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Nominations are NOW OPEN!

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
RBC Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards

Nominations Deadline: May 1st, 2021

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Academic Persevenrace
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Entreprenuership
Max Keeping award for personal Courage
Service and Caring
Strength through Diversity
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Do you know a young person helping to make your community a better place?

 The RBC Spirit Awards celebrate the incredible contributions youth make in Ottawa. Do you know someone who has a positive influence? Helps others? Is ambitious? Deserves to be recognized? 

Whatever the accomplishment, we want to celebrate them at the upcoming RBC Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards and reward them for all that they do!

The Awards recognizes young people 21 and under. Each year we give awards in seven categories. Each recipient receives a $1,000 bursary, recognition on Youth Ottawa and CBC Ottawa platforms and an invitation to celebrate with us at the 24th annual Awards Gala at the National Arts Centre! 

How do nominations work?

Anyone can nominate a young person (or group) for an award. Teachers can nominate students, students can nominate their friends, community groups can nominate volunteers, and so on.

What are the entry requirements?

The nominee must be 21 or under as of January 1st, 2021, reside within the Ottawa city limits and be aware that their name and photograph may be used for publicity before/after the awards in local media and on Youth Ottawa promotional materials. 

How do I apply?

Each nominator must fill in an application by clicking the blue box below. Each application requires a nominee statement. You can nominate a youth (or youth group) in up to two different categories. The nomination deadline is May 1st, 2021. 

Thank you to our 2021 Spirit Sponsors

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A farewell message from our Executive Director

A Farewell Message from our Executive Director

Our Former Executive Director, Ian Bingeman, reflects on his time at Youth Ottawa and our board of Directors welcome Jesse Card as the Acting Executive Director

Dear Youth Ottawa Family,

I will be leaving Youth Ottawa as of March 22nd, 2021. My decision was not an easy one to reach, made particularly difficult both by my persistent and strong belief in Youth Ottawa’s mission and objectives and by my optimism for the organization’s future. This is a bittersweet moment for me. I am extremely proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish working together over the past six years of my employment with Youth Ottawa. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served as Executive Director for this wonderful organization, and I am equally humbled by the confidence and faith you have all shown me. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of creating real, measurable impact and shaping innovations. I am saddened to think that I will no longer be involved in the day-to-day awesomeness that was – and will be – created by this outstanding organization and group of people, but I am consoled by the fact that I will remain an advocate for both the organization and the mission regardless of where I end up in the future.

With gratitude, Ian Bingeman

Appointing a new Acting Executive Director:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Youth Ottawa, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Jesse Card as Acting Executive Director, effective Monday, March 22nd, 2021.  Jesse started work with Youth Ottawa in February 2018 leading one of our key programs, Youth Active Media and was instrumental in the development of our collaborating social enterprise, Hot Shoe Productions. More recently, Jesse has worked intimately with the board in developing a renewed strategic vision, business model and operational structure.

We are very excited to welcome Jesse into this new position and welcomes his enthusiasm and vision for the continued growth for the organization. Jesse brings a wealth of experience from the organizations he has worked for in the past that will be of benefit to Youth Ottawa. Jesse has worked in the non-profit sector for over 10 years in various support roles, contributing to the development of many Ottawa Youth.  He has extensive experience in leadership, strategy, public relations, marketing and communications with additionally valued experience in the private sector as an entrepreneur.

“It is with tremendous gratitude and humility that I accept the duties and responsibilities of leading Youth Ottawa as the Acting Executive Director. I am optimistic for the future of the organization, I am convinced of its importance; but I am also aware of the task that stands before me, the staff and the community at large. The previous year has brought with it many challenging circumstances, and the crisis has also laid bare many of the social and economic hardships facing marginalized Canadians, youth in particular. It is for this reason, that Youth Ottawa must better define its purpose. It must solidify its viability. And it must reflect deeply on how it provides agency, efficacy and identity to youth; especially racialized young people in the City of Ottawa.  I look forward to contributing to the long legacy of Youth Ottawa, and the important mandate in advocating for young people.” – Jesse Card

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Executive Director, Ian Bingeman, for his work. His dedication in fostering creativity, celebrating civic engagement and pursuing social innovation among Ottawa-based youth, although advantageous to the organization as a whole, has enlightened our directorate and many peers in the non-profit sector. We wish Ian well in all that lies ahead and thank both him and Jesse for an active and seamless transition of leadership. 

Jesse Card can be reached by email at jesse.card@youthottawa.ca

To learn more about Youth Ottawa’s mission, programs or ways to contribute your support & partnership, please feel free to browse our website.

