For Labour Day, we spoke with Donna Lee Marshall, who runs PARC’s Employment Program. We talked about dignified work, self-worth, and the importance of recognizing that you are your greatest resource.
A member sits across from Donna Lee and says they’ll take anything: any shift, any wage, any job. She listens and lets them know they’re worth more than that. “I want our members to know they’re worth more than just ‘any job.’ We identify the skills and strengths they already have and bring them back to light. They’re capable of so much more.”
As the facilitator of PARC’s Employment Program, Donna Lee understands that employment is about far more than finding a job. While members may arrive expecting help with résumés and cover letters, the real work begins with rebuilding confidence, self-awareness, and belief in their own abilities. For her, meaningful employment starts with recognizing your value.
“I don’t want people entering workplace situations where they may be taken advantage of because they are unaware of their rights. Unfortunately, some employers exploit workers who don’t know their protections, don’t recognize their own value, or don’t feel they deserve better.” For Donna Lee, understanding your rights and worth is essential to building a positive and rewarding experience in a job you love.
It’s Not Always About the Job
Labour Day recognizes the workers who fought for fair wages, reasonable working hours, and the right to organize. Yet for many people, barriers to meaningful employment still exist. Members navigating Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) often face complex rules around earnings and benefits, while employers frequently judge employment gaps.
Donna Lee’s approach is different. Rather than focusing solely on finding employment, she focuses on helping people discover their worth. Members write résumés. They develop cover letters. They practise interview skills. But those are only tools. “The real difference comes from the character, confidence, and authenticity you bring into the interview.”
Members come to Donna Lee thinking about a need to make money, but Donna Lee says it’s never really about the money. “Money is always the control factor. If you depend on a certain amount of money just to get by, you’ll go through all the stress and complications that come with that, because you believe it’s enough just to get by.” The real solution is about your emotions, your self-worth, your determination, your awareness, and your belief in yourself. When those foundations are strengthened, everything changes.
“Once you know your value, you walk into an interview understanding what you bring to the table. You realize they’re fortunate to have the opportunity to meet you, too.”
What the Employment Program is Up Against
The barriers people face are real. Financial pressures, program requirements, and systemic challenges can make progress feel overwhelming.
Donna Lee recalls a member who discovered his ideal career path at a job fair. He had identified the training he needed and knew exactly what steps to take. The only obstacle was an outstanding fine that prevented him from enrolling.
Donna Lee challenged him. “Are you really going to let that stop you? Pay the bill. You owe it to yourself.” He did. Three weeks later, he was accepted into the program. The lesson was bigger than employment. It was about believing he was worthy of his own effort.
Beyond the Hire
For Donna Lee, success isn’t getting someone hired. “I never want someone to feel stuck once they get a job. You can get the job and later realize it’s not the right fit. That’s okay.”
What matters is developing the skills and mindset that allow everyone to continue growing long after they leave the workshop: accountability, responsibility, confidence and self-awareness. These qualities extend far beyond the workplace and influence every aspect of life.
At the heart of Donna Lee’s work is a simple but powerful belief: you are your greatest resource.
Employment will come and go, but confidence, resilience, and personal growth remain. The ultimate goal isn’t simply helping someone find work. It’s helping them recognize that the strength, ability and potential they’ve been searching for has been within them all along.
Sometimes the most important thing a person can learn is that they are already enough, and they are all they need to begin moving forward. Donna Lee refers to this as “Each one, Teach one.”
“If I have something I can teach you and you can excel at it, I’ve done my job.”
Donna Lee Marshall is an employment facilitator at PARC (Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre), supporting community members. PARC has served the Parkdale community since 1980. Photos of members are shared with consent.
