Capacity Building And Training

Toastmaster Program July-August 2021

Debating, how to speak, skills of empowerment. A program giving youth an opportunity to learn and practice important public speaking, debate, and general meeting etiquette.

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla September and October 2021

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla (co-chair of York Communities for Public Education and York University student) - utilizing social media for advocacy and our organization's mandates. Learning how to create professional and impactful posts as a youth

Future Majority

Planning and organizing the event with youth from Future Majority to empower youth voice with voting and taking action on issues within their communities - coaching youth on how to speak with local politicians to hold them accountable about public issues.

YRP Event

YRP three-part youth engagement series - Summer 2021

YRP and BYR Youth 3-part engagement series- in the summer of 2021 BYR Youth in collaboration with the York Regional Police hosted a 3 Part Youth engagement series. Part of the series was a conversation with Black youth and allies speaking with the Diversity and Inclusion Bureau about Anti-Black racism and police where youth were able to have frank conversations and provide suggestions to the police. Part 2 Was a bigger conversation with Black youth and Allies speaking with upper management about Anti-black racism and assisting YRP with their strategic Plan. Part 3 was an in-person event “Protect the Village” with over 50 Black youth and Allies where youth learned about their rights, Anti-Black racism, mental health, human rights and had an opportunity to speak with police about anything.

YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Conference 2022

BYR Youth collaborated with YRP/PCAC to help plan and host the YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Annual Conference. 50 Youth throughout YR were able to come to learn about Human rights, social justice, hate crime prevention, mental health

Collaborations with Political Officials

Round table discussions with Liberal MP Mary Ng and Helen Jaczek 2020-2021

ongoing discussions with MP's about disrupting forms of Anti-Black Racism in our schools and in our communities. Working together on finding viable ways to empower and provide opportunities for youth in senior high school, post-secondary school, and through avenues of entrepreneurship.

Municipality of York Region September-November 2021

meeting with senior staff members to engage in discussion and an action-oriented solution required for the marginalization of youth voice in York Regio

History month 2021, 2022, and 2023

Participated in February History month 2021 and 2022 hosted by the Federal Liberals in Markham/Stouffville. We also spoke at Municpality of York Region event.

Plan to Eliminate Anti-Black Racism November 2022 - Ongoing

Partaking in a multi-layered focus group for the City of Vaughan to Plan to Eliminate Anti-Black Racism

Mentorship and Building Capacity

Speaking engagements January - June 2021

Central Tech High School and a few Elementary schools in York Region - BYR Youth went in pairs to different speaking engagements to empower youth in GTHA about actions to take to form Black Student Associations, to use their voice to dismantle ABR in their communities, and to build relationships among Black and Racialized students

Markham Mayor Youth Council 2020-2021

BYR youth had three members partake on it for a year. Raising awareness, having diverse identity to ensure we celebrate and create active space for all youth

BYR Youth Panel with Edmonton School 2021

Edmonton School grades 4-6 reached out to have a panel with BYR youth - racism, actions tangible for youth, and curriculum and race

Leadership conference bullet point 2022

The BYR Youth Conference was designed for Black youth and allies across the Greater Toronto Area to address anti-Black racism. Throughout this conference, youth were given opportunities to network with others and attend workshops about various topics, such as BSAs, public speaking, mental health, intersectionality, discrimination and career tips. This conference would not be possible without the wonderful people at YOF and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, as they are to thank for granting us the money to help make this idea come to life.

Community Engagements

Vaughan Secondary School 2021

Vaughan Secondary School with other Black leaders in York Region helped to get this school renamed to Hodan Naleyeh. It was to start to remove overt oppressive ABR in the YRDSB

IDERD White Supremacy “I won't shut up” event March 21, 2022

youth were panelist March 21, 2022 BYR youth was on the online panel for International Day for the Elimination of Racism hosted by Toronto York Regio Labour Council to bring our voice and actions on how to dismantle Anti-Black Racism in schools, policing and social systems

Data equity

Be yourself, see yourself Events- part of a two part panel discussion with a provincial third party organization is seeking discussion on data equity, lived experience, and to answer any possible questions from a multi-generational audience.

Community Engagements

Food Drive for KendraYoga

To support an initiative created by one of our organizations adult mentors, BYR Youth collected food donations at our December in-person meeting. These food items were then donated to Ms. Kendra who was able to give them to individuals and families in need living in Georgina, Ontario.

Black Youth Market

This market will allow Black Youth Entrepreneurs ages 15-30 to sell and promote their products and services. It will have space for Black youth artists to sell and showcase their bodies of work. The pop-up will also feature a Black youth DJ, a panel of experienced Black youth entrepreneurs, catered food and more. The hope is to have about 20 booths on display to the public.

Black Legal Action Center (BLAC)

Conversations as part of a focus group for school-to-prison pipeline research being conducted by BLAC. The reason for participation is to engage youth voices with a deeply important youth issue.

Capacity Building And Training

Toastmaster Program July-August 2021

Debating, how to speak, skills of empowerment. A program giving youth an opportunity to learn and practice important public speaking, debate, and general meeting etiquette.

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla September and October 2021

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla (co-chair of York Communities for Public Education and York University student) - utilizing social media for advocacy and our organization's mandates. Learning how to create professional and impactful posts as a youth

Future Majority

Planning and organizing the event with youth from Future Majority to empower youth voice with voting and taking action on issues within their communities - coaching youth on how to speak with local politicians to hold them accountable about public issues.