– Ben O’Neil & John Stroud – Co-Chairs, Youth Ottawa Board of Directors 

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Thank you for a year of growth!

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

Thank You for
Making Futures Bright

As we made our way through an unpredictable year, we are once again thankful for all the good that came from the collective support of the community to foster youth engagement. We’re released our 2020 Gratitude Report highlighting the work we have been able to achieve thanks to you.

Let’s take a look back at the incredible milestones that took place in 2020. Download our full report.

English Report
French Report
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Setting an Innovative course for the future of a Music Program

Setting an Innovative Course for the Future of a Music Program

As virtual learning continues we know the importance of media and film production in schools and how critical the use of technology is in the digital age. Youth Active Media empowers youth by teaching them the art of filmmaking by creating short films about community issues that matter to them.

Youth Active Media ventured into a new space in 2020 by working with St. Francis Xavier High School Music Department. We worked with students on a music video around themes of students’ relationships with music in their lives. John Yemensky, a teacher at St. Francis Xavier shares his experience below. 

In 2019-20, my Grade 10-12 Instrumental Music Class and I partnered with Youth Ottawa to conceive, plan and execute an event under the Artistic Mentorship Program. Youth Ottawa met with us once per week for eight weeks and guided the students through the entire process of putting on an elaborate event in our community.  The students had to first decide what that event would be and then make it happen from the ground up including finding sponsors, finding a venue, enlisting performers, designing concert tickets, and devising methods for selling tickets.  As students moved through this process, they had to learn the music they themselves were to perform, but of equal importance, they learned to interact with other musicians, venue managers, representatives from various charities, radio stations, and online ticket distributors – all of which was completely foreign to the students. Thus, the real world transferable skills they acquired prepared them for life outside the classroom, built character, confidence and determination, exposed them to the artistic community, and gave them an opportunity for growth yet unseen in their experience. I can think of no better example of deep learning.

Cut to 2020-21 and doing such a collaboration with Youth Ottawa was pandemically impossible.  But when I asked Youth Ottawa about the possibility of collaborating with this year’s music class,  the creative sparks flew! We were able to involve not just my one music class, but all of our music students as well as many professional musicians and music educators in our community.  Through Youth Ottawa’s initiative, the students learned media literacy in numerous forms, promotional skills, creative skills such as songwriting and composition, photography, videography, and interpersonal skills. They confronted their fears to try things they had never done before developing character and moxy along the way – again, deep learning at its finest. 

The students have a learning experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives and can draw upon that experience in all of their future endeavours.  As a music teacher, I too have been able to expand my horizons. In the future, I can continue to put kids to work in similar ways, engaging students to take ownership of their music program by promoting it to peers and the next generation of students not just through video, but through all manners of promotion will be a staple for years to come.  In short, our partnership with Youth Ottawa has provided students with opportunities rich in deep learning and set an innovative course for the future of the Music Program at St. Francis Xavier High School.

Sincerely, 

John Yemensky 

Learn more about Youth Active Media

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Social Awareness Project

Social Awareness Project

Students initiated an action project to raise awareness for housing insecurities related to COVID-19. 

The students from Alexandra Woods’ grade 12 social science class at Adult High School have co-written a song with Juno-nominated Craig Cardiff and produced a music video with Youth Ottawa’s Jesse Card to bring awareness to the housing emergency in Ottawa and to the challenges individuals are facing due to COVID evictions. 

The funding for the song and video workshops was provided by the OCDSB’s Experiential Learning department – OCDSBXL and the model for activism was adapted from the Active Citizenship Initiative – a civic engagement initiative created by Youth Ottawa. 

  • The Project

    The song and music video was created as part of a larger social awareness campaign which included a social media component, mask distribution to the street community through the Salvation Army's Outreach Program, and lobbying municipal and provincial government to address the housing emergency in Ottawa. This included conversations with political representatives in Ottawa including Catherine Mckenney, Councillor for Somerset Ward and Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre.

  • January 29th marks the one year anniversary of Ottawa City Council's declaration of a housing emergency. The music video and song will be the anthem for a virtual rally being held on Friday, Jan 29th, 2021 by the Alliance to End Homelessness to mark this day. The goal of the project is to raise and amplify the voices of those who are struggling with housing insecurities as a result of COVID-19.

"Housing is a basic human right and we need to take care of our community in order to get through this difficult time."
Alexandra Woods
Teacher at Adult High School
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Join us! Youth Ottawa 2020 Annual General Meeting

Join us for our 2020 Annual General Meeting

Youth Ottawa’s Annual General Meeting will be held virtually on
Sunday December 20th from 5:30PM – 9PM. 
 
