A new agency has launched this week, dedicated to diversifying the voices and talent platformed on speaking circuits.
Announced by social entrepreneur, Carla Raynes, Challenge The Label aims to challenge the stigma and labels applied to women who don’t conform to traditionally acceptable narratives and question the status quo.
Raynes is also the founder of Bridge It, an organisation providing young women who’ve experienced the out-of-home-care system or homelessness with a home and community support.
It’s been announced as well that 50 per cent of profits from Challenge The Label will be donated to Bridge It.
“At 17, I faced a pivotal, life-altering moment when I became a ‘youth offender’. Overnight my entire identity was reshaped, and my career path became clear. The experience propelled me into studying social work and dedicating my career to supporting young people at risk,” says Raynes.
“Since this life changing experience, I have spent 20 years working in the homelessness space, with a focus on supporting women.”
“Since becoming a founder and leader, I have collected new labels, including ‘pushy’ for advocating for my charity and ‘emotional’ for crying in the boardroom.”
“Labelling is an issue that slows the advancement of women and makes reaching a point of gender equality less likely,” she says. “I created Challenge the Label to give a voice to women quite literally.”
The agency, Challenge The Label, is backed by MECCA M-POWER’s social change program, bringing a dynamic ensemble of speakers together who’ve defied limiting societal labels. They include global feminist activist Emma Fulu, circular economy expert Ninna Larsen, sex worker rights advocate Brea Dorsett, and youth homelessness and academic Sarah Morris.
In a statement, the Challenge The Label said it hopes that by sharing stories of overcoming hardships, it “hopes to create a more inclusive and understanding world, where the power of resilience and authenticity takes centre stage over conformity”.
Another one of Challenge The Label’s lead talents, Tahlia Isaac has shared her story of resilience, with the aim that it helps to increase empathy for others.
A criminologist and Kamillaroi woman, Isaac channels her lived experience during incarceration to champion the rehabilitation of women’s lives after prison.
“I hope that when people hear my story of overcoming a decade of addiction and 10 months of imprisonment, it encourages society to reconsider the labels we place on those who have lived on the other side of the law,” says Isaac.
“Storytelling fosters empathy, even if you only spend an hour imagining yourself in someone else’s shoes, it’s bound to bring us closer as a society.”
“I want Australians to understand that we can offer second chances and provide employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals, helping them rebuild their lives.”