Philanthropy through the eyes of their daughter

Molly Ensom and her parents, Ron and Beverly Ensom, have been donating to Youth Ottawa for several years. Their gifts have included time, talent and treasure. Making a commitment of time, sharing their talents and providing financial support through monetary donations have all helped to give youth hope in our community.

You, and generous donors like the Ensom Family, are the key to changing lives at Youth Ottawa.

Molly became involved with Youth Ottawa 10 years ago when Youth Ottawa’s civics program was just a one day conference to which she would bring her students. This initiative encouraged youth to be engaged citizens. Molly has continued to be an avid contributor to Youth Ottawa and has taken on a position on the Board of Directors.

Molly’s parents, Ron and Beverly, are long-standing supporters of initiatives that enable children and youth to reach their potential. The love of giving back has always been a part of the Ensom family. Ron, Bev, Molly and her two brothers have worked for many years for Christie Lake Kids, founded in 1922 to raise the life prospects of children living in poverty.

Ron and Beverly were inspired by Molly’s passion for Youth Ottawa. Seeing her enthusiasm for Youth Ottawa’s mission prompted them to add their support to hers.

We sat down with both Ron and Molly as they shared their story with us. We were doubly delighted to have them bring along Sam, Molly’s one-month-old son.

Where does your philanthropic spirit come from?

We think it’s really important to give back. There is a huge base of goodwill in the Ottawa community. Our family has the ability to support a number of worthy causes that have a positive impact on the community. It feels great knowing that we can help make a difference in the lives of youth and support the dedication of program staff and volunteers. We are always delighted to hear staff and volunteers talk enthusiastically about their work.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing today’s youth?

In my 23 years working with youth,” Molly observes, “I believe the biggest challenge facing them is the lack of access to opportunities.” Ron noted that the old admonition to “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps!” assumes you already have bootstraps. Youth Ottawa gives youth the resources and opportunities to build on.

What do you want your gift to accomplish?

I want to know that our gifts assure real-life payoff for kids and youth, and will enable the organization to keep energetic motivated staff.

Tell us about a particular program involving Youth Ottawa’s work that has impacted you.

Molly observes that “Social entrepreneurship is a current concept, and I believe it is very important. Organizations are no longer assessed based on traditional metrics like financial performance. Rather, organizations are being judged on their impact on society. With social entrepreneurship, you have the economic piece tied in with social justice. When I heard about Youth Ottawa launching their youth summer program, it really stood out for me. A program that provides youth with mentorship combined with the opportunity to allow youth to become their own entrepreneurs is a win-win. The fact that this program can help youth launch their own social enterprise all while receiving business support is ideal.

At Youth Ottawa, our donors are the heartbeat of our work. We know you have your own story too! Your story of why you give is an important part of our story. We cannot open our doors to youth looking for guidance, inspiration and leadership without YOU! Your gifts are essential and on behalf of all of the youth who are impacted by your generosity … thank you!

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019

“There is power in your story” – Jacqui Du Toit

"tHERE IS POWER IN YOUR STORY"

- JACQUI DU TOIT

sttARTs Launch

This month we launched SttARTs (Storytelling through the Arts) in partnership with MASC and the OCDSB – an exciting program that teaches students how to tell their own stories and how to create an event to present these stories.

The launch took place at Sir Robert Borden where students from four intermediate schools across the district were welcomed to learn more about the program, meet the facilitators and learn what is expected in the coming weeks.

About SttARTs

SttARTs was piloted last year to overwhelming success. At the end of the program, some adjustments were made based on essential feedback from stakeholders: participating students from 14 OCDSB classrooms, participating teachers and support staff, artists Jacqui and Jamaal, MASC Co- Executive Director Wendy Hartley and MASC English Program Staff, Youth Ottawa Coordinator Helene Boulay and ED Ian Bingeman, and OCDSB Arts Program and Learning coach Jennifer Boudewyn. SttARTs will be explored by Grade 7 and 8 students and will be guided again this year by MASC storyteller artist Jacqui Du Toit and Youth Ottawa’s Artistic Mentorship Coordinator Jamaal Jackson Rogers.

In the first six weeks of the program, Facilitator Jacqui du Toit will take the students through lessons of active listening, will lead them in structuring their own stories, and how to use non-verbal communication in presenting these stories. In the following four weeks, Artistic Mentor Jamaal Jackson Rogers will teach students how to promote and organize an art event where they will share their stories with an audience.

Storytelling supports many of the characteristics and skills of the OCDSBs exit outcomes: goal-oriented, globally aware, innovation and creativity, critical thinking, effective communication. The program also naturally explores curriculum expectations in drama and language arts.

“My struggle reminds me of how strong a person I am. That’s my story.” – Alaa Albadry

The launch welcomed first-year participant Alaa Albadry, who took the stage and shared with the audience her own personal story about her struggle with Eczema, and how this led to many years of bullying. Her story sent a powerful message of resilience and overcoming adversity and received a standing ovation from the audience.

“Youth Ottawa is delighted to be working with the OCDSB and MASC on this important project! We’ve long known that hands-on, experiential learning through the arts is critical to the development of student voice; however, SttArts has been a revelation for how impactful arts education can effectively build connections to peers, teachers and community. Jacqui du Toit and Jamaal Jackson Rogers are a dynamic duo, and students are in for a treat!.” Ian Bingeman Executive Director of Youth Ottawa

The Mentors

MASC Facilitator Jacqui Du Toit was born and raised in South Africa and is known for her animated stories from the motherland. She combines gestures, dance, singing, facial expression and dramatic impersonations that spark the audience: she captivates her audiences with more than just words.

