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A Future Built on Mentorship: Why Mentoring is the Essential Infrastructure Our Future Needs Now
This report was published by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This national report makes a clear and compelling case for why mentorship is essential for the future of our communities, workforce, and society. Young people are navigating unprecedented challenges from rising mental health concerns, disrupted education pathways,… View Article
February 17, 2026
Youth Career Catalyst — Applications Now Open
Youth Career Catalyst (YCC) is an innovative employment skills program for youth (ages 18-30), fully-funded by the Government of Canada. The YCC combines outdoor experiential learning, paid supported work experience, and an individualized coaching and mentoring to support those furthest from employment in entering Canada’s workforce. What’s Offered? Employment Coaching & Mentoring Paid In-Person Training Supported Work Experience What’s… View Article
Tags: outdoor education, work experience, Youth Employment, youth empowerment
February 16, 2026
What We Learn When We Listen to Children of War — Live Virtual Conversation with Myriam Denov
A live virtual conversation will take place on February 25 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) featuring Myriam Denov, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Children, Families and Armed Conflict at McGill University and 2025 Impact Award Gold Medal winner from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. For more than 25 years, Denov has… View Article
Tags: webinar
February 13, 2026
Executive Director Opportunity — Wanasah: Mental Health Services for Black Youth
Wanasah: Mental Health Services for Black Youth is seeking a to hire an Executive Director. Wanasah is a community-based, non-profit organization providing culturally safe, Black-centric mental health and addictions services for Black youth (ages 12–25) and their families in Regent Park and surrounding communities. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide… View Article
Tags: addiction, anti-oppression, Black Families, black mental health, Black youth mental health, community engagement, culturally-responsive, job opportunity, trauma-informed
PCK Intellectual Property Scholarship Program — Applications Now Open
PCK Intellectual Property, in collaboration with Roots Community Services, is offering the PCK Scholarship Program for youth from Black, African, Caribbean, and Indigenous communities. This scholarship supports students who are passionate about education, equity, and innovation. The program recognizes social inequalities and aims to create pathways for historically underrepresented youth in intellectual property and related… View Article
Tags: engineering, Funding, funding announcement, scholarship, science, STEM
Music as a Vehicle for Community Development
Music has long been a powerful tool for connection, expression, and social change. Community music programs remove barriers and provide young people with access to innovative music education. Our first webinar for 2026 features Richard Marsella, Executive Director of Community Music Schools of Toronto (CMST) on transformative models in community music, from noise parades to musical playgrounds. Drawing… View Article
February 11, 2026
Shaking the Movers 2SLGBTQIA+
Shaking the Movers: 2SLGBTQIA+ is taking place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 12:00PM to 3:00PM EST. Moving the Shakers is an opportunity for us to identify pathways for actionable change. Add your voice and change-making vision to the conversation! We would love to hear your perspectives on the issues facing youth in the 2SLGBTQIA+… View Article
Tags: 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth, Advocacy, change-making
February 10, 2026
Grants for Women’s Rights and Youth-Led Organizational SRHR Initiatives
As part of the Stand Up project, Oxfam Canada is pleased to announce funding support for public engagement initiatives to raise awareness in Canada about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Women’s Rights and Youth-Led Organizational Funding Opportunity Up to $20,000 : Do you know a women’s rights or youth-led organization in Canada doing great… View Article
Tags: community-based, reproductive health, sexual health, youth-led
February 5, 2026
Grants for Youth-Focused Community-Based SRHR Initiatives
As part of the Stand Up project, Oxfam Canada is pleased to announce funding support for public engagement initiatives to raise awareness in Canada about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Youth-Focused Funding Opportunity: Between CAD $1,000-$5,000 : Are you between the age of 18-29-years-old and have a public engagement initiative you want to organize… View Article
Tags: community-based, reproductive health, sexual health, youth-led
Guidance on AI and Children: Recommendations for AI Policies and Systems That Uphold Child Rights
This report was published by UNICEF Innocenti. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: As part of our AI for children project, UNICEF has updated its guidance (version 3) to promote children’s rights in government and private sector AI policies and practices, and to raise awareness of how AI systems can uphold or undermine these rights…. View Article
February 3, 2026
The Urgent Need for Child-Centered Artificial Intelligence Policies: Protecting and Respecting the Rights and Well-Being of America’s Youngest Generation
This report was published by National Center for Youth Law. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: Never before in all of human history have the sleek threads of technology been so tightly woven into the tender fabric of a child’s daily existence. In the arena of technology and artificial intelligence, where innovation and implementation… View Article
Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-being: An APA Health Advisory
This report was published by the American Psychological Association. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding rapidly, with increasing adoption among youth. AI offers new efficiencies and opportunities, yet its deeper integration into daily life requires careful consideration to ensure that AI tools are safe, especially for… View Article
Adolescent Cannabis Use and Psychological Distress from 2013 to 2023: A Population-Based Study in Ontario, Canada
Epidemiologic research suggests that adolescent cannabis use is associated with psychological distress (i.e. depression and anxiety symptoms); however, most studies have relied on 20th-century data, when cannabis was significantly less potent than today. This study aimed to estimate the association between adolescent cannabis use and psychological distress using contemporary population-based data and examine the roles… View Article
