Feminist Leadership Commitment Charter
We commit to practising feminist leadership as a daily, intentional practice grounded in care, equity, shared power, and accountability. We recognize this work is ongoing and imperfect, and we hold ourselves responsible to learn, reflect, and grow – together and in relationship with the communities we serve.
Listening with intention and respect
We listen deeply, with curiosity and openness, and intentionally make space for voices that are often unheard or marginalized. We value lived experience and community knowledge alongside other ways of knowing.
Leading with care and a “do no harm” approach
We approach risk, conflict, and difficult conversations with care, prioritizing safety, dignity, and the well-being of individuals and communities. We lead without judgment, recognizing that people contribute and participate in different ways.
Communicating honestly and transparently
We share information openly, speak truthfully about what has happened, and address issues before they fester – even when conversations are uncomfortable. We build trust through ethical, transparent, and respectful communication.
Holding productive tension between patience and urgency
We are patient with people, communities, and the complexity of change, while remaining deliberately impatient with injustice, inequity, and systems that fail to respond with urgency. We honour the time transformation takes without losing momentum.
Sharing power and practising accountability
We practise participatory and equitable decision-making and are transparent about how and why decisions are made when leadership authority must be exercised. We remain accountable to one another, to our partners, and to the communities we serve.
Learning, repairing, and growing together
We acknowledge mistakes, take responsibility for harm, and commit to repair and learning. We treat missteps as opportunities for growth, reflection, and improved practice.
Acting inclusively and intentionally
We design and implement initiatives that actively include diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of participating, ensuring our actions align with our feminist values.
News and Events
StFX Students Selected for Feminist Leadership Workshop in Nepal
StFX students Maria Young and Fiona Boyd have been selected to travel to Nepal this August through Coady Institute’s Samaan Aawaaj (Equal Voice) project. They will join feminist leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region for a week of learning, dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange on leadership and social change.
Impact Snapshot Highlights Year One Progress of Samaan Aawaaj / Equal Voice
The first year of the Samaan Aawaaj / Equal Voice project has demonstrated the power of local leadership, collective action, and inclusive participation in strengthening democratic spaces in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Travel and Learn in Nepal
StFX students are invited to apply for a fully funded opportunity to travel to Nepal and participate in a five-day Feminist Leadership Workshop with global activists and community leaders.
Holding Each Other to Our Values: A Collective Practice of Feminist Leadership
Samaan Aawaaj advances feminist leadership as a collective, accountable, and values-driven practice that intentionally shares power, centers excluded voices, builds allies, and persistently challenges inequitable systems to support just and thriving communities.
Claiming ‘Equal Voice’ at the Grassroots in Nepal, Bangladesh
This new three-year initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada (4.8 million CAD) and set to begin in April 2025, seeks to enhance inclusive governance, promote and protect human rights, and advance gender equality in Nepal and Bangladesh.