Want to hear about what we’ve been up to this year? How we have navigated the coronavirus? Share some thoughts or feedback? Join us! Public and open to all.
 
To be added to the speakers list please email ben.oneil@youthottawa.ca 
The AGM will take place online via zoom and can be accessed through this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85637898238
 
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Rainbow Bridges Film Festival

Rainbow Bridges Film Festival

Since the beginning of Covid 19 last Spring, we have worked to meet the shifting needs of 2SLGBTQ+ students, who face unique and often disproportionate barriers to equitable learning spaces. The pandemic has amplified many of these challenges- from social isolation to gender safety at school, systemic anti-Blackness and learning access needs, and so our programs have adjusted accordingly. Working closely alongside Sue Rice, OCDSB Equity Instructional Coach, and Kaedan Seburn, Trans and Gender Diverse Student Support Coordinator, we are coordinating a variety of events through the Rainbow Bridges Program aimed at supporting allied educators and students alike.

The Rainbow Bridges program – now fully digital – remains focused on its for-youth-by-youth model, wherein secondary students work alongside various GSA’s and equity clubs (gay-straight alliance or gender and sexuality alliance) to create short films aimed at welcoming incoming grade 9 students who will be entering high school (Check out this short video reel about the program). These short student films address a variety of topics related to diverse 2SLGBTQ+ life experiences, with the underlying message being one of support, from older students to younger students. 

We’re excited to announce we’ll be showcasing the students films from last year’s Rainbow Bridges participants, along with some new surprises! The film festival will be streamed on the OCDSB Youtube Channel on Thursday November 19th at 7:00 PM. The link to access the film festival can be found below. 

Tune into the Rainbow Bridges Festival
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Ben’s Youth Ottawa Story

Ben's
Youth Ottawa Story

how you can help

Storytelling is kinda my thing.

You are part of my story. Let me tell you why!

I was the weird kid in school. I didn’t feel like I belonged. Ever.

Do you know this feeling?

When I was growing up, I was always interested in filmmaking, but I was never taken seriously. One day, when I was 16, my Mom came home with a flyer about the Youth Active Media (YAM) program at Youth Ottawa. The idea was to engage youth in the art of filmmaking through short films on community issues.

Wow! I couldn’t believe it! I had no idea Youth Ottawa was so incredible. But at first I was so nervous. You see … I have some anxiety. My Mom was patient and convinced me taking the risk to reach out was worth it! At the end of the first day of the program, I felt at home! Your commitment to Youth Ottawa made this kind of connection possible for me and so many of my friends.

My immediate comfort level with YAM lead me to a huge next step! I was so proud as I approached the coordinator at the time, Pixie, to ask if there were any job opportunities in the future. Can you imagine? I was so nervous and then … here I was taking this big next step.

Pixie happily gave me information on how to apply and I did. Guess what?!

Two months later, I started working as a facilitator for the YAM program. I also started to work on videography and editing. This lead to Hot Shoe Productions, a social enterprise that hires graduates from the Youth Active Media program to create powerful video products for clients. 

And my story is not over!

I am concerned that other youth may not have these opportunities in the future.

That is why I am asking for you to consider supporting Youth Ottawa with a donation. Can you step up for young people?

Oh I don’t want to forget to tell you! 

Because of the encouragement, provided by support from the community, when I graduated High School, I decided to study Film Production at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Can you imagine?! This was a dream come true. But my story with Youth Ottawa was still not done. I learned a lot at college, but when I graduated, I was struggling to find steady work. I reached out to Youth Ottawa to ask if they would have any opportunities available and was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to help facilitate the new YAM high school programs.

Youth Ottawa came through again!

Please consider a gift. There are so many youth looking for the happy ending to their story … please give generously.

Sincerely, 

Ben Bergeron

P.S. You are the hero of my story. Learn how you can be a hero to another youth here.

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“I was just an artist, now I’m an entrepreneur”

“I was just an artist, now I'm an entrepreneur.”

Abdul muse
My name is Abdul Muse and I am 19 years old. This is my story of entrepreneurship and music and Youth Ottawa.

Growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to be, it was a firefighter one day, or a doctor the next. I was sure about one thing and that was that I loved music. 

Parents are always looking for the best opportunities for their children, so at the age of 13, I moved to Ottawa from Nigeria on my own. I have fond memories of Nigeria, most of them encompass music. I was 4 when I picked up my first guitar. I remember grabbing anything in sight (usually a fan of some sort) and I would sing pretending I was Usher.

