CYC Podcast: Recent Episodes

Wolfgang Vachon

Discussions about Child and Youth Care with, and for, young people, parents and professionals.

Hiring Care is an audio drama inquiry created from one-on-one conversations with 10 child and youth care practitioners (CYCPs) “from care” (CYCPfC). Most of the script is verbatim, meaning the words spoken by the actors are (mostly) re-enactments of what CYCPfC said in the conversations. The conversations have been re-arranged and different CYCPfC have been put into relationships with each other, even though they never actually spoke with each other during the recorded conversations. Three of the characters (B, Ellisha, and Terri) are composites of two different people.

Hiring Care is constructed as a conversation between a group of seven CYCPs “from care” (CYCPfC) who are meeting to talk about creating a way to support agencies who want to hire practitioners with child welfare experience. This frame for the structure came out of an idea mentioned by one of the conversationalists (Charlotte), who said she and some of her colleagues “wanted to create a booklet about how to support someone with lived experience in care in your organization, who works for you”. Hiring Carehas seven different episodes, each one introduced by a different character and addressing different themes, although there are some overlaps between the different episodes.

While the script follows a chronological order, it is not necessary to listen to them in a particular order. You might find it more relevant to pick specific themes (identified with each episode) and listen to that particular conversation.

To learn more about the project, please visit www.TuningIntoCYC.org

Charlie challenges the group to think beyond their understandings regarding the benefits of being from care, and pushes the white CYCPfC to think of the cultural costs for Indigenous and other racialized young people incurred by going into child protection services.

Hiring Care is an audio drama inquiry created from one-on-one conversations with 10 child and youth care practitioners (CYCPs) “from care” (CYCPfC). Most of the script is verbatim, meaning the words spoken by the actors are (mostly) re-enactments of what CYCPfC said in the conversations. The conversations have been re-arranged and different CYCPfC have been put into relationships with each other, even though they never actually spoke with each other during the recorded conversations. Three of the characters (B, Ellisha, and Terri) are composites of two different people.

Hiring Care is constructed as a conversation between a group of seven CYCPs “from care” (CYCPfC) who are meeting to talk about creating a way to support agencies who want to hire practitioners with child welfare experience. This frame for the structure came out of an idea mentioned by one of the conversationalists (Charlotte), who said she and some of her colleagues “wanted to create a booklet about how to support someone with lived experience in care in your organization, who works for you”. Hiring Carehas seven different episodes, each one introduced by a different character and addressing different themes, although there are some overlaps between the different episodes.

While the script follows a chronological order, it is not necessary to listen to them in a particular order. You might find it more relevant to pick specific themes (identified with each episode) and listen to that particular conversation.

To learn more about the project, please visit www.TuningIntoCYC.org

Leela and Terri have an uncomfortable conversation after Terri reaches out to Leela asking for help to “diversify” the group of CYCP from care.

Hiring Care is an audio drama inquiry created from one-on-one conversations with 10 child and youth care practitioners (CYCPs) “from care” (CYCPfC). Most of the script is verbatim, meaning the words spoken by the actors are (mostly) re-enactments of what CYCPfC said in the conversations. The conversations have been re-arranged and different CYCPfC have been put into relationships with each other, even though they never actually spoke with each other during the recorded conversations. Three of the characters (B, Ellisha, and Terri) are composites of two different people.

Hiring Care is constructed as a conversation between a group of seven CYCPs “from care” (CYCPfC) who are meeting to talk about creating a way to support agencies who want to hire practitioners with child welfare experience. This frame for the structure came out of an idea mentioned by one of the conversationalists (Charlotte), who said she and some of her colleagues “wanted to create a booklet about how to support someone with lived experience in care in your organization, who works for you”. Hiring Carehas seven different episodes, each one introduced by a different character and addressing different themes, although there are some overlaps between the different episodes.

While the script follows a chronological order, it is not necessary to listen to them in a particular order. You might find it more relevant to pick specific themes (identified with each episode) and listen to that particular conversation.

