City of Toronto announces the recipients of Redefining Regent Park: Youth Leadership Grant.

By Fred Alvardo
(Fred is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)

City of Toronto is pleased to announce the recipients of Redefining Regent Park: Youth Leadership Grant. The Redefining Regent Park: Youth Leadership Grant was developed through a private donation by Chris Brillinger, to fund programs in Regent Park. Chriss Brillinger was a former employee of the City of Toronto.

The City of Toronto Community Funding Unit received 12 applications totaling $869,986  in requested investments. The Youth Application Review Committee with the support of City of Toronto staff recommended four projects with funding totaling $250,000. 

Here is information about each of the projects:

1. Mental Health Matters in partnership with Youth Empowering Parents receives $70,000. Mental Health Matters aims to educate and enhance the mental health and wellbeing of Regent Park youth between the ages of 15-25 by providing a safe space for dialogue, increasing Mental Health awareness providing support and capacity building opportunities.

2. Dear Future Me in partnership with The Neighbourhood Group receives $70,000 for The Resilience Program. This project focuses on building confidence, leadership and resiliency skills  for youth between the ages of 12-14 with a focus on socio-emotional learning. This project will provide capacity building and workshops and hands – on learning opportunities and real life application of skills. Six youth ambassadors will lead the coordination of 6 youth-identified projects/events to further animate Regent Park

3. The Regent Park Youth Collaboration in Partnership with Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation receives $70,000 for The Regent Park Neighbourhood Rugby Club. This project focus on peer-to-peer mentorship through the sport of rugby. The Regent Park Youth Collaboration team will design a comprehensive Leaders in Training program that will provide opportunities for meaningful service, and promotes youth civic engagement. This program will also provide free weekend rugby programming for Regent Park school-aged children.

4. FEMME (Female Empowerment Magazine Meet-Up) in partnership with FOCUS Media Arts Centre receives $40,000 for the The Femme Collective. This project will be providing leadership opportunities for young women between the ages of 14-18 through journalism, photography and creative writing. Participants will be creating an online magazine centering on the experiences and interests of young women residing in Regent Park.

The City of Toronto would like to thank the ten youth that participate in the grant design and review for all their amazing work!