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Introducing the Social Innovation Studio
Launched in 2026, the Social Innovation Studio is Canada’s first national hub where mothers’ lived experience becomes the foundation of research, program design, and systems change.
The studio will embed within Mothers Matter Canada what the Women’s Insight Project proved: that mothers are experts in their own lives and when their knowledge drives actions, real and lasting change happens.
Mission
Identify priority challenges facing mothers and families across Canada.
Listen
Co-design solutions with Mothers-in-Residence trained in human-centered design.
Create
Prototype and test innovations with community partners, scaling successful solutions into long-term programs.
Build
Produce evidence and policy insights that drive sustainable livelihoods for all mothers and children.
Transform
Ask Mom.
She Knows.
We’ve Already Proven That Mothers Can and Should Lead Change
For generations, mothers have solved complex problems with creativity, resourcefulness, and care.
Five years ago we launched the Women’s Insight Project.
We provided training and support to isolated, racialized, and newcomer mothers.
They clearly identified community needs and then designed and implemented practical solutions that improved access to housing, education, and social connection for those who needed it most.
The results of the Women’s Insight Project were powerful: Mothers moved from isolation to leadership and they drove real change in their communities.
The project proved that mothers leading change works.
Now, it’s time to scale and embed their leadership.
NOW HIRING
Mothers-in-Residence
A crucial part of the Studio will be our Mothers-in-Residence: a small group of mothers from different communities and backgrounds who will bring their lived experience, ideas and perspectives directly into the design and improvement of our work.
The Mother-in-Residence role is a paid, part-time (up to 10 hours/week) contract position of up to $20,000/year based on completion of training, participation in Social Innovation Studio activities, and completion of the one year term.
The Mothers-in-Residence will:
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Receive relevant training;
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Be invited to participate in conversations;
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Review ideas and materials;
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Co-design pilot proposals;
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Identify gaps and barriers;
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Help us understand what programs, organizations and systems could do differently to better support mothers.
You do not need formal education, professional, advocacy or leadership experience to apply. Your lived experience and perspective are expertise.
You have until October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) to apply.
Where It All Began
In late 2019, Yusra and her family arrived in Canada from Pakistan and she started her career over as a Project Manager with Mothers Matter Canada.
Just weeks later, she pitched an audacious idea: build a framework that gives racialized, low-income mothers the power and tools to design the policies and programs their communities actually need.
This framework was the Women’s Insight Project, and today, as Chief Program and Advocacy Officer, Yusra will lead the creation of our new Mother-Led Social Impact Studio.
From pitch to fundamental shift in how Mothers Matter Canada pursues social innovation.
From Insights to Impact
Seed funding will help us move through three intentional phases that turn mother-led insights into lasting impact: building the Studio, nurturing the first innovation cycle, and growing emerging prototypes into programs that help families and communities thrive.
Seed Knowledge
$50-$249
Support early studio framework and governance to center mother-led insights.
Grow Action
$250-$500
Provide the tools, mentorship, and capacity-building needed to design solutions.
Harvest Change
$500+
Help prototype interventions evolve into scalable programs that lift families into stability.