To learn more about the project, please visit www.TuningIntoCYC.org

The group finds common ground identifying the many ways they felt failed by their time in the child welfare system.

Themes/Key words: Child Protection Services, First Voice, Failures of the Care System

Hiring Care is an audio drama inquiry created from one-on-one conversations with 10 child and youth care practitioners (CYCPs) “from care” (CYCPfC). Most of the script is verbatim, meaning the words spoken by the actors are (mostly) re-enactments of what CYCPfC said in the conversations. The conversations have been re-arranged and different CYCPfC have been put into relationships with each other, even though they never actually spoke with each other during the recorded conversations. Three of the characters (B, Ellisha, and Terri) are composites of two different people.

Hiring Care is constructed as a conversation between a group of seven CYCPs “from care” (CYCPfC) who are meeting to talk about creating a way to support agencies who want to hire practitioners with child welfare experience. This frame for the structure came out of an idea mentioned by one of the conversationalists (Charlotte), who said she and some of her colleagues “wanted to create a booklet about how to support someone with lived experience in care in your organization, who works for you”. Hiring Carehas seven different episodes, each one introduced by a different character and addressing different themes, although there are some overlaps between the different episodes.

While the script follows a chronological order, it is not necessary to listen to them in a particular order. You might find it more relevant to pick specific themes (identified with each episode) and listen to that particular conversation.

To learn more about the project, please visit www.TuningIntoCYC.org

In their first conversation as a group, 5 child and youth care practitioners from care (CYCPfC) talk about trying to work in the same system that raised them. After some awkward moments, the group seeks common ground through identifying the challenges of being in care and the wisdom/benefits they take into their work.

In this episode Wolfgang Vachon says goodbye as host of CYC Podcast. He also talks about the new team taking over the podcast : Vivian Patruno, Salvatore D’Agatstino, and Christopher Cottle; and introduces a new audio drama inquiry called Hiring Care.

What happens when you work in the same system that raised you? Charlotte, a new CYCP “from care”, struggles to understand what care means when your lived experience wasn’t always full of care.

Hiring Care is an audio drama inquiry created from one-on-one conversations with 10 child and youth care practitioners (CYCPs) “from care” (CYCPfC). Most of the script is verbatim, meaning the words spoken by the actors are (mostly) re-enactments of what CYCPfC said in the conversations. The conversations have been re-arranged and different CYCPfC have been put into relationships with each other, even though they never actually spoke with each other during the recorded conversations. Three of the characters (B, Ellisha, and Terri) are composites of two different people.

Hiring Care is constructed as a conversation between a group of seven CYCPs “from care” (CYCPfC) who are meeting to talk about creating a way to support agencies who want to hire practitioners with child welfare experience. This frame for the structure came out of an idea mentioned by one of the conversationalists (Charlotte), who said she and some of her colleagues “wanted to create a booklet about how to support someone with lived experience in care in your organization, who works for you”. Hiring Carehas seven different episodes, each one introduced by a different character and addressing different themes, although there are some overlaps between the different episodes.

While the script follows a chronological order, it is not necessary to listen to them in a particular order. You might find it more relevant to pick specific themes (identified with each episode) and listen to that particular conversation.

To learn more about the project, please visit www.TuningIntoCYC.org

On this episode, Salvatore, Host of the CYC Podcast, talks with #RisingYouth Alumni Mia Otokiak, who organized a workshop series celebrating the ecology of the Arctic, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and youth leadership. We learn about the importance of plankton and marine mammals in the arctic maritime food chain. This episode of the #RisingYouth Podcast was developed in partnership with the CYC Podcast. For more information on #RisingYouth Community Service Grants of up to $1,500 available to youth 15-30, visit https://www.risingyouth.ca // Dans cet épisode, Salvatore, l'animateur du podcast CYC, s'entretient avec Mia Otokiak, une Alumni de #JeunesEnAction, qui a organisé une série d'ateliers sur l'écologie de l'Arctique, l'Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit et le leadership des jeunes. Nous en apprenons sur l'importance du plancton et des mammifères marins dans la chaîne alimentaire maritime arctique. Cet épisode du podcast #JeunesEnAction a été développé en partenariat avec le CYC Podcast. Pour plus d'informations sur les subventions de service communautaire #JeunesEnAction, d'un montant maximal de 1 500 dollars, destinées aux jeunes de 15 à 30 ans, visitez le site https://www.jeunesenaction.com/

