Bringing the “Truths of Institutionalization” Up North
On January 17, 2024, we had the pleasure of bringing the Truths of Institutionalization to North Bay, Ontario. Nicole Canzoneri – a member of CLO’s Board of Directors and Youth Advisory Committee – and Stella Curtis – a Council member – delivered this presentation to 30 staff members at Community Living North Bay. Nicole discussed the history of institutionalization and shared practical advice for becoming allies, promoting inclusion, and advocating for equal rights. Stella shared her lived experience being segregated in school by her teachers. The presentation was well-received by the staff who gained a deeper understanding of the effects of institutionalization.
(Social media posts created by the YAC members for the “Imagination In Motion” series. From left to right: Post highlighting the different learning styles; Post about the accessibility barriers a student may face at school; Post featuring R4I alumnus, Michael Jacques, describing his experience with supportive adult allies.)
“Imagination In Motion”: The YAC’s New Social Media Series
In February 2024, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) started a new series on the Re:Action4Inlcusion (R4I) social media entitled “Imagination In Motion”. The youth advisors have been creating and sharing their artwork – videos, poems, drawings and much more – to raise awareness about different advocacy topics each month. To date, they have focused on 3 topics: Learning Styles (February), Accessibility Services & Resources (March), and The Importance of Adult Allies to the Re:Action4Inclusion Youth Movement (April & May).
This June the YAC members are discussing all things “Mental Health”. You’ll hear about the importance of taking care of your mental health and learn some great coping strategies. Check out our latest post here and follow the Re:Action4Inclusion Instagram (@r4inclusion) and Facebook (@Reaction4Inclusion) to see a new post every Tuesday!
Aakriti Mahajan’s post on the CLO Instagram for the #CLMonth2024 campaign.
YAC Members Support #CLMonth24
Every May, we celebrate Community Living Month! This year, 3 YAC members participated in the festivities by sharing their responses to the question: “What Does Authentic Inclusion Mean to You?” You can check out their featured posts on the CLO Instagram page. View Aakriti’s post here, Nicole’s post here, and Yashvit’s post here.
Promoting the Re:Action4Inclusion Movement and the YAC
In April and May, we attended information sessions at 4 schools in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to promote the Re:Action4Inclusion (R4I) Youth Movement and the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) to high school students, parents, teachers, and staff:
The booth at the Franke Oke Secondary School Open House.
The first two sessions occurred at Elsie MacGill Public School in Oshawa, Ontario and St. Joseph’s Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School in North York, Ontario. During these sessions, we provided information to teachers and support staff about the benefits of joining the YAC and the advocacy work led by youth advisors. The teachers were very excited to learn about the YAC and promote this opportunity to their students.
The booth at the Mississauga Central Resource Fair.
The third session was an Open House at Frank Oke Secondary School in York, Ontario, and the fourth was the Mississauga Central Resource Fair hosted at Applewood Heights Secondary School, in Mississauga, Ontario. During these events, we collaborated with coordinators from CLO’s Student Links Mentorship program to provide students and parents with information about Student Links and R4I. Several students expressed interest in the programs and several parents were delighted to learn about inclusive, leadership-building opportunities for their children.
Student Links Coordinators and the Youth & Community Engagement Coordinator at the Mississauga Central Resource Fair.
If you know of a high school or youth organization in your area who would interested in learning more about CLO’s advocacy work or youth initiatives, please contact me at llennard@communitylivingontario.ca. We welcome the opportunity continue reaching more youth across Ontario and spreading the news about Re:Action4Inclusion’s initiatives.