"I was 4 when I picked up my first guitar. I would sing pretending I was Usher"

After arriving in Canada I started school, performing in various bands, I even started my own. In grade 12 I had the tough decision of deciding what was next. I thought hard, going back to what truly inspired me. Although I was always passionate about music, everyone told me it wasn’t a successful career and I didn’t want to disappoint my parents by choosing a career that wasn’t “realistic.” 

I decided to take the route of International Business at Carleton University. During my studies, I immersed myself in philosophy and started listening to motivational speakers and artists in the community. What intrigued me the most, were artists that relaid positive messages through their music. It’s at that time that I started focusing on writing and producing. Recording was the toughest part of it all, especially while I was studying. Not to mention the money it costs to rent a studio. 

This is where the idea for WOKE studios immerged.

In the beginning, I just wanted to build a platform for young artists to come together, I didn’t want to have them struggle. I wanted to see them have support through their artistic journey. With the help of generous donors to Youth Ottawa, I’m now building a social enterprise that ensures support for young musicians.

Many artists do not feel supported enough or believe in themselves, they tend to lose interest in the art form that they love.  I felt unsupported for many months until I was nominated by one of my teachers for a Spirit of the Capital Award presented by Youth Ottawa. This was the first time I was ever recognized for anything in music. The Youth Ottawa Award gave me the recognition that I needed to believe that I can achieve my dreams. It recognized that I was doing something good, that I can make a difference, and that a career path in music was a viable option. 

Support youth like abdul

"With the help of Youth Ottawa, I am now building a social enterprise that ensures young musicians are able to make a successful living our of music."

There is more work to do.

I received another incredible opportunity. I was approached by Youth Ottawa to work under their Summer Employment Program. This life-changing program provided me with an opportunity to work and grow WOKE Studios. They offered business training, support and skills development. I am currently working on a Business Model Canvas. An Entrepreneur in Residence meets with me and has become a strong mentor for me. 

This program is only available because of loyal donors like you. 

I have gained the confidence and knowledge in business planning and the opportunity to become by own entrepreneur. I couldn’t have done that before – so thank YOU!

Will you give more youth a platform to do the same thing that Youth Ottawa did for me?

 

Thank you for your generosity and with your help more youth will be living our their dreams! 

 

Sincerely, 

Adbul Muse

Donate today
Music is my escape, music is my language, music is the way I live my life
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Welcoming a new cohort of Amplified Fellows!

Welcoming a new cohort of Amplified Fellows

In the summer of 2019, we piloted the Amplified Fellowship with funding from the City of Ottawa’s Community Economic Development Fund, the RBC Foundation, The Ottawa Community Foundation, and the Canada Summer Jobs Grant from ESDC. 

Our Amplified Fellowship hires youth to do work for themselves throughout the summer. The participating youth take their pre-existing social innovation ideas and develop social enterprises to create long-term solutions to their identified “problem”. The idea is that the youth are able to gain tangible skills but also take their great ideas and sustainably transition them from a purely social innovation framework to a more sustainable social enterprise framework.

The program is designed to:

  • Build sustainable change-making initiatives and create economic opportunities for youth founders.
  • Build a network of social change initiatives who work together on creating impact. 
  • Provide youth with business development workshops, entrepreneurship support and networking opportunities. 

This summer we’re doing it again and welcoming 13 new young social innovators to the fellowship. 

Our fellows represent some of the most inspiring grassroots community organizers across Ottawa whose social enterprises traverse social topics pertaining to urban arts and culture, empowering women of colour, Black excellence, working class tenant’s rights, haircuts for kids, and neurodiverse youth learners. Each of these community-empowering enterprises is led by somebody from the community, whose trusted leadership is a key element in the success of these projects.

These 13 youth will spend the summer with an entrepreneur-in-residence and the Youth Ottawa team building sustainability for their projects through a combination of one-on-one entrepreneur-in-residence consulting, business design workshops, and applied work on their projects. 

Meet the 13 youth and their social innovation initiatives

IBRAHIM MUSA

initiative - CUTS FOR KIDS

Cuts for Kids promotes dignity by providing access to opportunities through connecting youth to tailored services – starting with a free haircut or style.

What will you be focusing on when it comes to your initiative during the fellowship?

I am focused on increasing customer segments and strengthening the business case for Cuts for Kids. I am looking forward to mentoring the high school youth and receiving mentorship from the entrepreneur in residence. The EiR hours are the best way to move through business design.

NAMITHA RATHINAPPILLAI

INITIATIVE - URBAN LEGENDS

Urban Legends Poetry Collective (ULPC) is the city’s local poetry hub for bi-weekly poetry slams and poetry open mics, where spoken word artists can share their poetry at a competitive and recreational level, respectively. ULPC’s focus is on supporting local poets on their growth as artists, and providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for folks to practice their craft, and inspire others.

wHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST IN REGARDS TO THE FELLOWSHIP?