On this episode, Vivian Patruno, Host of the CYC Podcast, talks with #RisingYouth Alumni Rebecca Gibbons, who created The Neighbourhood Story Project, in which residents in Ottawa's Sandy Hill neighourhood, were invited to record a 2-5 minute audio story of their experiences living during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote community solidarity and connection during social distancing.

This episode of the #RisingYouth Podcast was developed in partnership with the CYC Podcast. For more information on #RisingYouth Community Service Grants of up to $1,500 available to youth 15-30, visit https://www.risingyouth.ca

//

Dans cet épisode, Vivian Patruno, animatrice du CYC Podcast, s'entretient avec Rebecca Gibbons, une Alumni de #JeunesEnAction, qui a créé le projet " Neighbourhood Story ", dans le cadre duquel les habitants du quartier Sandy Hill d'Ottawa ont été invités à enregistrer un récit audio de 2 à 5 minutes sur leurs expériences de vie pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, afin de promouvoir la solidarité et les liens communautaires dans un contexte de distanciation sociale.

Cet épisode du podcast #JeunesEnAction a été développé en partenariat avec le CYC Podcast. Pour plus d'informations sur les subventions de service communautaire #JeunesEnAction, d'un montant maximal de 1 500 dollars, destinées aux jeunes de 15 à 30 ans, visitez le site https://www.jeunesenaction.com/

This episode is a recording of a Child and Youth Care graduate school information panel that took place November 30, 2021. Graduate school programs were represented by Natasha Blanchet-Cohen from Concordia University’s Graduate Diploma in Youth Work; Graham McPheat from the University of Strathclyde’s MSc in Child and Youth Care Studies; Alison Gerlach from the University of Victoria’s Masters and PhD programs in Child, Youth, Family and Community Studies; and Julian Hasford from the University formally known as Ryerson’s MA in Child and Youth Care.

We only recorded the faculty presentations. This was done to allow student presenters to speak freely about their educational experiences both good and not so great. Student presenters included Crystal Harrison, Caroline Moore, Emily Hellard, Wolfgang Vachon, and Juanita Stephen. If you would like to see a video of the presentation, you can go to CYC-Net.org.

To learn more about the programs discussed please visit:

Concordia University

University of Strathclyde

University of Victoria

x-University

In this episode A. Longoria talks about “identity-sustaining practices” in Child and Youth Care, education, and academia. They begin by asking how can/do queer, trans, IBPOC educators & CYCPs remain who they are within and across the spaces they work, so that practitioners and educators can help those they work with remain who they are. In response, A. Longoria discusses corporality, aesthetics, identity, and queering the norms of practice inside the classroom and out in the world.

To read the article this conversation refers to visit: https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijcyfs/article/view/20343

To purchase their newest book Creating a Home in Schools: Sustaining Identities for Black, Indigenous, and Teachers of Color please visit:

https://www.tcpress.com/creating-a-home-in-schools-9780807765265 (USA)

https://www.utpguidancecentre.com/Creating-a-Home.html (Canada)

Wolfgang speaks with Audrey Wolfe and Mattie Walker about the recently published special issue of the International Journal of Child, youth, and Family Studies titled Possibilities, Futures, and Queer World-Making in CYC. This is the first queer themed special issue in any CYC journal. Audrey and Mattie speak about how the issue came about, some of the pieces published, and why they think there is a need for such a focused issue.