The Space We Make: For Connection
This factsheet was developed by Opening Minds (Mental Health Commission of Canada). HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: We make space for being real. We make space for learning how to create environments that are safe and supported. We make space where stigma doesn’t get air time. We make space in workplaces, communities, classrooms,… View Article
January 28, 2026
The Space We Make: For Safe Language
This factsheet was developed by Opening Minds (Mental Health Commission of Canada). HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: We make space for being real. We make space for learning how to create environments that are safe and supported. We make space where stigma doesn’t get air time. We make space in workplaces, communities, classrooms,… View Article
The Role of the Arts at the Intersection of Climate Change and Public Health: Findings from an International Survey
Climate change poses significant and escalating threats to public health globally, affecting physical and mental health through direct impacts such as extreme weather events and indirect pathways including food insecurity and displacement. Despite growing recognition of culture and the arts as potential resources for health promotion and climate action, the specific role of the arts… View Article
Young Canadians Don’t Have Access to the Vital Work Experience They Need to Thrive
This infographic was created by the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS INFOGRAPHIC: This infographic highlights trends shaping youth employment today and outlines how young talent can be supported and retained. The resource is informed by the 2025 report, Facing Challenges, Finding Opportunity: Young People in… View Article
January 15, 2026
Facing Challenges, Finding Opportunity: Young People in Canada Navigating a New Employment Reality
This report was published by the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: Young Canadians don’t have access to the vital work experience they need to thrive. Our new report is the second yearly report with findings from the Young People & Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study…. View Article
Anti-Islamophobia Action Plan: Addressing Islamophobia in the K-12 Education System
This report was published by the Government of Manitoba. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: Racism and discrimination can have a profound impact on students’ sense of safety, wellbeing, and belonging in Manitoba schools. The K-12 Anti-Islamophobia Action Plan supports our commitment to creating learning environments where every student feels welcomed and supported. This… View Article
ConnectED Parents: A Tech-driven Approach for Empowering Parents to Prevent Adolescent Dating Violence
This video was produced by the Learning Network. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) significantly impacts youth wellbeing and increases the risk of adult domestic violence. Although parents and caregivers are critical to prevention, traditional prevention programs often struggle to reach or engage them effectively. ConnectED Parents offers a tech-driven approach… View Article
Webinar: Working With (and around) the System
Peacebuilders Canada and Dr. Abigail Salole (Toronto Metropolitan University) are hosting a virtual talk exploring the role of the voluntary sector in the youth criminal justice system. How should we understand the role of the voluntary sector when its work is neither fully outside the system nor entirely separate from it? This first talk in a… View Article
Tags: criminal justice, restorative justice, social justice, webinar, youth justice, youth work
January 14, 2026
Career Fair for Black Students & Professionals
BlackNorth Initiative is hosting its Annual Career Fair on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. This year’s theme is Excellence in Inclusion – Shaping a Diverse Future Together. The event is designed to connect employers with Black post-secondary students and professionals, to explore job opportunities, mentorship, internships and long-term career pathways. Event Details: Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026… View Article
Tags: Black youth, career development, Career planning, mentorship, Networking, professional development
‘Bubbling Up’: Radical Advocacy with/for Indigenous Youth
This video was produced by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: This Teach-In featured Dr. Sean Lessard, award-winning educator and former youth worker, teacher, and counselor, whose work focuses on innovative educational programs and Indigenous youth empowerment. Sean reflected on his work alongside Indigenous youth and shared an approach grounded in a Pedagogy… View Article
Tags: community-engaged research, detransition, gender, gender identity, LGBT2SQ+ youth, retransition, transition, youth engagement, youth mental health, youth wellbeing, youth-engaged research, youth-led research
December 19, 2025
Black Youth from the Diaspora: Racism, Identity, and Transnational Belonging
This webinar was hosted by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE HOSTS DESCRIBE THIS WEBINAR: This webinar featured two interrelated presentations examining how Black youth across local and transnational contexts experience systemic barriers while exercising agency, resilience, and world-building. Drawing on their research, Dr. Mary Goitom and Dr. Ahmed Ali Ilmi highlighted the importance of creating supportive spaces… View Article
Tags: community-engaged research, detransition, gender, gender identity, LGBT2SQ+ youth, retransition, transition, youth engagement, youth mental health, youth wellbeing, youth-engaged research, youth-led research
Unlocking Doors: Research on Mentoring to Strengthen Skills and Support Career Pathways for Racialized Young Adults
This report was published by Mentor Canada. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This research study identifies mentorship as a crucial tool to address issues impacting racialized young adults, such as unemployment and challenges to their wellbeing. Mentor Canada, in partnership with Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), with funding support from the Government… View Article
December 17, 2025
Four Strategies to Promote Coordinated, Dignity-Centered Care in Youth Group Homes
