Latinx Mentorship Program

In November 2019, the Sankofa program began a partnership with Teach2Learn to collaborate in the Latinx Mentorship Program.

The program, which has been serving youth for over 10 years, focuses on helping Latin American newcomer youth to settle in Canada as well as promoting the recovery of cultural identity for Canadian-born youth of Latin American background. The workshops are facilitated in English and in Spanish, and there are always volunteer mentors more than happy to translate.

The programs are laid out in such a way so that youth will have the opportunity to create meaningful bonds and relationships with their peers and the coordinators, while also learning valuable skills from facilitators. The facilitators often are members of the community who have overcome multiple barriers to achieve success in diverse areas and can relate to the participants’ experiences.

The program is a safe space for newcomer youth to practice their English skills, as well as for Canadian youth to practice their Spanish. It is the perfect space to make friends, practice your language skills, learn, and feel you belong!

The program runs two days per week. On Mondays, it takes place at Casa Maiz Cultural Centre (1280 Finch Ave W), from 5-7 pm; on Tuesdays, it is hosted at the Centre for Spanish-Speaking Peoples (2141 Jane St.), from 5-7 pm.

Every week the participants are presented with different dynamic and engaging workshops related to themes relevant for the participants. The program focuses on character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, art and cultural experiences. Previous workshops include goal setting, financial literacy, public speaking, team building, finding your passion, among others.

This program is accessible to everyone. We provide participants with snacks and public transit tickets or tokens. In addition, the participants receive community hours for attending the workshops and can obtain recommendation letters for their commitment and assistance in the program.

If you would like to join the program or receive more information, please do not hesitate to contact Juan at jpoveda@culturelink.ca. You can also follow the CultureLink Children & Youth Centre on Instagram to stay on the loop of upcoming trips and programs!

CultureLink Youth Snowboarding Sessions

CultureLink's Youth Centre Snowboarding Activity 

 Many Canadians embrace and enjoy the winter season by participating in recreational activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Therefore CultureLink Youth Centre wanted to share this experience with their newcomer youth. 

Partnership with Sankofa and Youth In Action to enhance the social integration of new comer youth in Snowboarding!! 

 The youth had an amazing time and learned quickly how to maneuver down the hills.

Here we are getting a crash course how to fall properly without injuring ones-self.  

Overall it was an amazing experience for our newcomer youth!! 

Happy Pride Month Everyone!

It's a great time to read this article posted three years ago about the 2016 pride parade! Are you down to show your pride this year?

http://culturelinkyouth.blogspot.com/2016/07/pride-parade-2016.html

Come join our program every Thursday from 4 pm - 6 pm at the CultureLink Children & Youth Centre! We will have fun, meet new people, and address issues that matter!

Trip to FM Vibe 105. 5 FM 

The youth had a chance to get a peek at behind the scenes music production at the popular Vibe 105 FM  Radio Station at York University

Got a chance to speak live on the Radio with Richard Miller from Keep6ix Organization!

The youth had a chance to record a bit of their music!

Thank you Keep6ix organization and Vibe 105.5 Fm for giving our youth this wonderful experience!! 

CultureLink's Youth in Artegration, Sankofa and Youth in Arts collaborated with Afrobeatz in creating an African-Derived dancing workshop for Black History month. 

The children and youth were given a quick history lesson on the history of Afrobeatz and they had the opportunity show off their dance skills with a specialized facilitator.

Youth in Action and Youth In Arts Trip to the Escape Room!

Youth in Arts and Action had a blast going to The Captive Escape Rooms. We puzzled and deduced our way out of the rooms, with time running out on the last door!

We had such a fun time that Youth in Arts took a different group for a smaller and scarier experience!

Youth Entrepreneurship Networking Event 

Do you have a business idea and not sure how to start it?

Are you interested in one day owning your own company?

Are you between the ages of 18-29 years old?

If so, come out to our Entrepreneurship Networking Event

When: Saturday, March 16, 2019

Time:    Check-In: 1:30

            Starts: 2pm – 4pm

Where: CultureLink Children & Youth Centre

            3535 Dundas St. West

            Toronto, ON   M6S 2S7

5 amazing Entrepreneurs will be sharing their experiences on

• How they got started
• How they overcame barriers
• And organizations that helped them

This is a FREE EVENT!!!

Lunch & TTC Tokens will be provided.

And a chance to win a Raffled Prize!!!

CALLING ALL NEWCOMERS, PERMANENT RESIDENTS, REFUGEE YOUTHS AGES 12 - 24!

Join Culturelink's Youth on a Trip to the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, St. George Campus. We will be meeting at Culturelink's Children and Youth Centre, 3535 Dundas St. West at 1:30 pm for lunch and snacks, before making our way to The Art Museum for a guided tour on the TTC bus/subway. TTC TICKETS WILL BE PROVIDED!!

Come join us on a tour through the I Continue to Shape Exhibition!

YOU MUST REGISTER TO JOIN THIS EVENT!

For REGISTRATION please contact Juliette Salcedo at her email:jsalcedo@culturelink.ca or call her at 416-766-6288 ex 222

Youth in Arts: Update!

As the summer fades away and the color of the trees begin to change, we wanted to take a moment give some updates with the Youth in Arts program.


Our main goals has been to prepare for the "Talking Walls" exhibit at the University of Toronto, on November 5th. Our artwork will be on display as well as a guest performance by some of the Youth in Arts members! Lastly, we are one month in with our partnership at the Brentwood Library and things are going great.

Getting fun with watercolors! 

Brainstorming themes for the "Talking Walls" 

Youth in Action: Teambuilding Workshops!

Last week, Youth in Action teamed up with CultureLink's SWIS program in order to deliver fun teambuilding workshops to the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Classes at St.Mary's School. Each workshops consisted of a few teambuilding activities, followed by a debrief where the youth reflected on the activities and how they can be a better team member at school and in all other areas of life. 

Below: One of our first groups meet and we break the ice!

Below: One of the activities was to build the tallest tower out of limited materials. We had some very creative structures as a result!

Below: Another activity was to fill a large cup of water by passingthe water from smaller cups down the line of teammates. But there's a catch, the cups have holes in them! The youth managed to problem solve and work together to win the race.

Thank you SWIS worker, Ronald Rojas and to St Mary's School for partnering with Youth in Action to make this amazing week possible!

Youth in Action: Multicultural Club

Acro yoga fun with the Mimico Club!

Such talented young women!

Youth in Action: Bike Club

After a very interesting bike-safety workshop, we took our bike club leaders out on a beautiful bike ride through the city. Below is a picture on the UP rail path, a nice little patch of nature in the heart of Toronto. 

This fun bike ride means we now have bikes at the Youth Centre, so there will be amny bike events in the coming months. Thank you so much to our volunteers, Teeva and Maria who will be the youth leaders for this project. Also, thank you to Chantelle from the Bike to School TO project for all her support on getting the club up and running.