The journal can be found at https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijcyfs/issue/view/1518

This month we are showcasing episode 7 from ReFiled, a research-based fiction podcast created with Child and Youth Care practitioners who have residential placement experience. You can listen to the complete series at www.Refiled.ca, or on iTunes , Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

David Lewis-Pert and Meagan Lindley talk about their work at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) and the annual YouthCAN conference for young people in the child welfare system.

This year’s conference title is Beyond Survive: THRIVE! with a focus on topics related to health and wellbeing for young people in and from child protection services. Meagan and David discuss paths to thriving for those in care, ways peers can foster wellbeing, and suggestions for adults who support young people.

Link to YouthCan:

http://www.oacas.org/what-we-do/youthcan/

Our host Wolfgang Vachon's has his own research project/podcast titled

ReFiled, a drama inquiry with child and youth care practitioners with residential care experience.

On this episode Chanice McAnuff of (Founder of Project Outsoders) and Vivian Patruno (Producer and Editor) continue their discussion regarding their experience growing up in foster care with social workers and staff. The two reflect on the system gaps in their experience and how social workers and housing staff have the power to impact youth in tremendous ways.

For more information on the programs we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.caand https://www.tigweb.org

Sean Elliott discusses his recently completed study with graduates of college or university programs and who have lived in residential placement. Sean, who identifies as a “foster care alumni” talks about why he used an asset-based approach by focusing on success factors, learnings from the study, and how educators and others can support students with residential care histories.

This conversation is a follow-up to our discussion last month about ReFiled an audio drama inquiry with child and youth care practitioners with residential care experience, and the conversation series we hosted by Project Outsiders.

On this episode Chanice McAnuff of (founder of Project Outsoders) and Vivian Patruno (Producer and Editor) discuss their experience growing up in foster care with social workers and staff. The two reflect on the system gaps in their experience and how social workers and housing staff have the power to impact youth in tremendous ways.

For more information on the programs we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.caand https://www.tigweb.org

In this episode, Wolfgang speaks with Krysten Bonikowsky and Shannon Cherry, about the research project Tuning into Child and Youth Care: An Audio-Drama Inquiry with Child and Youth Care practitioners who have lived in Residential Care. We begin by talking about the audio drama ReFiled (www.ReFiled.ca), which follows a CYCP from care working in a group home who finds herself in crises after putting a young person into restraint. The audio drama leads to discussions about the role of files in working with young people, what they do and don’t say about the young person, what they reveal about the writer, what it is like to be “from care” and working in the care system, and we end with thoughts about the benefits and limitations of such lived experiences.

To learn more about Tuning into Child and Youth Care and hear the audio drama episodes please visit TuningIntoCYC.org

Aaron Crhak talks about the use of video games within child and youth care practice. Exploring games as a way to build relationship, practice life skills, have therapeutic conversations, and develop mastery he elaborates on different games, how he utilizes them, and why he thinks they are effective tools for CYCPs to use with young people. For more information on the programs we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca and https://www.tigweb.org

In this episode Jeremiah Otis sits down with Salvatore to discuss music based programs in at risk areas. Jeremiah is a youth advocate, musician and producer; he has found peace and happiness in music. His goal is to spread this message to young people from all over. In this episode we find out how imperative youth led music programs can be with the right approach.

Jeremiah Otis on Instagram: @jotis16

For more information on the programs we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca and https://www.tigweb.org

For our season finale, we sat down and had a conversation with Samuel Ashirbekov. He is a transgender female to male and an aspiring advocate for youth in care. Samuel shares with us what it was like transitioning into his new identity while in the child welfare system. He shares the obstacles he faced before, during, and after encountering me (Chanice) in the group home we both lived in. Sam and I both lived in the same group home for a period of time and we reflect on our different experiences within the same space. In this conversation, we learn about what it is like having the system paint your identity and what are some of the current gaps when it comes to youth identifying as a part of the LGBTQ2S+ community. We hope you have enjoyed the first season and have taken something away from each conversation. We ask you to continue to support our movement and content by liking, sharing, and promoting it on your platforms. More is coming soon but until then, we hope you take care and stay safe.

