Five programs that actively engage Black youth in Toronto

As the academic year transitions from March Break and summer vacation approaches, families face a familiar challenge: how to support our youth during extended periods of unstructured time. While these breaks offer necessary respite, they also present a window for development. Active engagement in structured programs, mentorship initiatives, and skill-building activities plays an important role in shaping the health, well-being, and future trajectories of Black youth.

The shift from the classroom to the open-ended days of a school break often leads to an increase in sedentary behaviours. Recent reports highlight a concerning trend where extended inactivity, coupled with excessive screen use (4 hours or more), correlates with poorer mental and physical health outcomes among adolescents, including: lower physical activity, sleep disturbances, obesity risks, anxiety, and depression. Also linking to increased eating disorders, social-emotional difficulties, and poor school performance.

However, structured engagement serves as a powerful catalyst for positive development. When young people participate in organized activities, they experience measurable improvements in their psychological resilience, physical health, and social connectivity. These programs provide a framework that channels youthful energy into constructive pursuits.

Beyond immediate health benefits, these periods offer invaluable opportunities for career exploration. Many of our Black youth possess deep passions and skills that traditional academic settings may struggle to capture fully. Mentorship programs and experiential learning initiatives bridge this gap by exposing young minds to a spectrum of possibilities. Programs, like the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s Black Achievers Mentorship Program, pair high school students with dedicated Black professionals, offering guidance in leadership, financial literacy, and career planning. Through these connections, youth discover that their interests can translate into viable, fulfilling careers, including non-traditional roles they might never have considered.

For younger children as early as age nine, Elevate Youth Toronto, a Black-led grassroots organization that offers one-on-one professional mentorship and career development workshops designed to interrupt cycles of poverty by building the social capital and guidance that so many BIPOC youth in low-income communities have historically been denied.

Other programs, include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel & Halton’s Black Youth Mentoring Program (ages 9–13), delivered in partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga to connect Black children with Black university student mentors through an engaging curriculum that explores Blackness, civic engagement, STEM, and education pathways.

Also, the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association’s Kuumba Summer Camp (ages 6–13), for Black children in York Region into a six-week Africentric program rooted in arts, storytelling, music, cultural history, and leadership, offering a nurturing space where cultural pride and personal growth go hand in hand.

Leadership development is another key component of youth engagement, across the Greater Toronto Area, numerous organizations provide platforms for young people to actively shape their communities. Youth advisory councils and participatory research initiatives, such as the Toronto District School Board’s Black Student Summer Leadership Program, empower students to become researchers and changemakers. By participating in these forums, youth cultivate essential soft skills like public speaking, critical thinking, and advocacy, learning that their voices hold weight and that they possess the agency to influence the environments where they live, study, and work.

Recognizing that access to these transformative opportunities requires resources, and financial barriers should never impede a young person’s potential; fortunately, a robust network of support exists to ensure equitable access. Initiatives like the City of Toronto’s Welcome Policy provide recreation fee subsidies, enabling residents to access city-operated programs, camps, and instructional courses. Additionally, numerous community organizations offer bursaries and subsidized placements designed to support low-income families. Caregivers are encouraged to actively explore these resources, as they open doors to experiences that can profoundly alter a young person’s developmental trajectory.

Investing in our youth’s active engagement is an investment in the foundational health of our community. When we guide young people toward meaningful activities, we provide them with the tools, networks, and confidence required to navigate their futures successfully. We should continue to advocate for the expansion of culturally responsive programs that recognize and nurture the specific strengths of Black youth.

As we approach these upcoming school breaks, we should continue to foster environments where our youth can thrive. By connecting them with mentors, encouraging their passions, and utilizing available community resources, we lay the groundwork for a generation of empowered, healthy, and resilient leaders.