WE ARE ETERNALLY
DRIVEN
IT STARTS WITH A
QUESTION
WE ARE
STORYTELLERS
The Niagara region has numerous organizations dedicated to serving at-risk youth. However, due to understaffing and limited resources, these organizations cannot implement long-term solutions to address barriers to inclusion. Youth will be given a place to stay and basic resources, but no real programming is available to equip them with skills to overcome obstacles and reintegrate into society.
The ReConnect Movement is working to implement free youth socials in the heart of St. Catharines. These socials will pinpoint barriers to success for this vulnerable population by providing a safe space for these youth to speak about their struggles and to share their stories. Together, we will assess these barriers to success and social integration - instead of assuming what these youth need to succeed, we allow them to tell us what they require. Then, once a cause has been identified, we create and execute an action plan that will involve these youth and develop their leadership skills while simultaneously empowering them. Our goal is to alleviate community needs and demonstrate to youth that they are capable of more than they believe.
IT STARTS WITH
US
“What if finding the answer to reintegrating vulnerable youth into our community was as simple as asking them?”
the mission.
The ReConnect Movement works to bridge the gap between at-risk and high-achieving youth by providing an open, safe platform for vulnerable youth to share their stories. We then form a plan of action to create community programming that will address barriers to inclusion for this population, by working hand-in-hand with affected youth. These youth simultaneously develop transferrable leadership skills through our program while breaking obstacles that hold them back.
the vision.
We envision a world where marginalized youth leverage their stories to empower them to change the world, not hold them back.
our story.
In 2014, we took part in a shadow shift at a local youth detention centre which housed young offenders. Entering, we had subjected them to a stereotype, believing them to be hardened criminals. Engaging with them, my belief was unfounded; they were kind, polite, and had dreams. We had painted these youth to be beyond redemption, but my experience showed me otherwise: these were children, struggling to achieve their dreams and to be heard. This inspired us to allow others the chance to challenge their assumptions and stereotypes as well as work to reintegrate these youth into society, and led to the creation of The ReConnect Movement.
contact us.
If you or your organization would benefit from our program, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We thank you for your commitment to making this world a better place to live - for everyone.
All inquiries can be submitted here or emailed to project.reconnect.youth@gmail.com
thank you.
The ReConnect Movement is grateful to the following mentors and organizations for their support:
WE ARE
LIMITLESSLY THANKFUL
© 2014 by The ReConnect Movement
Background courtesy of Ed Yourdon, under Creative Commons Attribution License