If you want to partner with Samuel here is an email you can contact him by samuel.ashirbekov@gmail.com

Check out the full episode on the CYC podcast available on Spotify Google play and many other platforms.

Follow our socials

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

Want to know how to get involved or support our mission? Subscribe to our patron to get exclusive content and discounts on our merchandise.

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/projectoutsiders

Website – www.projectoutsiders.com

Want to know what programs are available in your community? Check out our blog. We are constantly updating our page with new local programs, news, and policy changes. You can also learn about your rights and supports that are afforded to you by the government. Click here to find out more. (here will be a hyperlink)

Welcome back to Project Outsiders. If you are returning, thank you so much for coming back and tuning into our podcast. We really appreciate all of your support and joining us along on our journey to improving the foster care system. For those who are new here, Welcome to the Foster Care Experience Podcast. We are a youth lead social organization that is trying to bridge the gap between youth in care with decision makers. We are all youth from care who have been pushed by our experience to ensure we see changes to a disconnected system. We are all incredibly passionate advocates and activists and want to create paths and opportunities for youth in care.

Youth in care don’t have a house to go for holidays, someone who will always be there to lean on. Every human being deserves to have people that care for them unconditionally, not for a paycheck, not until a youth turns 18. Families are always there for each other. Why is child welfare so different?

Today we are talking about permanency within child welfare. Youth in care experience a lot of abandonment, neglect, and isolation which shapes their interaction in the world well after they leave care. The instability from moving around and the drastic feeling of abandonment youth feel once they turn 18 or 21 leave many youth feeling worthless. We want to learn how youth views the idea of permanency and its impact of attaining it even later in life. To help us with this discussion we have Vivian Patruno.

Vivian Patruno is a former youth in the child welfare system. She has been involved with the children's Aid since infancy due to parental mental health circumstances.Vivian is a youth advocate, a fitness enthusiast and she is a Producer and Editor. Vivian’s newest endeavor is working with RBC.

Vivian is undergoing permanency through the NeverTooLate program in partnership with PARC (Pape, Adolescent Resource Centre) She connected with her family when she was 23. What Vivian needs the world to know is that everyone deserves permanency and stability.

Sophia Yang speaks with Wolfgang about Threading Change, “a youth-led not-for-profit organization envisioning a future where fashion is ethical and circular, rooted in justice with climate, gender, and racial equity at the forefront.” In this motivating conversation Sophia discusses relationships between fashion, racism, environmental destruction, and what can be done to change these current realities.

This conversation is part of our ongoing partnership with Taking it Global

For more information on the programs we provide visit: http://risingyouth.ca

See here for more information about Threading Change

GET INVOLVED WITH THREADING CHANGE:

Join #ClothesBusters month: Threading Change's Spring Cleaning educational campaign here to demystify and bust popular clothing myths!
Threading Change is hiring! (unpaid for now, paid to start in summer)
Sign up for Threading Change's newsletter to get resources and stay up to date with local campaigns

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

Join the global Fashion Revolution Week and ask: #WHOMADEMYCLOTHES? (Fashion Revolution's website also has tons of other great reading, organizing, and campaigning resources as well!)
Join the #PayUp movement
Check out Slow Factory Foundation's AMAZING Fashion Education courses for BIPOC
Sign the petition to end Uyghur forced labour in China

READINGS/RESOURCES:

Blog post Sophia wrote on why we need to start Threading Change
Threading Change's global launch webinar
How to Buy Clothes Built to Last by Kendra Pierre-Louis
Vox article: Why is it so hard for clothing manufacturers to pay a living wage?
Gone Thrifting: How to Build A Better Thrifting System by Emily Stochl
What A Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050
Global Fashion Agenda's Fashion on Climate report

PODCASTS/FILMS:

Film: Unravel
The True Cost (all on Youtube for free!)
Conscious Chatter
Wardrobe Crisis
Fashion is a great teacher

Welcome back to Project Outsiders. If you are returning, thank you so much for coming back and tuning into our podcast. We really appreciate all of your support and joining us along on our journey to improving the foster care system. For those who are new here, Welcome to the Foster Care Experience Podcast. We are a youth lead social organization that is trying to bridge the gap between youth in care with decision makers. We are all youth from care who have been pushed by our experience to ensure we see changes to a disconnected system. We are all incredibly passionate advocates and activists and want to create paths and opportunities for youth in care.

