10 October 2025
Community Contribution Partner Spotlight: Employ to Empower
Employ to Empower is an award-winning Vancouver-based charity that believes no one should be left behind. They collaborate with people facing systemic barriers—such as disability, mental-health challenges, and substance use—and empower them to put their skills and talents to full use through business skills-building, mentorship, and community-engagement programs.
Employ to Empower’s approach fosters economic inclusion, confidence, and a sense of belonging, empowering participants to become active contributors to their communities. In short, their mission is to empower low-income individuals to overcome barriers through entrepreneurship.
Employ to Empower does this through three feature programs, the Business Skills Training Program, Mentorship Program, and Entrepreneur Engagement program.
Business Skills Training Program offerings:
- Intro to Entrepreneurship workshops
- 8-week Business Skills Training Program to support entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and business plan in a community-driven environment
Mentorship Program offerings:
- 1-1 Mentorship
- Microloans
- Networking Events
Entrepreneur Engagement Program offerings:
- Entrepreneur led activities (average social ROI is 7.25x)
- Monthly entrePEERneur dinner gatherings
- Coffee drop-ins
- Educational workshops
- Bimonthly socials
At the end of 2024, Urban Matters was proud to announce that we were investing in Employ to Empower as a Community Contribution partner for the second year in a row. Last year, Urban Matters invested in ETE to support 13 entrepreneurs, providing them with business fundamentals training, mentorship, and wraparound support.
This year, Urban Matters deepened its impact by empowering 18 individuals with lived or living experiences to take charge of their futures with purpose and pride.
This investment in time, talent, and financial support is fueling an ecosystem of free entrepreneurial resources for those who face barriers to realizing their creative business ideas.
“At Employ to Empower, we value time, talent, and treasure equally, and Urban Matters reflects all three. This is so rare! From Erin Welk making space for us each month to tackle some of the most eye-opening challenges, to funding our next cohort of entrepreneurs, they are empowering people to lead lives filled with purpose and pride. Because of their support, no entrepreneur is left behind, no matter the barriers they face. Your contribution goes far beyond dollars, it builds confidence, fosters economic inclusion, and helps people put their full skills and talents to work. Together, we’re creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Executive Director, Christina Wong
At Urban Matters, our vision is to co-create inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. For us, this means not only working with municipalities and organizations as community consultants, but also using our dollars to help community groups take action and implement solutions.
As one of Canada’s first Community Contribution Companies (CCC), we direct a significant portion of our profits every year to support community-led initiatives. Our annual community contributions represent more than mere collaborations. Rather, they signify our team’s shared vision and commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
To learn about our other CCC partners from 2024, visit our blog.
Image Source: Employ to Empower
Makers featured: Edith and Fernanda
WATCH VIDEO: Learn more about Employ to Empower and how their holiday market “Make Change Market” in 2024 helped to boost the economic livelihood and confidence of 17 entrepreneurs, who made more than $5,700 in sales.
This year, their event will be on Thursday, November 20th from 6-9PM at Heritage Hall. To learn more, visit the Eventbrite page.