Youth living in group homes rely on adults across multiple systems – including education, child welfare, health, and residential care – to create a sense of safety and predictability. Too often, these systems operate separately, without coordination, focused on supervision and rule compliance. This Evidence Brief defines key terms and summarizes strategies to shift… View Article
Tags: coordinated care, dignity-centered, foster care, group home, group homes, healing-centered, welfare system
TAKE 5: Braiding Supports for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
This factsheet was developed by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: In 2021, Nicole Ineese-Nash, Director of Finding Our Power Together, and Maggie Stein, MSW Student, hosted a webinar presenting an integrated framework for supporting Indigenous youth mental health by braiding together Indigenous mental health models, Child and Youth Care (CYC) principles, and… View Article
Tags: Indigenous approaches, Indigenous Youth, Mental Health, safe space, storytelling, youth voices
Disability as a Colonial Construct: Five Understandings
This factsheet was developed by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: In Disability as a Colonial Construct: The Missing Discourse of Culture in Conceptualizations of Disabled Indigenous Children (2020), Nicole Ineese-Nash explores how dominant Canadian ideas about disability often clash with Indigenous worldviews, demonstrating that disability labels, especially when applied to Indigenous children,… View Article
Tags: asset-based, disability, Indigenous Youth, strength-based, youth living with a disability
Centering Black Youth Wellbeing: Resources for Learning, Action, and Community Engagement
This webinar was hosted by the KDE Hub. HERE’S HOW THE HOSTS DESCRIBE THIS WEBINAR: This webinar introduced The Kit for Centering Black Youth Wellbeing. Developed by the Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX), The Kit takes a multi-faceted approach to addressing anti-Black racism and centering the wellbeing of Black youth, families, and communities. Dr…. View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, anti-racism, best practices, Black youth, Centering Black Youth Wellbeing, Resource
December 15, 2025
AI Training Toolkit
This toolkit was developed by AI 4 Youth Work. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT: The AI Training Toolkit gives you practical resources to guide young people in understanding and using AI responsibly. It is designed for youth workers who want to build AI literacy, critical thinking, and awareness of digital technologies. The toolkit… View Article
December 11, 2025
Digital Catalogue of AI Learning Experiences for Youth Workers: Piloting Cycles Report
This report was published by AI 4 Youth Work. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: The Artificial Intelligence for Youth Work (AI 4 Youth Work) project is a Cooperation Partnership co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, dedicated to enhancing the youth sector across Europe through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…. View Article
Map of Trustworthy AI-Powered Solutions and Assessment Matrix
This toolkit was developed by AI 4 Youth Work. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT: This structured guide was developed to support youth workers in navigating the fast-growing landscape of AI technologies. The map features 24 AI tools identified as potentially valuable in youth work. Each tool has been evaluated using the Assessment Matrix,… View Article
Artificial Intelligence Competence Framework For Youth Workers
This toolkit was developed by AI 4 Youth Work. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT: Building on recognised European competence frameworks and models and in-depth international research by the project consortium together with youth workers in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Romania, the framework provides, for the first time, a definition of the competences youth… View Article
Artificial Intelligence Competence Needs for Youth Workers: Research Report
This report was published by AI 4 Youth Work. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: What competencies do youth workers need to fully harness the potential of AI? How can they use AI to enhance the quality, attractiveness, and effectiveness of their work, and prepare young people to thrive in AI-powered environments? Our latest… View Article
Digitalisation and Youth Work
This report was published by Verke (National Centre of Expertise for Digital Youth Work in Finland) & the Estonian Youth Work Centre (EYWC). HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: How is digitalization changing our society? What are the most important technological developments or “megatrends” that we should be aware of? How do these developments… View Article
Upstream Youth Substance Use Prevention Communication Toolkit
This toolkit was developed by the Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub for Youth Substance Use Prevention (KDE Hub-YSUP). HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT: A growing number of people are recognizing the value of primary prevention approaches to youth substance use. These approaches are often called upstream because they focus on stopping youth substance… View Article
December 10, 2025
River Parable: Preventing Youth Substance Use Before it Starts
This video was produced by the Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub for Youth Substance Use Prevention (KDE Hub-YSUP). HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: Purpose: Provide a visual explanation of what upstream youth substance use prevention means. Format: ~3-min animated video (hosted on YouTube). Content Includes: A narrated animation of the “river parable” that… View Article
Young Black men in Canada face racism, ageism and classism when looking for work
Youth employment in Canada continues to be a concern. Young people between the ages of 15 and 30 are less likely to find and sustain employment compared to an older population of Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, around 11 per cent of youth aged 15-24 are unemployed. Among young Black Canadians that number is around 17.5… View Article
Using Digital Technology to Enhance Youth Participatory Evaluation
The aim of this study is to demonstrate the challenges encountered in youth participatory evaluation and how digital technology may assist in overcoming these challenges. The study explores the meaning of youth participatory evaluation and examines the challenges faced in utilizing the approach. We argue that using digital technology can help overcome many challenges of… View Article
December 8, 2025
The Social Impact of Digital Youth Work: What Are We Looking For?
