, resume-writing, and networking  

...and more!  

Meet Our Next Level Leaders

  • Aja Rowden

    Carelton Place, ON

  • Rachel Adjei

    Toronto, ON

  • Shraddha Timalsina

    Toronto, ON

  • Elaine Li

    Toronto, ON

  • Brianna dos Santos

    Toronto, ON

  • Mubah Mahmood

    Edmonton, AB

  • Marlena Kong

    Toronto, ON

  • Sintthu Nageswaran

    Toronto, ON

  • Yllka Bojku

    Peterborough, ON

  • Tara Dachek

    Vancouver, BC

  • Meri Karakhanyan

    Toronto, ON

  • Zeinab Ibrahim

    Toronto, ON

  • Bhavana Kanagala

    Edmonton, AB

  • Ally Zlatar

    St. Charles, ON

  • Ryanne Adams

    Niagara on the Lake, ON

  • Elisha Dixon

    Toronto, ON

  • Taha Tabassum

    Burnaby, BC

SHAPING THE RECOVERY ON OUR TERMS 

Before the pandemic, 95% of young women in Canada were working in the services sector. Young women were the first to be sent home, and the last to return to work as things begin to reopen.*

Today, young women were, and are, the furthest group from returning “back to normal” in the workforce. Summer patios and bustling shops show signs of progress but we know that young women continue to struggle with the financial and social impacts of the pandemic.

Next Level was Fora’s response to this urgent disruption caused by COVID-19. Through this pilot program, we provided young women and gender-diverse youth from the retail and hospitality sectors in Canada with leadership and social entrepreneurship training along with supportive coaching to navigate the changing economy on their own terms.

Fora’s Next Level Project was funded by the Government of Canada under the Future Skills program.

OUR IMPACT

100%

of participants felt more confident making decisions regarding next steps in their careers

91%

of participants felt more confident speaking up when their voice was needed

Meet Our Next Level Coaches

  • Amanda Calzolaio

  • Amy Bartlett

  • Andrea Grant-Jones

  • Anjali Ravi

  • Carrie Aloussis

  • Colleen Kennedy

  • Hailey Hechtman

  • Heather Nelson

  • Janice Sousa

  • Jessica Weisz

  • Jill Fagan

  • Jill Torrance

  • Kris Bannerman

  • Sandra Corelli

  • Sarah McGowan

  • Sonya Ho

  • Tara Longo

  • Wanda O'Brien