STRESS + REST = GROWTH | 2023 Traction Impact Report and 2024 Areas of Focus

For those of you who appreciate a detailed list of 2023 Traction (CELEBRATORY WINS!) and 2024 Areas of Focus (WHAT WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT!), here you go:

CELEBRATING WINS - 2023 Traction and Impact Report

COMING HOME For the Children | My short film is complete and has been released in a home community (Splatsin) screening. It's ready for further screenings and next steps in 2024. Wenecwtsin and I have also been working on a healing toolkit, including a journal, limited podcast series, and various tools to accompany the film. I have had some early conversations with Telus Optik about streaming the film to ensure it is accessible to a broader, and will be working closely with Chief Wayne to prioritize next steps that match his guidance and our impact vision for the film. If you would like to receive a private link to view the film, please let me know. If you have watched the film and would be willing to provide a testimonial, we'd appreciate it.

s-yewyaw / AWAKEN | The full-feature documentary that Chief Wayne and I are featured in was also released this Fall. I am also the impact producer for this amazing story and look forward to all that will unfold in 2024 as we carry the impact vision forward. This creative project was a huge learning curve and growth opportunity for me both personally and professionally. I met a lot of amazing folks and look forward to the film's distribution release in the first quarter of 2024.

reGEN NOURISH Story Kits | We received Indigenous Capacity-Building Funding from United Way to pilot an exciting experiment that curates self-care products made by historically underrecognized artists and entrepreneurs with creative inspiration tools into a subscription box. We also began to develop a mentoring program and source ecosystem partnerships to explore how this project's potential to become a source of steady entrepreneurial and employment capacity-building for historically marginalized creators at their level of readiness, in their areas of gifting that is accessible can be fulfilled from rural and remote communities.

Lifting to Lead Cohort & Auntie Whispers narrative adaptation |  In 2023, PowHERhouse the Indigenous LIFT Collective brought together 12 Indigenous women and non-binary entrepreneurs for 8 weeks of online cohort learnings about decolonizing business. We look forward to leading further capacity-building cohorts in the future. Grateful to our project partners, SCCU and Cooperators, facilitators, and Aunties for helping to make this happen.

Canada Council for the Arts | In 2023, Charlene was recognized as a professional artist from an Indigenous background with Canada Council for the Arts. Grateful for this recognition and the access to further opportunities and funding it will open up.

Introducing Our First Six Regenerative Filmmakers | This year we introduced our first cohort of regenerative filmmakers. We were grateful to welcome them to the Sunshine Coast with a community event and also to ensure some strategic planning time and professional development in Idaho this past summer.

reGEN Story Hub - Early Prototype Complete | We are super-excited and proud to have our prototype complete for the reGEN story hub. This showcase platform is just the beginning. We are excited to begin to demonstrate the possibility that exists when you marry the power of media with the tools of technology for the win! Our fully integrated showcase platform prioritizes focus, sustainability, and care for filmmakers and storytellers. Curated opportunities will build a baseline of consistent revenue and grow audiences and momentum in the emerging sector of regenerative media and its power to shift our future’s narrative. We have a big vision for this platform. 

A Successful Foundational Year of Fundraising | In 2023, Naomi, my co-lead at reGEN and I announced our Mothers of Film relational philanthropy program. In our first year, we focused primarily on U.S. donors in partnership with a U.S. fiscal partner. We raised 60% of our year 1 fundraising goal!  These monies raised will support our first six experiments in regenerative filmmaking - production, distribution, and marketing. Throughout the year, we also worked with two experienced consultants to ready ourselves for an expanded 2024 fundraising campaign that will include individual donors (Mothers of Film continued) and corporate and charitable foundations.

Regenerative Creation Cohort | One of our most fulfilling undertakings of 2023 was our Regenerative Creation Cohort. This year-long opportunity for storytellers, founders, innovators, and community champions provides a framework facilitated by Naomi and me to birth a new project, initiative, or life change/goal in a supportive environment. We look forward to our next one starting January 20th.

reGEN Film Clubs | Finally, we announced the reGEN film clubs. In 2023, we announced the initial local chapters of the reGEN film clubs as well as an online chapter. We look forward to the community-building, creative dialogues, and new friendships these will spark! Please visit our website for more details.

2024 AREAS OF FOCUS - What We're Most Excited About!

Canadian Charity Partner | We are hopeful to announce our new Canadian charity partner shortly. This partnership will be incredibly supportive for our Canadian fundraising efforts for reGEN, our first six regenerative film projects as well as our impact campaigns.