Digital youth work is an emerging field of research and practice which seeks to investigate and support youth-centred digital literacy initiatives. Whilst digital youth work projects have become prominent in Europe in recent years, it has also become increasingly difficult to examine, capture, and understand their social impact. Currently, there is limited understanding of and… View Article
Digital Youth Work: Scenarios of Using Technology in the Youth Field
The rapid technological advancement generates changes in all fields of activity, including the youth sector, reshaping youth engagement and empowering. The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of technology in enhancing youth inclusion, participation, and growth, while also addressing disparities in digital literacy. In this regard, a literature review was conducted, based… View Article
Automating Youth Work: Youth Workers Views on AI
This paper aims to examine the perceptions and experiences of AI in the European youth work sector. The purpose is to establish a baseline for what the current understanding of AI might be and what future youth workers and youth practitioners’ centered support is needed to ensure that any AI policymaking, education, and training actions… View Article
AI & Youth Work: A Briefing Paper to Support Youth Scotland Members
This report was published by Youth Scotland. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This briefing paper’s purpose is to present the findings from research conducted into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential applications for youth work organisations. The main finding of this briefing is that while AI is increasingly available in personal and professional… View Article
Post-Secondary Scholarship Applications Open!
Aspire 2 Heal is proud to award five scholarships of $800 each to eligible youth impacted by parental incarceration. These scholarships support their journey into post-secondary education — whether in health-related fields or studies that address the Social Determinants of Health. Because education is a right, not a privilege, Aspire 2 Heal is committed to helping young people… View Article
Tags: incarcerated family, incarcerated parents, post-secondary education, scholarship, scholarship opportunity, social determinants of health
December 5, 2025
Review of Mental Health for Marginalized Girls and Youth in Canada: Current State and Protective Factors
This report was published by the Canadian Women’s Foundation. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: Recognizing the need for early intervention, this report seeks to capture and understand the experiences of racialized girls and gender nonconforming youth and what is necessary to support their mental health and wellbeing as they enter adolescence (ages 9… View Article
December 4, 2025
When the School Bell Ends, So Does the Support: Three Solutions to Build Bridges
For many youth living with disabilities or complex needs, the school day provides essential structure: visual schedules, consistent staff, and predictable routines. But when the school bell rings, that structure often ends, and what happens next is often unclear. Working across both school and residential care settings, I’ve seen the vulnerability that can result from… View Article
Tags: child and youth workers, educational assistants, group home, group homes, residential care, youth living with a disability, youth work practice
#YouthREXat10 Recap: 2015-2025 By The Numbers
This video was produced by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: YouthREX celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025: 10 years of knowledge exchange, capacity building, and evaluation leadership, in partnership with youth workers and youth programs from across Ontario — and beyond!
December 2, 2025
The anti-Andrew Tate: How youth workers can counteract the impact of masculinity influencers
Andrew Tate – online content creator, podcaster, former kickboxer, and subject of ongoing human trafficking investigations – has gained widespread influence with millions of men and boys. Tate promotes financial independence, being “mentally and physically strong,” and being successful with women, interspersed with (sometimes violent) misogyny. For my PhD research, I worked with 30 boys… View Article
Tags: boys, critical youth mentorship, critical youth work, gender equity, gender expansiveness, gender-based violence, masculinity, young men
Ontario Youth Sector Compass: Spotlight on Black Youth Mental Health
The Ontario Youth Sector Compass (OYC) research project, led by Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX), aims to illuminate the state of youth work in Ontario. Between 2021 and 2022, YouthREX collected both quantitative data from surveys and qualitative data from one-on-one interviews with youth and youth workers to provide insights about the diverse experiences… View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, Black youth mental health, Centering Black Youth Wellbeing, mental health services, Ontario Youth Compass
November 27, 2025
Mindfulness Toolkit
TOOLKITNew Leaf Foundation’s Mindfulness ToolkitYouthREX creates and curates relevant and accessible evidence-based resources from research, practice, and lived experience, designed for the Ontario youth sector. Below is a selection of resources available through our online Knowledge Hub that can support you to implement mindfulness practices in your work with youth. BLOG POST Supporting Mindfulness-Based Programs… View Article
November 25, 2025
Kids care deeply about our planet, so adults need to start listening
“I wish adults knew that I really care about the environment and want to help, but I sometimes feel like my ideas don’t matter because I’m just a kid.” This is what a nine-year-old respondent told us when we asked how they feel about the environment. In today’s current political climate, many adults seem resigned… View Article
Tags: adult allies, climate action, climate activism, climate crisis, Climate Justice, youth leadership, youth-led movements, youth-led organizing
Black Youth, Violence & Trauma Forum
On Wednesday November 26th, YAAACE is bringing partners from across the Greater Toronto Area together for the Black Youth, Violence & Trauma Forum. A full day of grounding, learning, and collaboration focused on the realities Black youth face, the trauma linked to violence, and the supports our sector needs to respond with care, evidence, and… View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, Black youth, Centering Black Youth Wellbeing, trauma-informed, youth violence
Generative AI for Nonprofits: Practical Tips and Considerations
This factsheet was developed by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: Adapted from Generative AI for Nonprofits: Practical Tips for Starting Small and Building Smart (2025) by Nate Wong for Candid. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a type of AI that can produce new content, synthesize information, and support a wide range… View Article
