A few words
About Us
History
The Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative [WHEI]
The Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative [WHEI] is a consultancy group of researchers, trainees and students engaged in advancing the work, health, and development of the Black population through transformative policies and programs. WHEI uses critical race theories and participatory action community-based research to build knowledge and understand the multifaced complex factors impinging on economic, social and health equities. WHEI engages and builds the capacity of Black people to redefine and shape their marginalization towards the evolution of an egalitarian environment and context.
Through research, WHEI unpacks the complexity of the economic, social and health inequities and uses innovative strategies to address the challenges and inequalities the people face.
WHEI was established by Dr. Francisca Omorodion, a Professor of Sociology, who in her academic career engaged in research aimed at promoting equity and transformative changes for the advancement of marginalized and deprived populations locally, nationally, and internationally. It was formally established in 2023.
Vision
The vision of Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative is to be a key player in the promotion of women’s health, economic and social equities among Black women in Nigeria and Canada.
Mission
The overall mission of Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative is to enhance women’s economic livelihoods, social status and health equity aimed at transforming their well-being by promoting and undertaking community-based participatory and action research.
Womens Health Empowerment Initiative
Philosophy
The Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative [WHEI] is dedicated to empowering Black women by engaging in research and outreach activities. Through these efforts, we aim to enhance women’s capacity, skills, and knowledge, ultimately reducing gender inequities and fostering positive health outcomes, while promoting their active participation in development.
Our Value Statement
The values of Women’s Health Empowerment Initiative are:
Positivity
Health
Inclusivity
About Executive Director
Professor Francisca Isi Omorodion obtained her university education in Canada, the UK and Nigeria. She has undertaken community-based participatory and action research for more than four decades in Nigeria and Canada. Her research interests focused on health, work and issues of equity in development as it affects the vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized groups and populations. She has published in learned journals with over 50 peer-reviewed articles. In 1995 she obtained a Chevening fellowship for her Doctorate dissertation. She was a visiting scholar, Department of Women and Gender Studies and was opportune to teach at the University of Regina for two years before joining the University of Windsor, Ontario, where she became a Professor of Sociology. She has unconducted numerous research as a lead researcher and in collaborative multidisciplinary research studies as Co-PI. These research works are funded by national, and international agencies. The goal of these research activities is to engage, build and use transformative policies and programs to improve and promote the well-being of vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized populations.
Objectives
- 1. To promote participatory community-based action research on Black women’s health and human development.
- 2. To undertake and promote community-based action research on gender equity issues including human rights, economic, gender and social equity issues.
- 3. To break barriers and reduce challenges that hinder Black women’s ability to engage in leadership positions.
- 4. To promote and advocate for transformative policies and practices, to positively impact Black women’s work, health, and participation in development.
- 5. To engage and mobilize Black women towards economic advancement and gender equity through equal participation on economic activities and gender equity.
- 6. To undertake knowledge building and enlightenment outreach activities aimed at empowering Black women having positive health.
- 7. To increase knowledge of sexuality and sexual health issues to reduce sexual abuse against Black women, and vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections [STIs] including HIV/AIDS.