In today's conversation we want to talk about mental health and the use of substances. For a lot of youth in care that is the number one tool we would resort to as a way to cope with our situation. It is not often that we have people in our life that are able to teach us healthy coping skills so we go with the ones taught to us by our peers who are also struggling. This becomes a complicated cycle to get out of once it has been habituated into your daily routine. When mental health becomes more of an issue the more easy it is for youth to fall deeper into an addiction. There are a lot of stigmas that come with having an addiction and today we want to learn more about how to prevent and overcome them. Here to tell us about her journey overcoming a global pandemic is Keona Sehmi.

(Keona’s Bio)

Keona Sehmi is a first voice advocate and participates in numerous committees as a youth advisor. Some of the committees she sits on includes the youth for change steering committee with OACAS, youth said through Halton CAS, She is an advisor for OACAS covid-19 mental health toolkit, and she is a peer mentor for the futures life skills and mentorship program. She plans to take a year off after she graduates for self growth and recovery, but plans to go to school for nursing to become a psychiatric nurse at mohawk.

Check out the full episode on the CYC podcast available on Spotify Google play as well as all other platforms.

Follow our socials:

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Want to know how to get involved or support our mission? Subscribe to our patron to get exclusive content and discounts to our merchandise.

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/projectoutsiders

Website – www.projectoutsiders.com

Want to know what programs are available in your community? Check out our blog. We are constantly updating our page with new local programs, news, and policy changes. You can also learn about your rights and supports that are afforded to you by the government.

On this week’s episode we have Vivian Patruno interviews one of our last guest of the season Saif Khan a youth a part of the My Voice, a magazine and ngo focused on the Muslim Community. Saif talks about his experience with #RisingYouth and how they helped him with developing their quarter one program called My Voice Academy, an Open Mic event. Saif goes over how they developed their Youth Journalism and Media workshop to help educate youth on how they can increase their advocacy capacity.

@myvoicecanada on Instagramb

www.myvoicecanada.com

www.issuu.com/myvoicecanada

www.youtube.com/channel/UC9szM33a4gomsN0KT7rr6Ag

www.twitter.com/myvoicecanada

For more informations about the programs we offer please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca

Children’s Aid societies are beginning to recognize the importance of the inclusion of youth voices and participating in conversations surrounding the barriers and areas of needed improvement within the child welfare system. We are seeing more collaborations between youth and agencies to develop a strategy to redesign Children's Aid, along with putting in place proper safety outlets for youth to safely advocate for themselves. First voice advocates are youth with first hand experience in child welfare who are driven to see changes within the system. One tool which was developed for the youth was the Advocacy office, which is closed (officially closed back in 2018). That impact weighs greatly on many people from care, especially current youth. Today, we have Christopher Cottle who worked at the advocacy office as a youth Communications Amplifier and is here to speak on his experience and give his insight into what he feels needs to change.

Christopher’s plugs

http://www.cycpodcast.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/risingyouth-podcast/id1494492980

Rising Youth and CYC

Check out the full episode on the CYC podcast available on Spotify Google play and many other platforms.

Follow our socials

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Want to know how to get involved or support our mission? Subscribe to our patron to get exclusive content and discounts to our merchandise.

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/projectoutsiders

The last known residential home for Indigenous people closed down in 1996, “it wasn’t that long ago” says Kia Lesage. A lot of damage has been done on the indegenious community and we can see its reflection in the child welfare system. It may not come as a surprise to you but Child Protection Services look very different the further you go from the city or more densely populated areas. The programming and supports are very limited in rural areas and youth are heavily affected by its unavailability. Things like addiction and mental health programs are scarce and these necessary programs are more needed than children’s Aid intervention and separation of children from their community. Today we hear and learn from kia who shares her story and insight to solutions.