Tags: AI, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, digital youth work, non profit, nonprofit
November 24, 2025
The Equity Model for Youth Mentoring: Strategies for Supporting Youth Experiencing Marginalization
Our Evidence Briefs outline practices that can be integrated into program design, development, and evaluation. Visit our Good Youth Work Practices section to learn more! This Evidence Brief describes the Equity Model for youth mentoring, which builds on three foundational mentoring models. A summary of the evidence outlines 14 practice-based strategies for building equity-focused mentoring relationships… View Article
Tags: critical youth mentorship, equity, marginalization, mentorship, racialized youth, Youth Mentoring
Storying Youth Work
Storying Youth Work As we celebrate #YouthREXat10, we’re reflecting on the past decade of youth work across Ontario. This space showcases the rich and nuanced nature of youth engagement through shared anecdotes and collective wisdom.Celebrating the Impact of Youth Work From narratives, REX Blog articles, research findings, and direct quotes, these contributions highlight the moments that… View Article
Centering Black Youth Wellbeing: Resources for Learning, Action, and Community Engagement
This webinar introduces The Kit for Centering Black Youth Wellbeing. Developed by the Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX), The Kit takes a multi-faceted approach to addressing anti-Black racism and centering the wellbeing of Black youth, families, and communities. Dr. Cyril Cromwell will share resources to help understand the historical roots and context of present-day manifestations of… View Article
Tags: activism, anti-Black racism, best practices, Black youth, Centering Black Youth Wellbeing, community of practice
A Knowledge to Action (KtA) Conversation Series- NEW
CONVERSATION SERIES The Youth. The Work. The System.YouthREX is celebrating the 10th year of a shared commitment supporting the important work of Ontario youth programs and youth workers in advancing the wellbeing of young people!To commemorate #YouthREXat10, we’re hosting a CONVERSATION SERIES on the multidimensional theme: The Youth. The Work. The System. This theme has… View Article
November 20, 2025
“Thank you, but I’ve got it from here.” The Anti-Hero’s Intervention
Gary Newman, a youth worker in Toronto, reflects on how a calm intervention on a crowded Toronto bus reveals the anti-hero’s gift for defusing conflict through empathy rather than authority, an ability shaped by his own struggles with marginalization, instability, and the search for respect. His difficult early years, including periods of living in his… View Article
Tags: critical youth work, lived experience, storytelling, youth work, youth work practice
Ontario Nature Youth Council: Applications Open
Ontario Nature is now accepting applications for high school youth to join the 2025-2026 Youth Council cohort. Members of the Ontario Nature Youth Council will: Work alongside Ontario Nature staff, become part of a vibrant peer network, and contribute to lasting, positive change through conservation action. Take action on conservation issues including wetland protection, pollinator awareness,… View Article
Youth CivicCorps: Applications Open!
CivicAction is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for Youth CivicCorps Cohort 2, a program designed to provide young adults (18–30) with the training, coaching, and real-world experience they need to step confidently into civic leadership. Youth CivicCorps is a new kind of volunteer program that breaks down traditional barriers and builds up… View Article
Tags: capacity building, civic engagement, leadership development, volunteer, young leaders
November 19, 2025
Call for Submissions: This is Us – Anthology of Second-Generation Voices
Are you a racialized second-generation youth (child of immigrants) in Ontario, between the ages of 15 and 30? Here’s your chance to share your story! This is Us is a community-based anthology created to highlight second-generation youth’s unique and collective voices. Selected submissions will be published and shared widely. The anthology will be published open… View Article
Tags: art activism, immigrant youth, poetry, racialized youth, storytelling, writing
November 18, 2025
What Youth Experiencing Hospitalization Want Adults to Know
Young people thrive when they’re enjoying themselves and have the freedom to explore or play outside with their friends. These activities are essential to their overall wellbeing. So when this freedom is stripped away, how do they get by? Many children and youth end up hospitalized due to chronic illness, cancer treatment, palliative care or… View Article
Tags: adult allies, chronic care, chronic illness, hospital care, hospitalization, youth voices
November 17, 2025
Building the Capacity of Grassroots Youth Programs to Promote Youth Wellbeing: An Evaluation of The Centre for Organizational Resilience (CORE), a Program by For Youth Initiative (FYI)
This report was published by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This evaluation report describes the findings of a process and outcome evaluation of the Centre for Organizational Resilience (CORE), a program developed and run by For Youth Initiative (FYI). The Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX) based at York University carried out… View Article
November 13, 2025
(KtA) Conversation Series – OLD – DO NOT USE
A Knowledge to Action (KtA) Conversation Series The Youth. The Work. The System. Youth wellbeing is interconnected to what is happening with youth, within youth work, as well as within larger systems. Together, we’ll explore the practices and challenges of youth work and the contexts that shape young people’s lives. In celebration… View Article
November 12, 2025
New Leaf Foundation’s Mindfulness Toolkit
New Leaf Foundation’s Mindfulness Toolkit YouthREX creates and curates relevant and accessible evidence-based resources from research, practice, and lived experience, designed for the Ontario youth sector. Below is a selection of resources available through our online Knowledge Hub that can support you to implement mindfulness practices in your work with youth. PODCAST Educate, Reflect, Act:… View Article
November 11, 2025
Black Youth Housing Equity Summit
REST Centres, in collaboration with the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC), is hosting the first-ever Black Youth Housing Equity Summit on November 20–21, 2025, at Algoma University’s Mississauga Campus. This landmark event brings together youth, service providers, funders, policymakers, and community leaders from across Ontario to confront the urgent crisis of Black youth homelessness. With… View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, Black youth, Black-led, housing, housing rights, policy, social justice, youth homelessness
November 10, 2025
Global Solvers Accelerator 2026: Applications Open!
