United Way is building a more equitable workforce by investing in programs that connect people to the tools they need to work and thrive.
Rakhee arrived in Canada just as the world shut down. It was early 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unprecedented lockdowns, an unfamiliar job market and isolation made starting over feel impossible.
Originally from India, Rakhee brought a postgraduate degree and more than 15 years of experience in merchandising, marketing and sales. But despite her qualifications, she struggled to find work.
Unfortunately, Rakhee’s experience is far from unique. Across the GTA, systemic and structural barriers to employment — challenges that existed long before the pandemic — continue to stand in people’s way.
The changing nature of work and rising cost of living in the GTA are increasing the challenges for those who already face limit access to opportunities, resources, or services to good jobs or the training required to secure them due to systemic discrimination — Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, as well as youth, newcomers, women, people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. These groups are also overrepresented in precarious employment, which means fewer prospects for steady income, living wages and job protections.
United Way Greater Toronto is working tirelessly to close that gap. We fund programs that connect job seekers and employers and help people build the financial security they need to thrive. Last year alone, 18,000 people received support to enhance their economic opportunity and financial stability through United Way-funded programs.
Like so many others in our region, Rakhee had the skills and experience. What she needed was the right connection. “It really felt like hitting a wall,” she says. “I had the experience, but I didn’t know how to translate that into the Canadian job market. And with the pandemic, there was no way to network — I felt completely stuck.”
Building confidence, building community
This is where the 80 inclusive employment programs United Way funds come in. They provide everything from mentorship and skills training to wraparound supports like language training and childcare — vital services that are critical for people trying to enter or remain in the labour market.
For Rakhee, that breakthrough came through MIAG Centre for Diverse Women & Families and it’s United Way-funded Bridge to Employment for Women (BEW) program. The program helps women navigate the job market, build a professional network and access career development opportunities, including co-op placements — all tailored to the unique barriers newcomer women face.
“These programs create a support system and an environment where we can build confidence to achieve our career aspirations,” Rakhee says. “For newcomers, feeling connected and supported is crucial, and programs like this provide that vital link — helping people build a sense of belonging and contribute their unique talents to the Canadian mosaic.”
It wasn’t just skill-building that mattered to Rakhee. The connections she formed with other women in similar circumstances made the community even more special.
“There was an incredible sense of solidarity,” she says. “Women empowering each other: we shared our struggles and celebrated every win — big or small — together.”
Programs like Bridge to Employment don’t just strengthen resumes — they help job seekers build confidence and see what’s possible.
“It wasn’t just about refreshing my skills — it was a morale booster,” Rakhee says. “The program gave me back my confidence, helped me understand Canadian workplace culture and taught me how to present myself. It gave me direction again.”
This is the kind of impact that United Way’s employment programs aim for — and we’re scaling that impact even further. Our Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) initiative, co-convened with BMO, is driving growth in Scarborough’s Greater Golden Mile by connecting residents to in-demand jobs and supporting local entrepreneurs — building stronger, more equitable communities where everyone has a fair shot.
From starting over to building something new
For Rakhee, the women’s employment program opened new doors. Inspired by her son’s love of coding, she launched Attach Forever, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education venture for K–12 students.
What began as a few workshops with neighbourhood kids has grown into a full-fledged social and entrepreneurial enterprise. Her workshops and DIY STEM kits introduce students to coding, robotics and design thinking in a hands-on, engaging way.
“Having my own business is a way to contribute to the community,” Rakhee says. “My goal is to empower the next generation of innovators and to help kids —especially from underrepresented communities — get excited about STEM.”
And she’s not stopping there. Rakhee is already exploring ways her venture can provide job opportunities for other newcomer women in her industry looking to break into the Canadian job market.
“The program was crucial to my journey to entrepreneurship,” Rakhee says. “It helped me regain my confidence and gave me the tools to channel my skills into something meaningful. It taught me to network effectively and to believe in my own potential.”
Kerri, the Project Coordinator for MIAG’s Bridge to Employment program, sees this kind of transformation all the time — and knows what it takes to make it possible.
“At MIAG, we believe meaningful employment is a pathway to dignity, stability and belonging — especially for women,” Kerri says. “Thanks to the support of United Way Greater Toronto, we’ve created a women’s employment program that addresses real barriers with real solutions — through personalized training, hands-on experience and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Bridge to Employment for Women is more than a program; it’s a launchpad for transformation.”
Building pathways to opportunity
In a region where the cost of living keeps rising and the nature of work keeps changing, too many people are being left behind.
That’s why United Way is deeply committed to addressing the root causes of unemployment and underemployment using every tool we have. Through partnerships with community agencies like MIAG, we invest in employment programs that connect people to in-demand jobs and provide the wraparound supports that makes success possible.
“These programs help bridge the gap between potential and opportunity,” Rakhee says. “When you support United Way, you’re giving someone the chance to change their life — and their family’s future.”
We’re tackling the systemic barriers that stand between people and meaningful, stable work head-on. We’re digging deeper than ever before to create pathways to opportunity, so that everyone in the GTA can build a life of dignity, purpose and possibility — and we’re not stopping until we get there. Any way we can.
Rakhee’s journey shows how United Way’s investments in inclusive employment don’t just change individual lives — they strengthen families, communities and the region as a whole.