Community Development Through Social Enterprise; A Case Study of a Vertical Farm Social Enterprise in Midland, Ontario for Women with a Lived Experience of Violence

Violence against women is prevalent across Canada. Governments and organizations, work to support women who have survived violence, but are these efforts effective? Are they addressing the root causes of violence? Often programs mandated to support women who have survived violence tend to focus on addressing immediate needs through emergency shelters, and supportive counselling. Despite the importance of such programming, they are reactive instead of preventative.

Using a case study of a social enterprise (Operation Grow) in Midland Ontario that was designed to reduce poverty, food scarcity, and isolation for women who have survived sexual and/or intimate partner violence. This research takes an in-depth look at the unique needs of women who have experienced intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence, then uses these findings to articulate their unique needs, and examine how social enterprises can be designed to meet these needs. The research identified six key design elements critical for social enterprises to best support women with a lived experience of violence. These critical components include: a holistic design which supports each asset area of a woman’s life, an intersectional feminist lens and gender-based analysis, an active valuation of women’s unpaid labour, flexible programming, supports to access material resources, space for women to have and use their voices. Social enterprises must also be designed to challenge the current economic and social order and their systems that produce and uphold oppression. They ultimately must work to empower women, inclusive of their unique identities and experiences.