I am personally looking forward most to learning skills that I can transfer to my own personal brand. I deeply believe that one must put on their own oxygen mask before they can help others put theirs on, and I believe this is applicable to community work. I do no use if I am not first sustainable in my role. Thus, to work on myself and my place in this city is necessary for me to work in a community role.

NIMA HUSSEIN

initiative - herongate tenant coalition

The Herongate Tenant Coalition is an independent collective that campaigns for working class, marginalized tenant’s rights. In the last year, our collective has partnered with law students and professors from the University of Ottawa’s Law Practicum, as well as with local lawyers to create the Collective Justice Centre, which is our neighbourhood based free legal clinic, wherein folks can come access free legal aid they may require.

How can the felllowship help you and your initiative?

Through the Amplified Fellowship, I’m hoping to gain a deeper understanding of social enterprises, how they function, and how we can apply various pillars and aspects of the framework to our work at the Coalition.

NAYAELAH SADDIQUI

INITIATIVE - EMPOWER'EM

We empower women of colour by providing them with accessible resources, leadership development, and a safe space to grow personally and professionally.

wHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST IN REGARDS TO THE FELLOWSHIP?

Applying human design principles to my initiative – Building a long-term strategic plan for my organization – Building a more sustainable and self-sufficient social enterprise – Creating paid opportunity for my volunteers.

JASON SEGUYA

INITIATIVE - BLACK OTTAWA XCELLENCE/THE BOX

Black Ottawa Xcellence (The BOX) is a platform which supports & promotes black folx that reside in Ottawa. One of our segments, known as The Youth Box, is a platform for determining the needs of youth and developing programs and strategies to address their needs.  Uplifting and providing beneficial services for youth will be our highest priority to contribute and foster the growth of today’s youth.

What support do you need for your initiative?

The BOX is seeking support from this fellowship when it comes to the organizational side of our initiative, in addition to creating key patterns, specifically folx involved in youth work in the city, for future collaborations. Each workshop has changed my perspective on a variety of different concepts I had intended to implement in my initiative. With this in mind, I am excited for the growth that will come from being presented with new information.

USWAH AHSAN

INITIATIVE - ALLY SQUARED

Ally Squared is a youth-led nonprofit that challenges performance in allyship and transforms it into actions that prioritize lived experiences, amplify the power of communities that fight systems of power and privilege, decolonize institutions and procedures, and advocate for intersectional practices.

wHAT ARE YOU LOOING TO GAIN FROM THE AMPLIFIED FELLOWSHIP?

I hope to learn skills to build Ally Squared sustainably by building a human-centred design, access financial resources, and build a network of young social entrepreneurs who support one another.

CELESTINA BOGLE

INITIATIVE - FULL FEMME COLLECTIVE

Full Femme is a creative collective for artists who identify with the feminine or live within the margins of gender. Established in Ottawa/Gatineau, Full Femme aims to highlight Indigenous, neurodiverse, disabled and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Full Femme is a space (both virtual and in real life) where creatives can collaborate, share opportunities & create long-lasting friendships.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GAIN FROM THE FELLOWSHIP?

Through this fellowship I hope to learn new skills such as learning how to make a business thrive, how to maintain monument, grow engagement, and how to pay all of our collaborators a fair wage (Full Femme is currently volunteer run).

ANJALI RAMBURN

INITIATIVE - CREATEPRENEUR

Createpreneur is a social enterprise focused on developing neuro diverse youth’ skill sets for university and workplace success through action-oriented learning. Our mission is to tap into the hidden potential of neurodiverse youth in society and to enhance the value that they bring in leadership roles. 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING?

What I am most excited for is the Social Enterprise Development workshops and learning how to integrate Design Thinking within my own social impact initiative. I look forward to meeting and working alongside some of Ottawa’s brightest, most engaged young people who are passionate about making this city more youth-friendly for all to thrive.

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HOT SHOE PRODUCTIONS

TEAM MEMBERS: Ben Bergeron, Eyma Garcon, Omer Farah, Danika Krul, Rosena Zhuang

Hot Shoe Productions provides affordable, professional video services for community organizations while helping local communities grow by providing employment opportunities for youth in the media industry.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GAIN FROM THE FELLOWSHIP?

Our biggest challenge when it comes to Hot Shoe Productions is finding new client segments that provide consistent, profitable work. We are looking forward to learning more about business and managing a social enterprise.