Coady Institute has 60 years of experience in accompanying leaders who are creating economic and social change and for the past 10 years has developed and held its award winning Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program. Donations to Circle of Abundance – Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Leadership will help Coady in:
- Learning from its work over the last 10 years with Indigenous women leaders and pivoting in a direction that reflects current realities and recent history;
- Expanding Coady’s offerings of Indigenous women’s leadership programs across the country, for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women leaders, both in their community as well as on-campus programs at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia;
- Connecting and creating exchanges for Indigenous women globally; and
- Supporting the incubation of a new Indigenous-led and Indigenous-run women’s initiative.
“The Circle of Abundance is something I support because I believe that there’s no stronger advocate for a community than those living within that community. I believe in women. I believe in their power to build local economies. I believe in their power to build resilient communities. It’s incredibly exciting to be working with Indigenous leaders at Coady, learning from their lived experiences, and of course their collective wisdom.”
– Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively
For Future Generations: Supporting Indigenous Women Leaders through Mentorship and Advocacy
Karen MacKenzie is a proud Cree-Métis woman, business owner, knowledge keeper, community supporter, and a program Mentor for Coady Institute’s Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program.
Sharing Our Knowledge: Mentor Dedicated to Advancing Indigenous Education
One of the key components of Coady Institute’s Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program is connecting program participants with the guidance and support of experienced Indigenous women mentors. Gaya’do:węhs Lu Ann Hill-MacDonald is a Mohawk woman of the Bear Clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario, Canada. As an Education Consultant, she is dedicated to advancing Indigenous education programs.
Change is Transpiring says Indigenous Women’s Leadership Graduate
Wyanne (Kiya) Smallboy-Wesley is a graduate of the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program at Coady Institute. As an Indigenous Facilitator for the Calgary Public Library and the Further Education Society (FESA), she works with a diverse network of communities in the Calgary-area to “build a bridge of safety” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and community members.
Media articles on Circle of Abundance
- Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $200K to Indigenous women’s program | eTalk | The Loop
- Hollywood A-listers kick off campaign in support of Indigenous women’s leadership – Port Hawkesbury Reporter
- A NL woman works with a Hollywood star to help Indigenous women’s leadership | CBC Newfoundland Morning
- Film stars Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donate to Indigenous women’s program | CBC News
- Hollywood duo Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donate $200,000 to help kick-start Indigenous women’s leadership program – The Globe and Mail
- Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Donate $200,000 to Indigenous Women’s Program in Nova Scotia | Exclaim
- Coady Institute’s new fundraiser | CTV News
- Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Donate $200,000 Indigenous Women Leadership Initiative |com
- Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Donate $200,000 To Support Indigenous Women Leaders | HuffPost Canada Life
- FX University launches fund for Indigenous women’s leadership, gets A-lister donation – Halifax | Globalnews.ca