Youth Ottawa Artistic Mentor Jamaal Jackson Rogers is a nationally recognized independent artist, creative entrepreneur and arts educator. He is the recently appointed Ottawa English Poet Laureate, a position that has not been occupied in the city of Ottawa for the past 27 years. As a mentor and arts coach with Youth Ottawa, Jamaal helps youth reach their goals within various artistic fields by teaching, inspiring and leading.

We believe that storytelling is a very important process that teaches us to love, to forgive others, to be just and to always strive to be the best possible person. We hope that this program acts as a fantastic teaching tool that will impact all participating students, teachers and facilitators. To learn more about MASC visit www.masconline.ca to learn more about Youth Ottawa’s Artistic Mentorship Program, visit our page here.

May 15, 2019October 22, 2019

A successful 22nd Annual Spirit of the Capital Awards

Recognizing 16 Remarkable Youth

After reviewing a pool of 130+ nominations, 16 young leaders were chosen to take the stage at the RBC Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards on May 14th to represent the inspiring and transformative work being done in the community. The event was held at Ottawa City Hall where 300 guests gathered to celebrate the youth who have engaged civically, volunteered locally, advocated for important causes, or have encouraged engagement among their peers. This was Youth Ottawa’s 22nd year hosting the awards as a means to spotlight the young agents of change, to honor their positive impact in the community and to be a support for them as they continue to evolve as leaders. The youth were able to share their incredible stories with guests and were each awarded a $1,000 bursary to continue their academics or social enterprise in line with the values of Youth Ottawa.

"Without you all trusting and believing in me, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’m trying to do now and everyday in this community. I pray that you all understand the impact and change you have in people’s lives. I am glowing inside and outside after tonight. Thank you for seeing me. I owe you the world!"

Brooke Shaw

Strength through Diversity Award Recipient

The Winners

Service and Caring – Ammar Abdurahman & Blanca Desjarlais, Max Keeping Award for Personal Courage – Miriam Hanna & Emily Pierce, Arts and Culture – Abdul Muse, Namitha Rathinappillai & Barry Takawgak, Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Malindu Danthanarayana & Daius Steiner, Strength through Diversity – Jordyn Hendricks, Quinn Jeffery-Off & Brooke Shaw, Take a Stand – Warner Schaettgen and Suheyma Duale, Academic Perseverance – Marianne Stintzi & Grace Salomonie

Our Sponsors

The awards could not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. This year’s event sponsors included title sponsor RBC, and Presenting Sponsors, University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College’s Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism program, Michaëlle Jean Foundation, Carleton University Student’s Association, and the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation. The event ended with closing remarks from Ian Bingeman, Youth Ottawa’s Executive Director as he invited Marjolaine Hudon, RBC Regional President Ontario North and East whom announced a $40,000 donation to Youth Ottawa as part of RBC Future Launch Program.

Read the full press release

August 3, 2018October 22, 2019

Glebe’s DILA Drug Awareness Day

Glebe's DILA Drug Awareness Day

"The morning saw all 330 Grade 10 students participate in educational sessions about harm reduction, drug information, consent as it relates to substance use..."

Youth Ottawa has had the pleasure of working with Anneke Jansen van Doorn, a teacher at Glebe Collegiate Institute, through our DILA Program for the last two years. Of all the exciting projects we have completed with her classes, the Drug Awareness Day organized with her Grade 11 World Religions class in December of 2017 was by far the largest.

When our long-time facilitator, Emma Buchanan, first visited the classroom, the students immediately identified the opioid crisis and the complexity of drug use as issues that needed to be addressed. Worried about the safety of their peers, students pitched a ‘Drug Awareness Day’ to school administration.

The morning saw all 330 Grade 10 students participate in educational sessions about harm reduction, drug information, consent as it relates to substance use, and lived experience with drug use. Youth Ottawa facilitators led student-driven discussion groups to help make the school a more supportive and safe environment.

Youth Ottawa thanks our partners for this project: Ottawa Public Health, the Ottawa Paramedic Service, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, and Terrence Rogers. Congratulations to Glebe students for organizing such an impactful morning.

April 29, 2018October 22, 2019

Mayor Jim Watson announces the winners of the Mayor for a Day contest

Mayor Jim Watson announces Mayor for a Day contest winners!

“The two winning students have been invited to be Mayors for a Day on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Madison and Jackson will chair the City Council meeting alongside Mayor Watson…”

Ottawa — Mayor Jim Watson announced today the winners of the first Mayor for a Day contest. Madison Richmire, a grade 10 student from A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, and Jackson Millenor, a grade 10 student from St. Peter Catholic High School, were selected for their exceptional and innovative ideas on how to make Ottawa a better place to live.

Madison’s active transportation and recreation suggestions of adding more OC Transpo bus routes, additional bike paths and creating more outdoor spaces and sport facilities for youth would help improve the way residents travel and move through our city. Jackson’s ideas of converting all street lights to LED technology, retrofitting City parks and outdoor public spaces and creating multipurpose gathering spaces in libraries and modernising their technology equipment would benefit the environment, help bring people together and create new community hubs.

The two winning students have been invited to be Mayors for a Day on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Madison and Jackson will chair the City Council meeting alongside Mayor Watson, accompany the Mayor at various community and city events and learn more about how municipal governments work.

The Mayor for a Day contest was organized by the Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee (OYEC) in partnership with the City of Ottawa and Mayor Jim Watson‘s office, as a way to promote youth engagement on municipal politics and civic issues. It took place from February 2 to 28 and was open to all Ottawa high school students in grades 9 to 12. Participants were invited to submit their ideas on how to improve the city for their chance to experience a day in the life of the Mayor. Over 90 applications with more than 250 ideas from students from high schools across the city and from all school boards were received. Submitted ideas from all participants will help inform the Ottawa Youth Engagement Committee’s Youth Action Plan (YAP), as part of OYEC’s current citywide youth consultations.