Member's Statement - WOMEN'S WELLNESS WITHIN - Claudia Chender

Member’s Statement in the Nova Scotia Legislature

 CLAUDIA CHENDER, MLA DARTMOUTH SOUTH

WOMEN'S WELLNESS WITHIN: COM. ADVOCACY - THANKS

CLAUDIA CHENDER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on International Women's Day to recognize an outstanding feminist organization, Women's Wellness Within.

Run by the inimitable Martha Paynter and a fearless crew, Women's Wellness Within is a non-profit organization that provides support to criminalized women and trans individuals who are pregnant or parenting young children in Nova Scotia. They also advocate for access to housing, income, resources, and health care.

Women's Wellness Within has provided one-on-one support to over 30 clients at the Central Nova Correctional Facility, the Nova Scotia Institution for Women federal prison, the Nova Scotia Youth Facility, and within the community. In partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society and East Coast Prison Justice, they've also published an important community resource guide.

In addition to facilitating over 50 monthly workshops for women at the Burnside jail, they've delivered countless guest lectures, including an invited address to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Physical and Mental Health - and that only scratches the service.

It is organizations like this that do the hard work of helping the women that our systems have failed, Mr. Speaker, and giving love and hope to those whose trauma has often made them feel that those things are beyond their grasp.