YRP Event

YRP three-part youth engagement series - Summer 2021

YRP and BYR Youth 3-part engagement series- in the summer of 2021 BYR Youth in collaboration with the York Regional Police hosted a 3 Part Youth engagement series. Part of the series was a conversation with Black youth and allies speaking with the Diversity and Inclusion Bureau about Anti-Black racism and police where youth were able to have frank conversations and provide suggestions to the police. Part 2 Was a bigger conversation with Black youth and Allies speaking with upper management about Anti-black racism and assisting YRP with their strategic Plan. Part 3 was an in-person event “Protect the Village” with over 50 Black youth and Allies where youth learned about their rights, Anti-Black racism, mental health, human rights and had an opportunity to speak with police about anything.

YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Conference 2022

BYR Youth collaborated with YRP/PCAC to help plan and host the YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Annual Conference. 50 Youth throughout YR were able to come to learn about Human rights, social justice, hate crime prevention, mental health

YRP Event

YRP three-part youth engagement series - Summer 2021

YRP and BYR Youth 3-part engagement series- in the summer of 2021 BYR Youth in collaboration with the York Regional Police hosted a 3 Part Youth engagement series. Part of the series was a conversation with Black youth and allies speaking with the Diversity and Inclusion Bureau about Anti-Black racism and police where youth were able to have frank conversations and provide suggestions to the police. Part 2 Was a bigger conversation with Black youth and Allies speaking with upper management about Anti-black racism and assisting YRP with their strategic Plan. Part 3 was an in-person event “Protect the Village” with over 50 Black youth and Allies where youth learned about their rights, Anti-Black racism, mental health, human rights and had an opportunity to speak with police about anything.

YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Conference 2022

BYR Youth collaborated with YRP/PCAC to help plan and host the YRP Social Justice in York Region Youth Annual Conference. 50 Youth throughout YR were able to come to learn about Human rights, social justice, hate crime prevention, mental health

Collaborations with Political Officials

Round table discussions with Liberal MP Mary Ng and Helen Jaczek 2020-2021

ongoing discussions with MP's about disrupting forms of Anti-Black Racism in our schools and in our communities. Working together on finding viable ways to empower and provide opportunities for youth in senior high school, post-secondary school, and through avenues of entrepreneurship.

Municipality of York Region September-November 2021

meeting with senior staff members to engage in discussion and an action-oriented solution required for the marginalization of youth voice in York Regio

History month 2021 and 2022

Participated in February History month 2021 and 2022 hosted by the Federal Liberals in Markham/Stouffville

Plan to Eliminate Anti-Black Racism November 2022 - Ongoing

Partaking in a multi-layered focus group for the City of Vaughan to Plan to Eliminate Anti-Black Racism

Mentorship and Building Capacity

Speaking engagements January - June 2021

Central Tech High School and a few Elementary schools in York Region - BYR Youth went in pairs to different speaking engagements to empower youth in GTHA about actions to take to form Black Student Associations, to use their voice to dismantle ABR in their communities, and to build relationships among Black and Racialized students

Markham Mayor Youth Council 2020-2021

BYR youth had three members partake on it for a year. Raising awareness, having diverse identity to ensure we celebrate and create active space for all youth

BYR Youth Panel with Edmonton School 2021

Edmonton School grades 4-6 reached out to have a panel with BYR youth - racism, actions tangible for youth, and curriculum and race

Leadership conference bullet point 2022

The BYR Youth Conference was designed for Black youth and allies across the Greater Toronto Area to address anti-Black racism. Throughout this conference, youth were given opportunities to network with others and attend workshops about various topics, such as BSAs, public speaking, mental health, intersectionality, discrimination and career tips. This conference would not be possible without the wonderful people at YOF and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, as they are to thank for granting us the money to help make this idea come to life.

Community Engagements

Vaughan Secondary School 2021

Vaughan Secondary School with other Black leaders in York Region helped to get this school renamed to Hodan Naleyeh. It was to start to remove overt oppressive ABR in the YRDSB

IDERD White Supremacy “I won't shut up” event March 21, 2022

youth were panelist March 21, 2022 BYR youth was on the online panel for International Day for the Elimination of Racism hosted by Toronto York Regio Labour Council to bring our voice and actions on how to dismantle Anti-Black Racism in schools, policing and social systems

Data equity

Be yourself, see yourself Events- part of a two part panel discussion with a provincial third party organization is seeking discussion on data equity, lived experience, and to answer any possible questions from a multi-generational audience.

Food Drive for KendraYoga

To support an initiative created by one of our organizations adult mentors, BYR Youth collected food donations at our December in-person meeting. These food items were then donated to Ms. Kendra who was able to give them to individuals and families in need living in Georgina, Ontario.

Black Youth Market

This market will allow Black Youth Entrepreneurs ages 15-30 to sell and promote their products and services. It will have space for Black youth artists to sell and showcase their bodies of work. The pop-up will also feature a Black youth DJ, a panel of experienced Black youth entrepreneurs, catered food and more. The hope is to have about 20 booths on display to the public.

Black Legal Action Center (BLAC)

Conversations as part of a focus group for school-to-prison pipeline research being conducted by BLAC. The reason for participation is to engage youth voices with a deeply important youth issue.

Capacity Building And Training

Toastmaster Program July-August 2021

Debating, how to speak, skills of empowerment. A program giving youth an opportunity to learn and practice important public speaking, debate, and general meeting etiquette.

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla September and October 2021

Social media training by youth activist Riya Bhatla (co-chair of York Communities for Public Education and York University student) - utilizing social media for advocacy and our organization's mandates. Learning how to create professional and impactful posts as a youth

Future Majority

Planning and organizing the event with youth from Future Majority to empower youth voice with voting and taking action on issues within their communities - coaching youth on how to speak with local politicians to hold them accountable about public issues.