Nourishing Possibilities
EmployAbilities
Details
Northern Alberta
The Idea
Our idea is to provide nutritious lunches, snacks and beverages to participants attending In Motion & Momentum+ (IM&M+), a ten-week, strengths-based program for individuals experiencing barriers to employment who may feel stuck, uncertain about their future or unsure what direction to take next.
For many people, employment barriers extend beyond job skills. Poverty, food insecurity, limited resources, interrupted education or employment, disability, mental health challenges and social isolation can make it difficult to participate in employment services, build confidence and move toward work. When basic needs are not met, it can be difficult to focus on longer-term goals.
IM&M+ creates a supportive environment where participants explore their strengths, interests, values and transferable skills, build confidence, develop practical skills, explore employment and education pathways, and identify meaningful next steps. Participants are also encouraged to identify ways they can contribute to their communities.
EmployAbilities has supported Albertans facing disabilities and other barriers to employment for more than 50 years. Our experience demonstrates the importance of supporting people as whole individuals, recognizing that factors outside the workplace can affect their ability to pursue employment.
Food is one of those factors. Participants attend full days of programming, and many experience financial hardship or food insecurity. Having to bring or purchase lunch can become another barrier to consistent participation.
Funding will provide food throughout four IM&M+ cohorts over one year, supporting up to 48 participant spots and approximately 2,400 individual lunches. At approximately $146 per participant, the investment provides ten weeks of lunches while helping remove a practical barrier to participation.
The food is not the end goal—it is one support within a broader employment-focused intervention. By helping participants participate fully, we create the conditions for them to build confidence, recognize their strengths, explore employment and education pathways, and take meaningful steps toward greater independence and community participation.
The requested funding is $7,000 for one year, based on $1,750 per cohort for four cohorts.
For many people, employment barriers extend beyond job skills. Poverty, food insecurity, limited resources, interrupted education or employment, disability, mental health challenges and social isolation can make it difficult to participate in employment services, build confidence and move toward work. When basic needs are not met, it can be difficult to focus on longer-term goals.
IM&M+ creates a supportive environment where participants explore their strengths, interests, values and transferable skills, build confidence, develop practical skills, explore employment and education pathways, and identify meaningful next steps. Participants are also encouraged to identify ways they can contribute to their communities.
EmployAbilities has supported Albertans facing disabilities and other barriers to employment for more than 50 years. Our experience demonstrates the importance of supporting people as whole individuals, recognizing that factors outside the workplace can affect their ability to pursue employment.
Food is one of those factors. Participants attend full days of programming, and many experience financial hardship or food insecurity. Having to bring or purchase lunch can become another barrier to consistent participation.
Funding will provide food throughout four IM&M+ cohorts over one year, supporting up to 48 participant spots and approximately 2,400 individual lunches. At approximately $146 per participant, the investment provides ten weeks of lunches while helping remove a practical barrier to participation.
The food is not the end goal—it is one support within a broader employment-focused intervention. By helping participants participate fully, we create the conditions for them to build confidence, recognize their strengths, explore employment and education pathways, and take meaningful steps toward greater independence and community participation.
The requested funding is $7,000 for one year, based on $1,750 per cohort for four cohorts.
Who Will Benefit?
Nourishing Possibilities will benefit participants in In Motion & Momentum+ (IM&M+), a ten-week program for individuals experiencing barriers to employment who may feel stuck, uncertain about their future or unsure what direction to take next.
Participants come with different experiences, but many face barriers that can make employment and participation in traditional employment services difficult. These may include financial hardship and food insecurity, disability, mental health challenges, interrupted education or employment, limited access to resources, social isolation, low confidence or uncertainty about their abilities and future. These barriers can overlap and reinforce one another.
For someone experiencing financial insecurity, the cost of food, transportation, appropriate clothing or other necessities can make participating in a program or pursuing employment more difficult. For someone who has experienced setbacks in employment or education, a lack of confidence can become another significant barrier. IM&M+ recognizes that people need more than a job search strategy—they need an opportunity to understand their strengths, build confidence and identify a path forward.
Over ten weeks, participants explore their interests, values, strengths and transferable skills while developing practical skills and considering employment, education and other possibilities. They are also encouraged to identify ways they can contribute to their communities.
Providing food directly supports this work. Participants attend full days of programming, and access to a nutritious lunch and snacks removes the expectation that they must bring or purchase food while participating. This is particularly important for individuals experiencing food insecurity or financial hardship.
The project will support up to four cohorts during the one-year funding period, with up to 12 participants per cohort, for a potential total of 48 participant spots.
The immediate benefit is access to nutritious food and a supportive environment in which to participate. The broader benefit is the opportunity to build confidence, skills and direction that can help participants move toward employment, further education, volunteering, community participation or other meaningful next steps.
By removing a basic barrier to participation, Nourishing Possibilities helps ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent someone from accessing the support they need to move forward.
Participants come with different experiences, but many face barriers that can make employment and participation in traditional employment services difficult. These may include financial hardship and food insecurity, disability, mental health challenges, interrupted education or employment, limited access to resources, social isolation, low confidence or uncertainty about their abilities and future. These barriers can overlap and reinforce one another.
For someone experiencing financial insecurity, the cost of food, transportation, appropriate clothing or other necessities can make participating in a program or pursuing employment more difficult. For someone who has experienced setbacks in employment or education, a lack of confidence can become another significant barrier. IM&M+ recognizes that people need more than a job search strategy—they need an opportunity to understand their strengths, build confidence and identify a path forward.
Over ten weeks, participants explore their interests, values, strengths and transferable skills while developing practical skills and considering employment, education and other possibilities. They are also encouraged to identify ways they can contribute to their communities.
Providing food directly supports this work. Participants attend full days of programming, and access to a nutritious lunch and snacks removes the expectation that they must bring or purchase food while participating. This is particularly important for individuals experiencing food insecurity or financial hardship.
The project will support up to four cohorts during the one-year funding period, with up to 12 participants per cohort, for a potential total of 48 participant spots.
The immediate benefit is access to nutritious food and a supportive environment in which to participate. The broader benefit is the opportunity to build confidence, skills and direction that can help participants move toward employment, further education, volunteering, community participation or other meaningful next steps.
By removing a basic barrier to participation, Nourishing Possibilities helps ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent someone from accessing the support they need to move forward.