Incredible Film Projects | Charlene has been asked to be the Impact Producer on two incredible projects this year. These projects are in honour of the life and work of a well-known Indigenous author and include a documentary about his life and work as well as a feature film adaptation from one of his books. Super-exciting! More details to come in the New Year.

Climate Resiliency Storytelling | Charlene is honoured to be working with an amazing research team on a multi-year climate resiliency project to do the impact storytelling, including the possibility of a short film.

FIFA | PowHERhouse is thrilled to be included in a major proposal going forward to FIFA for the World Cup in 2026 as part of an Environmental Impact Consortium.

Brand  Media Partners | As important pieces continue to click into place with our framework, projects, and opportunities, we look forward to welcoming our first three early-adopter brand media partners by June 30th, 2024. We are engaging progressive brands into regular conversations through Linkedin events such as this one coming up on January 12th.

Impact Hubs | PowHERhouse continues to refine our Impact Hubs offering. We are proud of the work completed in 2023 for PCRS and the new Foundry Surrey and look forward to working with industry-leaders to showcase solutions in affordable housing, climate resiliency, and capacity-building within Indigenous communities in 2024. If you know an organization doing good work in the world, we'd love your introduction or referral. Here are more details.

2025 Western Canada Impact Accelerator - In-Person Event | Our last in-personal Impact Accelerator was a 3-day event in Regina in 2019. Talks are underway to return to Regina in Spring 2025 for our next PowHERhouse Impact Accelerator, and we look forward to further announcements and new partnerships coming soon.

2024 Cohort Opportunity in the Sacred Art of Storytelling | We have recently received seed funding to host an event and cohort experience in Charlene's home nation, Splatsin, in 2024/2025. The purpose of this cohort is to revive hope, healing, and possibility through the powerful vehicle of creative expression and knowledge transfer. We look forward to making a formal announcement in January 2024 and are grateful for this opportunity that drives the impact vision of our short film forward.

reGEN media capital funding possibility | We cannot share details at this time, but reGEN media is in the running to possibly receive some capital funding in 2024 which would support our growth and operations. The public announcement will be made in January, and we will find out if we are successful recipients in February or March 2024.

Community Screenings will continue throughout 2024 for both my short film, COMING HOME For the Children as well as s-yewyaw / AWAKEN. In my role as Impact Producer, I am responsible for fundraising and partnerships to help make this happen. Always grateful for your introductions, referrals, and support.

In the Brew of Possibilities

PowHERhouse Publishing | PowHERhouse continues to explore conversations with various publishing houses to bring a unique niche brand imprint to the market to support untold stories of historically underrecognized voices. Stay tuned!

Global Hubs for Humanity | PowHERhouse has been in early conversations with community champions for international countries interested in our proven process and framework. PowHERhouse Hubs for Humanity could become reality in 2024!

IN SUMMARY, STRESS + REST EQUALS GROWTH

It has been quite a year. There have been challenges, pivots, lessons, opportunities, growth, expansion, tears, healing, and laughter too. What we have experienced in this year is a microcosm of what we are experiencing at this time on a global level. I try to remember that.

My Biggest 2023 Learning as a Visionary Founder:  Continued Integration for Expanded Differentiation

My biggest learning as we approach the end of one year and the beginning of the next is how closely aligned, related, complementary - yet distinct - PowHERhouse and reGEN media are. These sister organizations are meant to dance closely together moving forward in a way I do not yet fully understand but see glimpses of every day that will allow. It's the BRIDGE between them that I'll be watching closely:

• Impact Hubs - Showcase on-the-ground solutions of all that is possible through the work being done by changemakers to shift society;
• Story Hubs - Bringing stories to life that fuel the narrative shift for our future in a way that truly revolutionizes the media industry, upleveling how brands interact with transformative stories - how advertising dollars are utilized - and amplifies the important work of changemakers who are prioritizing people and the planet to rebuild generational hope and healing!

Ready for MORE in '24:  Five Ways You Can Support Our Growth

1. Masterclass invite: If you know a social innovator, changemaker, Founder, or visionary in the changemaking space, please invite them to our January 6th masterclass.
2. Brand conversations: If you know a progressive marketer, advertiser, brand leader, or agency professional who you feel may be interested to learn about partnership opportunities in regenerative media and impact marketing, please invite them to our January 12 conversation.
3. Relational investors and philanthropists: If you know an impact investor or donor who may be interested to support our work or invest, please introduce us.
4. Client referrals: If you know of an organization who would benefit from our work in impact amplification or impact production, please introduce us. I you know a Storyteller, Creator, Filmmaker, or Founder who is looking to birth a new project in 2024 in a regenerative way, please introduce us.
5. Intentional introductions:  If there are others in your sphere who you feel would enjoy being introduced to our work in the world, please do so.