About Us
Empowering Women & Youth to Rise Stronger
Creating safe spaces, healing programs, and community support across Toronto.
Who We Are
Empower To Thrive Youth and Women Network is a grassroots nonprofit based in Toronto. We walk alongside women, youth, and families, including survivors of abuse, newcomers, single mothers, and communities affected by violence.
We are grounded in dignity, safety, and hope. We focus on community support for women and youth who often face extra barriers.
Our mission is simple: create safe, welcoming spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported as they rebuild their lives.
Our Mission
The mission of Empower To Thrive Youth and Women Network is to provide safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces where women and youth can heal, grow, and lead.
We work to break cycles of violence, isolation, and poverty by combining practical support, healing-centered programs, and community connection.
Through every program, we aim to help people discover their strengths, build confidence, and create safer futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
We do this with compassion, accountability, and a deep belief that every person has the right to feel safe, valued, and in control of their own life.
Our Vision
We envision a Toronto where women and youth can live free from violence, isolation, and constant fear. In this city:
Every survivor is believed and supported.
Every young person has safe adults to turn to.
Families can access food, housing, and community without shame.
Culture, identity, and lived experience are seen as strengths.
Our vision is a network of safe spaces where people not only survive, but truly thrive.
Our Purpose
Empower To Thrive was created because too many people in our city feel alone, unsafe, or unseen.
We exist to:
Offer domestic violence support Toronto survivors can access without judgment.
Provide mental health support Toronto residents can trust, through peer groups, workshops, and referrals.
Run youth violence prevention programs that build leadership, skills, and safe choices.
Offer emergency food assistance so families do not have to choose between safety and basic needs.
Host healing circles Toronto women and youth can join to share, connect, and find strength together.
Lead education and growth programs that build skills, confidence, and new opportunities.
Everything we do is about safety, connection, and long-term change.
Our Approach
Our approach is trauma-informed, which means we lead with safety, choice, and respect. We know that healing takes time and that every story is unique.
We create calm, welcoming spaces with clear boundaries and gentle supports.
Listen first, without blame or pressure.
Focus on strengths, culture, and lived experience.
We do not act alone. We work in partnership with community shelters, 211 Toronto, food banks, crisis lines, and local grassroots groups.
When needed, we connect people to extra resources, always with consent and care.
Our programs are culturally sensitive. We honor language, faith, identity, and family traditions.
We offer peer mentorship so women and youth can learn from others who have walked similar paths.
Why Are Work Matters
Many women and young people in Toronto live with fear, stress, or constant worry. Some feel unsafe at home, at school, or in their neighbourhoods.
Others carry the weight of racism, poverty, immigration stress, or homophobia and transphobia. Too often, there are not enough safe spaces to talk, rest, and be believed.
People may fear judgment, stigma, or not being understood. Some do not know where to go for help or feel that services were not built with them in mind.
This is why Empower To Thrive Youth And Women Network exists. We create gentle, welcoming spaces where stories are respected, boundaries are honored, and support is offered at each person’s pace.
There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about.
How We Help
We offer six core services that work together to build safety, stability, and growth:
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Domestic Violence Support (Toronto)
We provide confidential support for abused women and youth. This can include safety planning, emotional support, and connections to shelters, legal information services, and crisis lines. We focus on respect, choice, and empowerment at every step. -
Mental Health Support (Toronto)
We are not a therapy clinic, but we offer groups, workshops, and one-on-one check-ins that promote emotional wellbeing. We help people name their feelings, learn coping tools, and find culturally safe referrals when more help is needed. -
Youth Violence Prevention Programs
Our youth programs build leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. We offer mentoring, circles, and activities that help young people feel valued, heard, and supported before harm happens. -
Emergency Food Assistance
We provide food baskets, grocery gift cards when available, and connections to local food banks. When basic needs are met, it is easier to focus on safety, school, and future goals. -
Healing Circles (Toronto)
Our healing circles bring together women and youth to share stories, learn grounding tools, and connect in community. These circles are gentle, confidential, and rooted in culture, respect, and mutual care. -
Education and Growth Programs
We offer workshops, skills-building sessions, and leadership opportunities. These programs help people move toward stable housing, work, school, and community involvement.
A Message To Survivors
If you are reading this and have lived through control, harm, or deep hurt, we want you to know:
What happened to you is not your fault.
You deserve respect, safety, and care.
You are not “too much,” and you are not alone.
You do not need to share your full story to receive support. You can move at your own pace. We are here to listen, to walk with you, and to remind you that your life, your voice, and your dreams still matter.
Connect With Us
If you are looking for domestic violence support Toronto, mental health support Toronto, support for abused women, or community support for women and youth, we are here for you.
Reach out to connect with our team, join a program, or learn more about our youth violence prevention programs and healing circles that Toronto communities can access.
Whether you need food, a safe group, or a place to start again, Empower To Thrive Youth And Women Network is ready to stand with you as you rebuild confidence and create a safer, stronger future.
Our Approach
Here’s what happens when you reach out. We listen first, then help you find the support that fits your situation, at your pace.
Listen First
Assess Needs
Connect to Trusted Supports
Follow Up and Stay With You
How We Support
Support is confidential, trauma-informed, and centered on safety.
Real Help, Real Connections
Connecting women and youth across Toronto to the resources that help today and strengthen tomorrow.
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About Us
Empowering Women & Youth to Rise Stronger
Creating safe spaces, healing programs, and community support across Toronto.