At Making Changes we empower women and girls to make meaningful contributions to the community and workplace. We are a community of women helping women and their families through life transition by providing them with the skills and resources to support their pursuit of meaningful educational and employment opportunities.

We are committed to creating an environment of inclusion and welcome all who identify as women regardless of age, race/ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or physical ability.

Making Changes celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a safe space, while helping to advance futures for women in our community.

We are passionate about helping women and teen girls experiencing life transitions to overcome barriers, open doors and create their own paths. Over the years, thousands of clients have found their way to us – each with their own unique story. For some, it is as they prepare to re-enter the workforce or as new-to-Canada residents, while others find us because their lives took an unexpected turn.

We help put confidence back in your step, hope in your heart and a smile on your face. The positive life-changing results of our clients and Programs can be seen in offices, classrooms, stores and communities around Calgary. By the smiles on clients’ faces. And the fact that many clients have become Making Changes volunteers – and even employees – speaks volumes.

Our clients’ success is everyone’s success. And it’s made possible thanks to our 250+ volunteers, staff, trusting clients and many community partners, donors and supporters. By working together, we’re each thriving in our own way.

Advancing futures for women. Together.

We offer these core programs:

• The Women in Technology Program is a six-month, full-time, integrated skills training program that combines employability skills training, technical training (in Full-Stack Web Development and Power Platform Development), and hands-on work experience to achieve employment outcomes for unemployed or underemployed immigrant and indigenous women in Calgary. Our goal with this program is to increase women's economic security by reducing barriers to women's full participation in the labour market by developing and supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives in a male-dominated workplace.
• Basic Digital Skills for Women: The focus of this program is on building confidence, skills and connections to the community. It will help women learning English (CLB 3 or 4) to learn how to use technology safely, access community resources and develop basic IT skills.
• Girls’ Resilience, Empowerment and Transformation (GREAT) Program equips teen girls with confidence, resilience, and leadership skills through a structured, neuroscience-informed curriculum. Serving girls aged 13 to 16, the program addresses barriers such as low self-esteem and trauma, while fostering personal growth and long-term success in a safe, supportive, girl-centered environment grounded in the HEROES curriculum.

The two ‘Closet’ programs provide no-cost new and gently used quality fashionable clothing, accessories, and toiletries to women and teenage girls. Our unique approach involves one-on-one consultations that empower participants to collaborate with their volunteer Image Consultant to build an appropriate and functional wardrobe for work or school. These programs are not just about providing clothing and accessories but increasing the confidence and self-esteem of our clients.

•  Dress for Success Calgary is a confidence building, empowerment program that provides 90-minute personalized consultations on professional, business attire to women facing financial barriers who want to join the work force, return to school, or engage in volunteer opportunities. In addition to information on business culture and appropriate dress, participants are offered gently used clothing and accessories at no cost to help them look and feel their best. Besides physically equipping the client with apparel and accessories for employment and participation in the community our programs, we furnish her with the confidence that she carries forever and the knowledge that she can actively define her life, the direction she takes, and what success means to her.
• My Best Friend’s Closet (MBFC) is a youth empowerment program that provides teenaged girls aged 12-18 from low-income households with one-on-one 90-minute consultation and a year’s worth of confidence building clothing and accessories to meet their school, employment, and recreational needs – all at no cost to their families. MBFC also provides valuable leadership and personal development opportunities to young women in the community, who volunteer in the program and act as peers or near-peers to the girls they support. Many teenage clients return to MCA as volunteers, eager to mentor other young women.

Access to professional clothing, combined with skills development and tailored supports, equips women with the confidence, sense of belonging, and leadership capacity needed to participate more fully in their communities and pursue long term personal and economic growth. Kindness, relevant support, and respect are the key factors that make all the difference in how we serve. We are a community of women helping women. Women who connect to MCA find that their lives change whether they are program participants, staff, or volunteers. Many participants becoming volunteers, and some have moved into staff positions.

What You Can Do

At Making Changes Association, everyone has something to give, and every act of support can transform lives

-Invest in our programs through a financial donation

-Contribute high-quality women’s clothing to support our clients

-Bring people together by hosting a clothing drive

- Become a monthly donor

-Share your time and skills as a volunteer