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Dr. Kathleen Schenk

Highlighting YSM’s real-life heroes – our Health Centre volunteers!

As you may have heard, our Evergreen Health Centre serving street-involved youth is expanding! If you aren’t yet familiar, YSM’s Evergreen Centre is a safe space for unstably housed and street-involved youth between the ages of 16 and 24. Each year, Evergreen opens its doors to thousands of youth who

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GIVE 6IX logo over young woman singing

GIVE 6IX: Finding Your Voice

“Was it even real? I talked to Ben Mulroney!” exclaimed Lilli, a YSM participant and one of six youth who had the opportunity to meet with and learn from Canadian broadcaster and celebrity Ben Mulroney. Lilli discovered YSM while living in a shelter. Initially, she came for the food and

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YSM staff Andrew on a porch

Managing YSM’s Health Centre Expansion

In 2018 YSM opened Phase 1 of our purpose-built Evergreen Centre for street-involved youth on Spadina Avenue. Now, in 2021, we’re excited to get started on Phase 2 and complete our Evergreen Health Centre expansion. The completed space will dramatically increase our range of services, reduce wait times and extend

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GIVE 6IX logo over Connecting the Dots Foundation supporting their community

Our Growing GIVE 6IX movement

Pictured above: Connecting the Dots Foundation, Nigeria, participating in GIVE 6IX GIVE 6IX is a city-wide, “do-what-you-can, wherever-you-are”, invitation for everyone to do 6 of anything to help neighbours experiencing poverty. Here is just a sampling of the amazing actions we’ve been witnessing after launching our GIVE 6IX movement to

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Happy young man in an office with GIVE 6IX logo

GIVE 6IX: Overcoming Barriers to Employment

Written by Angie Peters, President & CEO of YSM How many people pop to mind when you think of who helped you become who you are? For me the big ones are my mom, piano teacher, Girl Guide leader, many of my teachers, my spiritual director, mentors in business and

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YSM Housing Team outside Genesis Place

Celebrating with Genesis Place

Pictured above, YSM’s Housing Team, from left to right: Enoch, Stephanie Jessica, Kristin, Michael (not pictured Jacinta and Olaide) 30 years ago, YSM opened the doors of Genesis Place, a supportive 26-unit apartment complex. Families are created there, children grow up within its walls and residents face real-life challenges with

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Computer lab summer camper giving thumbs up next to a counsellor, both are masked.

Five “Cs” of YSM’s summer camp

Our Computer Literacy Centre staff were excited to welcome children and youth leaders back for a fun-filled, educational camp experience! Over the course of the summer, 120 children have joined us for a hybrid camp experience, online and in-person. Each two-week session offered new adventures for campers, ages 9-14, including:

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Happy woman in a life skills course with GIVE 6IX logo

GIVE 6IX: Overcoming the Barrier of Isolation

Written by Angie Peters, President & CEO of YSM We tend to think of poverty as something people experience because of choices they’ve made and – with better choices – they can overcome poverty. What if poverty was largely due to experiences that have shaped lives? Circumstances which causing individuals

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Emad smiling

Video: Emad’s story – growth, stability and joy

“The stability I have now – it all goes back to the first step I took with YSM.” Emad came to Canada for a new life. When he arrived he relied on his personal experiences and goals to create a great future for himself, but had very few material possessions

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GIVE 6IX logo over kids in daycare

GIVE 6IX: Overcoming the Affordable Daycare Shortage

Written by Angie Peters, President & CEO of YSM It’s no secret women disproportionately experience poverty in Toronto. Single parents, the majority of whom are women, and racialized females represent the highest percentage of our city’s residents who are living in poverty today. Why is that? One key reason is

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Mother plays with her daughter in a park

Purpose Filled Parenthood

Marie* loves her child and wants to give them the best possible life. This desire fills her with purpose and hope as she works to meet the needs of her small family and navigate the daily challenges she faces. Marie arrived in Canada alone at the young age of 17

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Father and two children taking a walk down the street, close up

“We danced like never before . . . we were so happy”

Akwesi* and his wife were devoted donors in their birth country, before they came to Canada with hopes of building a more solid future for their family. Due to unexpected circumstances, they instead found themselves without a home, forced to live in office buildings and shelters here in Toronto. The

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Eric, long time YSM supporter

Mission of a Lifetime

“I was sitting in a field in India,” said Eric, remembering the moment when Brother Christas reminded him to spend the same amount of effort helping his neighbours in Toronto as he’d already done in leprosy centres abroad. “I helped establish two missions, in Haiti and India, and they reminded

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Black woman outside in city

Not Alone

“I love learning new things!” said Moreen*, who’s in the process of learning both French and Spanish. She goes on to talk about her passion for volunteering, specifically serving meals or lending a hand in distributing groceries among community members. Moreen’s enthusiasm is contagious and, with the assistance of YSM’s

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young man standing in front of brick wall

Much More Than a Meal

Daniel’s* perseverance and talent have seen him through a lot in his life. And it’s those gifts which have carried him through the past year, in helping him get back on his feet and create a plan to reach his goals. Due to COVID, Daniel was jobless, food insecure and

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