The Global Solvers Accelerator is an 8-month acceleration journey that brings together emerging change agents, strengthens their leadership capacity, and amplifies the transformative potential of their projects. By connecting grassroots experiences and empowering social impact practitioners, the Accelerator unleashes ripples of change that extend far beyond the individual participant. This program is designed for social… View Article
Tags: changemaker, entrepreneurship, fellowship, youth-led projects
Say-Walahi Diaspora Youth, Islamophobia and Anti-Black Racism: Implications for Education
YouthREX Research Summaries ask Just Six Questions of research publications on key youth issues. These summaries get at what the youth sector needs to know in two pages or less! 1. What is the research about? This research examines how Muslim Black/African youth in Toronto construct a unique cultural identity that merges their Islamic values with their… View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, Black youth, diaspora, education system, Islamophobia, Muslim youth, school, youth from the diaspora
November 6, 2025
Voices Unheard: Canada’s First National Health Survey of Black Women and Girls
This report was published by The Black Women’s Institute for Health. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: The Voices Unheard report is a call to action. For the first time in Canadian history, nearly 2,000 Black women, girls, and gender-diverse people shared their lived experiences across the social determinants of health, from accessing healthcare to navigating… View Article
November 5, 2025
TAKE 5: ‘Red Worn Runners’ and the Importance of Iterative, Relational, and Youth-Led Spaces
This factsheet was developed by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: In a keynote presentation at YouthREX’s 2016 Knowledge to Action (KtA) Exchange, Dr. Sean Lessard shared how movement, story, and place can “animate” young lives when adults create relational, youth-led spaces, both in and beyond schools. Sean locates his work in Cree… View Article
Tags: education, Indigenous Youth, mentorship, safe space, storytelling, youth voices
November 4, 2025
A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Indigenous High School Students Enrolled within a Youth Leadership Pathway
YouthREX Research Summaries ask Just Six Questions of research publications on key youth issues. These summaries get at what the youth sector needs to know in two pages or less! 1. What is the research about? This research explores the experiences of Indigenous high school students who participated in a youth Leadership Pathway program in Regina, Saskatchewan…. View Article
Tags: after school program, Indigenous Youth, mentorship, youth engagement, youth leadership
Youth Participation in Groups, Organizations or Associations
This infographic was created by Statistics Canada. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS INFOGRAPHIC: From 2021 to 2024, 53% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 29 years participated in groups, organizations or associations. Groups, organizations or associations could be formally organized or informal groups, where people get together regularly to do an activity or talk… View Article
October 31, 2025
Community and Well-Being: Exploring Sense of Belonging Among Youth
This report was published by Statistics Canada. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This study uses data from the Canadian Social Survey (2021 to 2024) to explore the experiences of youth (aged 15 to 29) and their sense of belonging to their community across the urban and rural divide. Specifically, it describes the characteristics… View Article
Bold Futures Report 2025: Exploring the Career Development and Employment Needs of Young South Asian Women across the Greater Toronto Area
This report was published by the South Asian Women’s Collective. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: South Asian communities have immigrated to Canada since the late 19th century, now forming the country’s largest racialized group, with over 2.3 million people (Statistics Canada, 2021). Many South Asian-Canadian youth, including second-generation Canadians and young immigrants, are… View Article
October 29, 2025
The Red Worn Runners: Intentional Conversations with Indigenous Youth
Sometimes five, sometimes 18, one time 30, but every day through August the Red Worn Runners have been inspiring me as we shuffle, sprint, and navigate our way down the dusty roads of Enoch Cree Nation, always wearing red – red T-shirts that is. It is a beautiful thing to experience. We always start at… View Article
Bold Futures: Exploring Career Development Needs of South Asian Women in the Greater Toronto Area
This video was produced by the South Asian Women’s Collective. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: This community action research project used a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and learning circles, to explore the career development and employment needs of young South Asian women and gender-diverse individuals aged 18–30 across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)…. View Article
Experiences of Indigenous High School Students in a Leadership Pathway
This video was produced by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: What does it mean to be a leader from an Indigenous youth’s perspective? This narrative study sought to explore the experiences of Indigenous youth as living leaders and how their stories can shape, or interrupt, the dominant deficit-based narratives… View Article
October 28, 2025
“Unconventional Canadians”: Second-Generation “Habesha” Youth and Belonging in Toronto, Canada
YouthREX Research Summaries ask Just Six Questions of research publications on key youth issues. These summaries get at what the youth sector needs to know in two pages or less! 1. What is the research about? This research examines how second-generation Ethiopian and Eritrean youth in Toronto – often identifying as Habesha – develop their sense of… View Article
