Pinterest is shining a light on underrepresented, and marginalized Canadian creators

Simone Smith

simone@carib101.com

“The Creator Inclusion Fund is an amazing opportunity to shine a light on underrepresented Canadian creators and the work they’re doing every day to inspire people. At Pinterest, we’re working to build a more inspiring online environment and that’s fueled by diversity. Creators have always been at the heart of Pinterest, so we’re thrilled to be providing more of the resources they need to succeed.” Steven Kawalit, Strategic Partner Lead at Pinterest

I don’t know about any other readers out there, but Pinterest has got to be one of my favorite social media platforms.

Launched in March 2010, Pinterest has become the platform for users to: discover, save, and share visual content such as images and videos. People like to use Pinterest for a variety of reasons, including:

• Inspiration: Pinterest is a great platform to find inspiration for home de - boards to find ideas and inspiration.

• Organization: Pinterest allows users to create and organize boards, which makes it easy to save and categorize content for future reference. This is especially useful for planning events, projects, or even creating wish lists.

• Community: Pinterest also offers a sense of community as users can follow other users or boards and interact with them through comments and likes. This creates a social aspect to the platform, which can be fun and engaging.

• Visual appeal: Pinterest’s focus on visual content makes it an appealing platform for users who enjoy beautiful images and videos. Users can create visually stunning boards and share them with others, which adds to the overall aesthetic of the platform.

I was excited to learn that Pinterest has created a program specifically to elevate individuals from underrepresented communities. The program was started in 2021, because Pinterest saw a need to uplift creators from communities that have been disproportionately underrepresented including: Black, Latiné, LGBTQIA+, Asian, Indigenous people and people with disabilities.

Since the program’s first launch in 2021, it has provided financial and educational support to several individuals. This year, the Creator Inclusion Fund will provide resources to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities across North ers will spend decades gathering enough funds to make an initial deposit if the bank allows it. not just in Ontario but across this land. Why won’t the government put its hands into the direct building of these units? They have the funds; the regulations to make sure these units are made appropriately and in a timely manner. ing homes that sold for $350,000 a few years ago and are now selling for 3 times the amount. Developers who make a home at $195,000 cost sell these homes at $650,000 - $1 million.

America throughout 2023 with three cohorts. The first cohort will be on sustainability where participants can create content on: upcycling, foraging, farming, thrifting, gardening, and more.

Since its inception, the program has provided support and a path to success to dozens of creators from the: US, UK, and Brazil across industries like: Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Wellness and Food. Creators involved in the program received training and deep industry insights from experts in the field, personalized consulting and a financial grant in cash and ad credits.

Pinterest recently announced the expansion of its Creator Inclusion Fund to five new countries: Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. The Fund is Pinterest’s incubator program to elevate creators from historically marginalized communities through financial and educational support.

“Our mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, and inspiration is fueled by diversity of experiences, perspectives, and communities. Expanding this program will unlock more opportunities for disproportionately underrepresented creators and content producers to gain financial support, exposure, resources and reach new audiences looking to be inspired by their passions on our platform,” said Zeny Shifferaw, Creator Inclusion Lead at Pinterest.

All right creators: it is your time to shine. Creators from Canada can apply using this form starting April 4th, 2023 through April 13th, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Why do developers not build rental units/apartments? Well developers would need to look upon such builds as long-term investments, waiting some time to get back their costs and make some profit. Building other types of homes guarantee them immediate compensation, gratifying their profiteering.

Why do regional, city and provincial governments prefer housing builds of larger houses? The revenue they make of course. Even Premier Ford pushed to have 50,000 houses built in a few years centred upon individual homes being sold, not rented (aftermarket).

Has our economic system forgotten the small fry, the average Canadian who does not make a salary over $100,000 annually? Yes it has, and the reason for this forgetfulness is that the wealthy and mid-level middle class holds greater influence upon these elected officials.

The very power of the elite, real estate and developers lobby will always sway our elected officials away from competing with these financial aggressors. In 2016, 548 former members of a government in Canada registered as lobbyists, often representing the wishes of those who once were their suppliers (developers).

What am I saying?

Perhaps many of our elected representatives have been padding their pocket books, and ensuring their future careers in well paid jobs.

Corruption?

What about apartment buildings? Are they being built? In Quebec they are, but not in the numbers needed. Europeans have been comfortable with renting an apartment for decades, but not so in the rest of Canada. First time homebuy-

They are the same people, while the dirty unwashed working stiff has very little in common with real estate agents, developers and elected officials too. A true class system with regards to housing exists in Ontario and Canada. Are the New Democrats crying out loud for reforming this system? No they are not. They want to represent the higher ups; those with excess revenue and economic purchasing power.

A housing revolution is needed

Find out how much a MPP, or MP was worth when they started their position, and then check in with them after fourfive years to see what they are worth?

Only the average Canadian: worker, student or elderly who care about their children’s future, can force this issue before the politicians in Ottawa, Toronto and throughout Canada.

Housing and shelter are human rights. So, get off your couch and gather with like minded neighbours to demand real affordable housing.