Abstract
This paper examines youth engagement within the Kingston-Galloway neighbourhood and asks: How can youth from priority neighbourhoods participate in their community in ways that foster both their own development as well as their neighbourhood’s development? The current approach to youth engagement in Toronto is heavily focused on intervention strategies that try to address the “youth problem” as opposed to promoting youth development. The absence of a youth development approach impedes on the ability of youth to foster development of their neighbourhoods. Based on a review of the literature and relevant policy documents, interviews with service providers and North American case studies, this paper recommends that the City of Toronto commits sustainable funding for youth services and programs, engages in a youth consultation forum, develops a youth policy framework and creates more employment opportunities for at-risk youth.
Highlights
In 2005 the City of Toronto and the United Way of Greater Toronto identified thirteen (13) areas in the City that are experiencing extensive poverty and lack critical social community services
Like the other priority neighbourhoods identified, Kingston-Galloway is struggling with different challenges, including underemployment, lack of adequate community services and social infrastructure, and a high proportion of newcomers and youth (City of Toronto, 2006)
While the priority neighbourhood strategy has contributed to numerous achievements in the community, this past summer Kingston-Galloway experienced a traumatic event when a shooting occurred at a community barbeque that took the lives of two people and injured many others
Summary
In 2005 the City of Toronto and the United Way of Greater Toronto identified thirteen (13) areas in the City that are experiencing extensive poverty and lack critical social community services. While the priority neighbourhood strategy has contributed to numerous achievements in the community, this past summer Kingston-Galloway experienced a traumatic event when a shooting occurred at a community barbeque that took the lives of two people and injured many others This event drew large attention to youth violence and crime within the City of Toronto, in the priority neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood-based youth initiatives are another type of participation which attempts to simultaneously promote development of youth alongside the neighbourhoods they work in (Checkoway, 1998) This approach recognizes the importance of young people having work and practical training, at the same time knowing that many neighbourhoods need both physical improvements and human services. Neighbourhood-based youth initiatives attempt to combine education, employment and service in ways that enable youth to develop their skill-sets and address the challenges their communities face (Checkoway, 1998). Youth development and neighbourhood-based youth initiatives are concepts that will be examined in the context of Kingston-Galloway
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