Tags: anti-Black racism, diaspora, entho-racial identity, identity, racism, second-generation youth, youth from the diaspora
October 27, 2025
“Seriously though, where are you from?” Neither here, nor there (Part 2)
This video was produced by Kümneger Talks. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: Join us as we discuss what’s it’s like being Ethiopian or Eritrean and growing up in Canada. This is episode 8 of an 11-episode series, Kümneger Talks, that can be accessed on YouTube or as a podcast on Spotify. Kümneger Talks… View Article
“Seriously though, where are you from?” Neither here, nor there (Part 1)
This video was produced by Kümneger Talks. HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO: Join us as we discuss what’s it’s like being Ethiopian or Eritrean and growing up in Canada. This is episode 7 of an 11-episode series, Kümneger Talks, that can be accessed on YouTube or as a podcast on Spotify. Kümneger Talks… View Article
Pharmakons: The Poison and Cure of Black Youth Mentorship in Canada
Black youth mentorship programs (BYMPs) have proliferated in Canada since 2020, with goals ranging from leadership development and combating systemic racism, on one hand, to connecting Black youth to postsecondary institutions and workplaces, on the other. In this first system-level analysis of these programs, our surveys and conversational circles reveal the challenges facing BYMP administrators… View Article
Youth Voices in Dialogue: Multivoiced Narratives of Power, Belonging, and Change
This webinar was hosted by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE HOSTS DESCRIBE THIS WEBINAR: How do young people make sense of injustice in their lives and communities? What can their stories teach us about resilience, belonging, and human potential in contexts of inequity? In this webinar, Dr. Svetlana Jović shared insights from her research on socio-cognitive development… View Article
Tags: community-engaged research, detransition, gender, gender identity, LGBT2SQ+ youth, retransition, transition, youth engagement, youth mental health, youth wellbeing, youth-engaged research, youth-led research
October 22, 2025
DTK LIVE #5: ROOTED IN AFRICA — A Look Into the Truth
Saturday, October 25th | 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM L’Amoreaux Community Recreation Centre 2000 McNicoll Ave, Scarborough, ON M1V 5M2 Come join us for this youth-led event! Get ready for a powerful evening celebrating Black culture, history, and connection to Africa — through music, creativity, and community vibes! Dress Code: Wear All Black For: Black youth ages 14–21 What… View Article
Tags: Black youth
October 21, 2025
Seeing Both Sides: Detailing the Experiences of Black Women Mental Healthcare Workers Serving Black Youth
The impacts of racial discrimination experienced by Black people in the United States and Canada have received a renewed focus. Within the mental healthcare sector, there has been a coinciding focus on how racism within and outside of mental healthcare organizations affects the mental health and wellbeing of Black youth. However, little attention has focused… View Article
October 17, 2025
Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring Program on Crime and Delinquency: Four-Year Findings
This report was published by the University of Illinois Chicago. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: This document reports 4-year follow-up findings from a randomized controlled trial of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Community-Based Mentoring program involving 1,353 youth. Outcomes are examined in the areas of juvenile justice (arrest), delinquent behavior, substance use… View Article
Remembering Lost Lives and Collective Healing from Trauma: Homicides, Incarceration, and Pain-Driven Advocacy in the Jane and Finch Community
This article serves as a vessel for knowledge mobilization and activism as research, intertwining remembrance of lost lives and communal healing by sharing collective pain amongst the authors and bolstering mutual support. Guided by personal encounters with violence including death, homicides, and incarceration, four authors comprising a teacher, social worker, and two community activists, unveil… View Article
Girls Belong Here 2026: Applications Open
Are you ready to lead, speak up, and make change? Applications are now open for Girls Belong Here 2026, Plan International Canada’s signature youth leadership program! If you self-identify as a girl, woman, or gender-diverse individual between the ages of 14 and 24, this is your chance to step into spaces where decisions are… View Article
Tags: civic engagement, youth advocacy, youth leadership
October 16, 2025
Voicing Resistance Workshop: For Racialized Youth in Toronto Involved with Child Welfare
Were you involved with child welfare (CAS) as a racialized youth? Voicing Resistance invites Toronto youth to share their story through art and conversation. Who can participate? You are eligible to participate if you: are a racialized youth between the ages of 18 and 30 were born outside of Canada OR lived with family who were… View Article
Tags: community-engaged research, storytelling, youth in and leaving care
Free Online Teach-in: ‘Bubbling Up’: Radical Advocacy with/for Indigenous Youth
YouthREX is excited to host this online Teach-In with Dr. Sean Lessard, award-winning educator and former youth worker, teacher, and counselor, who focuses on innovative educational programs and Indigenous youth empowerment. Sean will reflect on his work alongside Indigenous youth and an approach based on a Pedagogy of the Heart – an educational philosophy centered on… View Article
Tags: critical youth work, Indigenous Youth
October 14, 2025
