Check out our Summer 2011 Newsletter!

Posted in: Blog, Communications, News & Updates by c.dunton on July 26, 2011 | 1 Comment

If you aren’t a subscriber to our mailing list, please see our Summer 2011 Newsletter here for updates on Empowerment Squared: http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b2a871011bd69a84834d4f461&id=89bd9ebc29 . You can subscribe here on our website. Don’t forget to also follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!

Leo Johnson Wins Albert Lager Prize

Posted in: Blog, News & Updates by c.dunton on June 6, 2011 | No Comments

We congratulate Executive Director Leo Johnson on receiving the Albert Lager Student Prize for Student Initiative from the McMaster Alumni Association. The award is given to exceptional current students for outstanding support, leadership, community involvement and service to their faculty, program or to McMaster University. Recipients of this award have made a significant volunteer contribution that improves student life, university affairs or supports the Alumni Association. Leo is being recognized specifically for his hard work in linking McMaster students to the greater Hamilton community and increasing student involvement in the community via Empowerment Squared projects. For more information, please see http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=8029. Congratulations, Leo!

An Evening in Support of Our Executive Director: Leo Johnson

Posted in: Blog, In the News, News & Updates by Create Media on April 18, 2011 | No Comments

Leo’s effort in our community since his arrival four years ago as a government sponsored refugee will be celebrated and recognized.

All donations and gifts will go towards supporting Leo’s reunion trip expenses and the site development efforts of The Campaign for the Samuel Morris Memorial Library and Community Centre.

Saturday, April 30, 2011 6:00pm – 8:30pm                                                                                                                                                                                Globe Youth Centre                                                                                                                                                                              24 Main Street W., Hamilton, ON.                                                                                                                                                          Admission: $15.00

Formal remarks at 6:10pm                                                                                                                                                                    Documentary screening to follow : Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. A story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations.

Meet Our New Communications Director: Hali Farah

Posted in: Blog, Communications, In the News, News & Updates by Leo Johnson on February 6, 2011 | No Comments

Hamilton, ON—Yes, we have been quiet lately, after such a busy and exciting summer for Empowerment Squared. There have been lots of changes, (great changes) on our side. My name is Hali Farah, I am the new Communications Director at Empowerment Squared, and I am super excited to be part of the team. Being the Communications Director means you will be hearing A LOT from me! A LOT!

If I had to describe myself in three words it would be; dynamic, approachable, and eager  to learn. I graduated from McMaster University way back in 07 with a BSc. majoring in psychology. I have lived and been involved in the Hamilton Community for some time now. At McMaster, I was heavily involved with the McMaster African Students Association; I was part of the MASA exec for three of my four years.

I am from Kenya, but of Somali origin, so basically a Kenyan-Somali. I went back to Kenya last summer after 20yrs and it was such an amazing experience.  I cannot even begin to explain the sentiment of feeling foreign in your country of origin; it’s been so long since I’ve been back to Africa. Apart from the fact that I looked local and could easily blend in, I was as awkward and at awe as a typical tourist. I have never felt so Canadian, and had to admit to myself that YES, a lot has changed.

My trip to Kenya made me reflect, and want to give back. We are fortunate to have so many opportunities that we easily take for granted because they come in such abundance.  We are so fortunate that the things we’ve come to expect and even demand are a distant dream for many others. I am very excited about joining the Empowerment Squared team to have the opportunity to help empower others in our communities so that they can help themselves and others.

Empowerment Squared is constantly looking for enthusiastic interns who want to make a difference and join our team. For more information, please visit our Job Opportunitiessection for future employment and volunteer opportunities.

Meet Our New Communications Director: Hali Farah

Posted in: News & Updates by Leo Johnson on | No Comments

Hamilton, ON—Yes, we have been quiet lately, after such a busy and exciting summer for empowerment Squared. There have been lots of changes, (great changes) on our side. My name is Hali Farah, I am the new Communications Director at Empowerment Squared, and I am super excited to be part of the team.  So basically being the Communications Director means you will be hearing A LOT from me! A LOT!

If I had to describe myself in three words, it would be; dynamic, approachable, and eager. I graduated from McMaster University way back in 07 with a BSc. majoring in psychology. I have lived and been involved in the Hamilton Community for some time now. At McMaster, I was heavily involved with the McMaster African Students Association; I was part of the MASA exec for three of my four years.

I am from Kenya, but of Somali origin, so basically a Kenyan-Somali. I went back to Kenya last summer after 20yrs and it was such an amazing experience.  I cannot even begin to explain the sentiment of feeling foreign in your country of origin; it’s been so long since I’ve been back to Africa. Apart from the fact that I looked local and could easily blend in, I was as awkward and at awe as a typical tourist. I have never felt so Canadian, and had to admit to myself that YES, a lot has changed.

My trip to Kenya made me reflect, and want to give back. We are fortunate to have so many opportunities that we easily take for granted because they come in such abundance.  We are so fortunate that the things we’ve come to expect and even demand are a distant dream for many others. I am very excited about joining the Empowerment Squared team to have the opportunity to help empower others in our communities so that they can help themselves and others.

Intern Highlight Profile: Nicole Walker

Posted in: News & Updates by Samantha Applewhaite on August 31, 2010 | No Comments

Hamilton, ON—As one of our Development Assistants, Nicole’s responsibilities include organizing fundraisers, networking with prospective donors, scheduling public engagements and increasing organization membership. Nicole was born in Oakville, Ontario and has lived around the Greater Toronto Area all of her life. She currently resides in St. Catharines, where she is going into her third year of Business Communications at Brock University. Read more…