Behind The Y

Shaunette and Max continue their discussion of the housing crisis with opportunities for solutions coming from our YMCA friends in the United Kingdom. The two are joined by Jerahl Hall who is a Senior Communications Manager at YMCA England & Wales. Jerahl talks about the innovative youth housing programs their YMCA's offer over in the UK and the impact they have on the well-being of youth and society as a whole. If you have any comments, questions, or insights, please email: ⁠[email protected]⁠.

The interview was recorded in 2023.

Shaunette and Max discuss the lack of affordable housing in Toronto and how it has impacted the city's youth. They are joined by Cheryll Case, Founder and Executive Director of CP Planning, a non-profit practicing a human rights approach to community planning, and Jennifer White, General Manager for Youth Outreach & Intervention, Employment and Community at the YMCA Greater Toronto. The group discusses the barriers youth face in attaining housing and some of the solutions governments can do and what the guests' respective non-profits are doing to address these systemic issues. If you have any comments, questions, or insights, email: ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Our podcast, led by the Youth Advisory Committee of the YMCA of Greater Toronto, delves into "Reimagining Cannabis: A Youth-Centric Exploration of Harm Reduction." Part 1 laid the groundwork, focusing on empowering young people to use cannabis responsibly and addressing its associated stigma.

Now, in Part 2, our focus shifts to the societal and political factors shaping cannabis issues. We'll examine how laws influence youth cannabis use, the ongoing stigma post-legalization, and the impact of social determinants of health.

Next, we'll explore practical solutions and discuss the necessary changes at various levels to ensure these resources reach young people effectively. And guess who's back? We're happy to have Steve Keller, former Curriculum Developer of the Youth Cannabis Awareness Program (YCAP), join us for this eye-opening discussion on the pursuit of safer cannabis use across the Greater Toronto Area. Get ready to dive in!

Harm Reduction Resources discussed in this podcast: 

YMCA Youth Cannabis Awareness Program

YCAP offers free education and prevention for youth aged 12-24 and adults involved in their lives, aiming to minimize risks of cannabis use and promote positive youth

Website: https://www.ymcagta.org/youth-cannabis-awareness/en

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-800-668-6868

YMCA Substance Awareness Program (YSAP)

YSAP offers free and confidential support for youth aged 14-24 dealing with substance use issues.

Website: https://www.ymcagta.org/youth-programs/ysap

Email:  [email protected] (YMCA Youth Programs) 

Telephone: 416-473-7407

YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP)

YGAP implements a diverse and innovative strategy to prevent problem gambling among youth aged

Website: https://www.ymcagta.org/youth-programs/youth-gambling-awareness-program

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 416-928-9622 or 1-800-223-8024

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada's sole 24/7 e-mental health service, providing free and confidential support to young individuals aged 5-25 in both English and French.

Website: https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Text: Text CONNECT to 686868

Telephone: 1-800-668-6868

Connex Ontario

Connex Ontario exists to connect individuals in need with the available services, bridging the gap between service providers and those seeking assistance.

Website: https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/

Text: Text CONNEX to 247247: 

Telephone: 1-866-531-2600

The YMCA of Greater Toronto’s Youth Advisory Committee’s

Hosted by Craig and Aqsa, this episode delves into a crucial question: How can we equip young adults with the knowledge to responsibly: engage with substances?

Together with guest, Steve Keller, former Curriculum Developer of the Youth Cannabis Awareness Program (YCAP), they embark on an insightful journey.

Part 1 unearths the practical nuances of harm reduction through the YCAP lens. Join them as they dismantle the layers of stigma surrounding substance use and discover a path forward for responsible and informed decisions. It’s an eye-opening conversation that's as thought provoking as it is necessary.

 If you have any comments, questions, or insights, email: [email protected].

The mental health system in Canada presents barriers to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of colour. The experiences of these communities aren't reflected in this system, which creates challenges in accessing available and appropriate supports. Hosts Brandon and Sufiat explore this topic with insights from Alisha Sharma, member of The New Mentality's Youth Action Committee. The New Mentality is a not-for-profit network that amplifies the voices of youth to advocate for creating change within the mental health system. They recently published a report, Adjusting The Spotlight, which shines a light on the challenges BIPOC youth face in the mental health system. Brandon, Sufiat, and special guest Alisha identify the system barriers and gaps and provide examples of ways youth can get engaged in dismantling these barriers and bridging these gaps.

Nigel and Teresa conclude the conversation on basic needs and community actualization in an interview with Angela Koh, who is a Community Developer with Toronto’s West Neighbourhood House. With well over a decade of experience working in the community and non-profit sector, Angela’s work centres around community-based learning and knowledge exchange to help build platforms for connected social research and policy-making with, for, and by equity-seeking groups.

In our second episode, Nigel and Teresa continue the conversation of basic needs by exploring what community actualization looks like in a contemporary urban setting. They meet with Zakiya Tafari, Program Manager of Afri-Can FoodBasket, a health and social enterprise that provides leadership in urban agriculture and fosters collaboration to advance food justice in Toronto's African, Caribbean, and Black communities. Zakiya talks about his experience with this work and how he got involved, while discussing the power of community-oriented work and the importance it plays in the well-being of individuals and society at-large.

In our pilot episode, Sav and Max explore the concept of basic needs by delving into and challenging western notions of individualism and comparing it with other socio-cultural frameworks. Specifically, they compare Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs with "community actualization" - a way of thinking, living, and socially organizing rooted in Siksika First Nation teachings. 

They also sit down with Nouman Ashraf. Nouman is Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behavior area at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He's also the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion the Rotman School of Management.

Thank you for taking the time to listen! If you have any comments, questions, or insights, please let us know at: [email protected].