Made in Africa Evaluation: The Handbook
This toolkit was developed by the African Evaluation Association. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT: The Handbook on Made in Africa Evaluation is a pioneering work that redefines evaluation practices by centering African epistemologies, values, and methodologies. Emphasizing community empowerment, contextual relevance, and ethical accountability, it documents the evolution of Made in Africa Evaluation,… View Article
Inequities in Adverse Childhood Experiences in Ontario: A Descriptive Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the General Social Survey
This report was published by the Wellesley Institute. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic and stressful events that occur from birth to adolescence. This can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Ontario has some of the highest rates of adverse child experiences in Canada, yet… View Article
Senior Evaluator, Black Communities Focus
Logical Outcomes is hiring a Senior Evaluator, Black Communities Focus, an exciting contract role that bridges evaluation and AI innovation. What you’ll do: Lead the AI Lab for B3 Cohorts (Black-serving, Black-led, Black-focused organizations) Design evaluation frameworks for community programs Facilitate co-design processes for AI solutions Apply culturally responsive and equity-focused evaluation methods We’re looking… View Article
Tags: Black-Focused, Black-led, Evaluation, Program Evaluation
October 8, 2025
Confronting Afrophobia: A Phenomenological Inquiry on the Marginalization of African-Canadian Youth in Canadian Institutions
YouthREX Research Summaries ask Just Six Questions of research publications on key youth issues. These summaries get at what the youth sector needs to know in two pages or less! 1. What is the research about? This research examines systemic Afrophobia and anti-Black racism within Canadian institutions, particularly in education, social services, and youth work, and how… View Article
Tags: anxiety, coping behaviours, depression, Mental Health, racial discrimination, racism, social media, social media use, substance use, youth mental health
October 6, 2025
TAKE 5: Gender Fluidity and Detransition Among 2SLGBTQ+ Young People
This factsheet was developed by YouthREX. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET: On June 17, 2025, YouthREX hosted a webinar with members of the research team leading the DARE (Detransition Analysis, Representation, and Exploration) study. Dr. Kinnon R. MacKinnon, MacGregor Goodman, Ari Para, and Madeline Rosen discussed their recent research and care guidance to… View Article
October 1, 2025
Climate Action Photovoice Participants Needed!
Ontario youth (12-25) are invited to join a Photovoice research study exploring how climate change impacts young people, what sparks hope, and ways to promote collective action. Youth will be invited to share their experiences through photos and stories. This project aims to centre Indigenous, Black, racialized, and/or disabled youth voices. Compensation will be provided… View Article
Tags: climate action, climate anxiety, photovoice, youth-engaged research, youth-led projects
Reconciliation includes recognizing Residential Schools are not the only colonial atrocity
Sept. 30 is upon us once again, the fourth year this day will be observed as a time to reflect on the history of colonialism, and its ongoing impacts, on the Indigenous Peoples and communities in what is now called Canada. This day first became recognized as Orange Shirt Day by grassroots organizers in 2013, when Canadians… View Article
Tags: Indigenous peoples, Orange Shirt Day, Residential Schools
September 30, 2025
Colonialism in Early Education, Care, and Intervention: A Knowledge Synthesis
This knowledge synthesis aims to understand Indigenous experiences of early childhood education, care, family support, intervention, health, and Indigenous services in the context of childhood disability. Each of these institutional contexts has its own underlying professional discourses and worldviews. Knowledge from three sources have been synthesized: (1) interviews with Indigenous families about their experiences of… View Article
September 29, 2025
Disability as a Colonial Construct: The Missing Discourse of Culture in Conceptualizations of Disabled Indigenous Children
This paper explores the concept of disability through a critical disability lens to understand how Indigenous ontologies are positioned within the dominant discourse of disabled peoples in Canada. This paper draws on the inherent knowledge of Indigenous (predominantly Anishinaabek) communities through an integration of story and relational understandings from Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, and community… View Article
A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Indigenous High School Students Enrolled within a Youth Leadership Pathway
This report was published by the McDowell Foundation. HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT: What does it mean to be a leader from an Indigenous youth’s perspective? This narrative study sought to explore the experiences of Indigenous youth as living leaders and how their stories can shape, or interrupt, the dominant deficit-based narratives that… View Article
“Nothing Is Gonna Change If We Don’t Care for Everyone”: A Narrative Inquiry Alongside Urban Indigenous Youth in an Afterschool Physical Activity Wellness Program
In the fall of 2013, the authors received funding to help develop and implement an afterschool wellness program alongside Indigenous youth aged 6-10-years-old in the North Central neighborhood of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Growing Young Movers (GYM) afterschool program was funded, in part, as a corrective response to a broader social trend in which Indigenous… View Article
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