Mission, Vision & Values
Learn More About the Principals That Guide Our Work
Our Mission
To nurture pregnant and parenting young women and their children as they rise to their full potential by supporting them with access to health services, housing, education, counselling, and other personalized supports*
*As part of Jessie’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, we are working at all levels of the agency to increase our capacity to provide safe and affirming support to pregnant youth of all genders. While Jessie’s has historically been a centre dedicated to supporting pregnant and parenting young women, we recognize that youth of all genders are able to get pregnant. All pregnant youth in our age range (21 years old and under at intake) are encouraged to reach out to Jessie’s to access services or appropriate referrals.
Our Vision
A future where all young families have the support, community connections, resources, and information they need to thrive.
Our Approach
We abide by the Social Determinants of Health Framework adopted by Health Canada that acknowledges the importance of economic and social conditions on health outcomes. Accordingly, our approach to nurturing the healthy development of pregnant young women and young families focuses on three key pillars of success: 1) housing; 2) health; 3) education
Our Values
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We are committed to feminism and supporting a woman’s right to make choices about her sexual health and pregnancy options.
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We strive to offer comprehensive and accessible services for all pregnant young women, young parents and their children.
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We provide opportunities for pregnant young women and young parents to exercise individual choice, experience personal empowerment, resolve problems successfully and move toward adult independence.
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Our approach to service delivery is supportive, respectful, and anti-discriminatory.
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Jessie’s advocates for systemic social change designed to promote equity, fairness and respect toward children and young parents.
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We are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to our services.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Jessie’s - The June Callwood Centre for Young Women (Jessie’s Centre) is dedicated to promoting the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our agency. We believe that our workplace is stronger when we not only celebrate and welcome diversity, values, and voices, but include them in practice.
Jessie’s Centre recognizes that systemic, organizational, and individual discrimination and oppression exists, and this creates barriers to equal opportunity. Jessie’s Centre will actively work to understand and dismantle barriers to equity and inclusion, fostering an environment of belonging that respects people’s dignity, ideas, and beliefs. We are committed to applying our DEI principles in all undertakings of our organization, including ongoing (re)learning, professional development, and applying an “equity lens” to all aspects of our work and interactions.
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We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent, recognizing the long-standing generations of Black people in Canada and celebrate the legacy of their contributions towards building this country.
We acknowledge all people including those who came here as migrants either in this generation or in generations past – and those who came here involuntarily, including those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery.
Jessie’s will continue to work towards addressing ongoing health inequities and systemic injustices for Indigenous and Black youth, we commit to dismantling racism and will work to create change as we strive for justice for all. -
Anti-Black racism, police brutality, and systemic injustices are a reality in the City of Toronto and impact the lives of many of Jessie’s Centre participants, staff and volunteers. Jessie’s staff and Board is proud to stand in solidarity with the Black community and are committed to systemic change for all Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC).
Jessie’s is an organization that is guided by the principles of non-discrimination and social change, and has always worked to support and help unleash the power of young women and their families. However, we’ve realized that we can take greater action to support the Black community, as well as indigenous and other racialized groups. This is why our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan includes an Anti-Racism Activism platform that calls out our:
— Commitment to being both an ally and a voice in the fight to end racism while supporting racialized groups through an anti-racism and social justice mandate;
— Work to foster a culture of allyship and accountability across and between all organizational levels, including our participants, staff, management and board of directors;
— Development of new programs that centre around and engage BIPOC youth; and,
— Pledge to apply an anti-racism lens in all organizational decisions, including staffing, enrollment, board composition, suppliers and partners.
Systemic change is necessary to put an end to racism, oppression, and injustices against BIPOC. Grassroots efforts and community engagement are what will inevitably influence social transformation. Jessie’s is focused on amplifying voices of BIPOC to advocate for systemic change, and will lead by example through our words and actions as an organization. -
Jessie’s - The June Callwood Centre for Young Women (Jessie’s) is located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat people, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by the Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to work and learn on this sacred land, previously known as Tkaronto and traditionally Turtle Island and is still home to many Indigenous people