March 8, 2024, Hamilton – As we reflect on this year’s International Women’s Day theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, the Office of the SEIRTI celebrates and honours all women around the world.
Inspiring Inclusion implies creating opportunities and spaces for unique, diverse and innovative perspectives, ideas and experiences, to be shared and validated. Inspiring inclusion means genuinely valuing the contributions of diverse women and utilizing their skills and talents effectively. It is an intentional commitment to treating women with dignity and respect, so they feel a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.
The Office of the SEIRTI wishes to particularly commend Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa’s remarkable achievements in promoting and inspiring inclusion locally and internationally. She has maintained an unwavering dedication to equity, diversity, inclusion and transformational social change in her personal and professional realms. (Click to learn more about the Special Envoy).
Throughout her career, Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa has provided expert leadership, guidance, and advice, supporting a culture which embraces equity, diversity, and inclusivity. She maintains an inclusive approach to leadership and community-development.
Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa’s multifaceted professional experience has enabled her to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and strives to treat everyone with dignity and respect, irrespective of differences, which has earned her a reputation of cordiality, impartiality, collegiality, and integrity.
Below are some highlights of Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa’s notable legacy of inspiring inclusion:
- Notable recognition of inclusive approach to diversity, equity and inclusion work resulting in accolades including Hamilton’s first Diversity Champion Award, the Ontario Public Service Bravo Excellence Award, the City of Hamilton City Manager Award Nomination for Public Service, RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award Nominee (2019) and a 2020 honouree as 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women.
- Established a unique platform to honour and celebrate diverse women through Illuminessence Magazine and the annual Illuminessence National Women’s Award in Canada and Sierra Leone on International Women’s Day, as well as serving as Mentor to Illuminating Ladies, a diverse group of young female leaders.
- Collaborative, inclusive, creative, and innovative approaches to address issues impacting marginalized and under-utilized groups including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ and all other groups covered by human rights legislation through dialogue, training and awareness.
- Expert leadership, training, guidance, and advice supporting a culture which embraces equity, diversity, and inclusivity at McMaster University.
- Effective development and implementation of McMaster University’s Employment Equity Framework, equitable recruitment practices and search committee training, institutional partnerships with diverse job boards, which resulted in McMaster’s recognition as one of Canada’s Top 100 Diversity Employers five years in a row.
- Effective implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, standards and accessibility policies and procedures at the City of Hamilton, as well as, facilitating awareness and understanding among staff, of the City of Hamilton’s Equity and Inclusion Policy.
- Developed and implemented collaborative strategic approaches to address current immigration, labour force, diversity, and inclusion trends in Ontario, through the Canadian Immigrant Retention in Rural Ontario (CIRRO) project at the Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.
- Developed and implemented diversity, inclusion and civic engagement initiatives aimed at promoting civic leadership and participation among ethno-racial and ethno-cultural leaders and youth in Hamilton.
- Ongoing facilitation of anti-racism, anti-oppression and cultural competency training to social service agencies, private and public sector organizations, in addition to developing toolkits, manuals, resources and information on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.
