Keeping, building and sharing power in our communities

Mission/Vision

Working together to create the communities where we want to live.

Objectives

• Continue to be an authentic youth voice that represents the rich diversity of young people living in Toronto Community Housing;
• Support youth to develop and strengthen their own initiatives at the grassroots level;
• Share what we’ve gone through and how we’ve dealt with it so that we can keep breaking down barriers and bridging divides;
• Identify root causes of issues affecting youth;
• Influence policy and how it is implemented at the community and institutional level

Youth In Power was established in 2004 in response to the identified challenges faced by youth from Toronto Community Housing and to support the initiatives that youth want to make happen. Youth In Power is a collective of young people living in social housing communities who are committed to developing projects based on the needs, strengths and interests of youth in Toronto Community Housing. The need to breakdown the stigma of poverty, violence and “ghetto-ness” is vital to Youth In Power because it allows youth to be presented in a positive light and to be recognized in their full diversity. We believe that this will induce positive change in their lives and in the community.

The youth who participate in Youth In Power live in the various Toronto Community Housing communities. As such, Youth In Power has first hand knowledge of the day-to-day experiences and challenges the youth face. As well, the group has diverse skills and perspectives that enable them to respond to emerging issues and opportunities. Presently, there are about 20 official members. Decisions are made collaboratively in consultation with Toronto Community Housing staff who serve as mentors to the group. Initiatives are presented to the members and reviewed for approval.

Since its inception, Youth In Power has delivered numerous positive projects such as youth forums, social nights, and the creation of resource booklets and workshops.

Currently there is no initiative like Youth In Power in the city of Toronto. A strong model to compare and learn from is the Grassroots Youth Collaborative, however, it does not have the specific focus of working with Toronto Community Housing youth. This point is precisely why YIP and its initiatives are so important. More importantly, youth from Toronto Community Housing should have a strong voice at a policy level where decisions that have a huge effect on Toronto Community Housing youth are being made. Youth In Power needs to be an advocate for Toronto Community Housing youth and a key player at the “youth table” in Toronto. It is critical for Toronto Community Housing youth to connect with other more established organizations because Toronto Community Housing youth are best equipped to articulate our needs and strengths.