Kia’s Socials

Check out the full episode on the CYC podcast available on Spotify Google play and many other platforms.

Follow our socials

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

Want to know how to get involved or support our mission? Subscribe to our patron to get exclusive content and discounts to our merchandise.

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/projectoutsiders

Website – www.projectoutsiders.com

Want to know what programs are available in your community? Check out our blog. We are constantly updating our page with new local programs, news, and policy changes. You can also learn about your rights and supports that are afforded to you by the government.

On this Episode of #RisingYouth Salvatore speaks with Riya Mehta founder of FutureShot Factory

This platform of websites is meant to educate students, especially young adults about the importance of combining SDG based issues with the use of technology for social good and change. The idea came to fruition when I realized that information isnt broken down properly for youth to understand, and being young myself I wanted a platform I could turn to better understand social impact goals through the lens of technology. During my years at The Knowledge Society (a teen accelerator program) I built this idea by constructing different websites, each tackling a different SDG goal by solving it with technology. Right now, I have around 3-4 active websites that discuss the importance of SDG goals with innovation, hosted on the domain futureshotfactory.com under projects. The future of this platform will contain more opportunities for youth go interact with social justice mentors to receive the help they need and design better solutions to problems.

For more information on the programs we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca and https://www.tigweb.org

When an individual navigates the world with a physical disability they always need to be adapting to the obstacles put in their path in order to continue to survive. Today we want to learn about how people with disabilities experience the child welfare system. What are the barriers they face due to their disability, and do they have enough services and support in place to accommodate for their needs? Gabe Brokennshire is a former youth in care and lives with cerebral palsy. This was a very eye opening conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Hey CYC Podcast Listeners, First I would like to say thank you for welcoming the Project outsiders team on board you’re regularly schedule programming. We love all the work that has happened prior to us and we hope to continue to provide unique conversations for our listeners as we continue to make new episodes. If you haven’t yet please follow us on social media and check out Project Outsiders on Spotify to follow our new page as we have exclusive bonus content you can’t find anywhere else on there. We were suffering from some technical difficulties with our upload schedule lately but our episodes are still going to be posted on the CYC and C2Y network alongside the rising youth podcast which is finishing its second season shortly.

We have a lot of new episodes we are sure you will love to hear and we are also in the process of developing our second season of the Project Outsiders. Please be sure to follow us on instagram, twitter, Facebook, linkedin and YouTube at project outsiders and we look forward to continuing to share the youth perspective. This is Chanice McAnuff signing out and well be back to posting this Friday!

In this conversation, Tomilola Ojo talks about the startup of Black Lives Matter YXE, the need for a BLM chapter in Saskatoon, the group’s research into the experiences of racism in the school system, and how that is being addressed by young activists directly impacted by it. To learn more or to connect with BLM YXE please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Black-Lives-Matter-YXE-111187897289614/ https://www.instagram.com/blacklivesmatteryxe/

What do black youth need to put an end to generations after generations of poverty? Where did it all begin? Why is this still and issue? The overrepresentation of black youth in care in Ontario is staggering and the impacts on the family is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the children caught in between. We sat down and had a very insightful conversation about what black families really need to be able to heal from our history. Troy elleston, an academic and business professional, educates us on the importance of having representation of black leaders within our communities and acquiring mentorship to pass on these skills and important life lessons to our youth.

On this week's episode of ARTS with Salvatore D’Agostino interviews Melanie Matthews a practicing Private practitioner in the Social Work sector. Melanie Matthews runs her own podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/5NivfGdAQOMoM8cX254eKk?si=wcxiqFOsRAWQgUWPvZTXPw Where she interviews individuals that are working in various sectors of the Social Work industry. In this episode Melanie and Salvatore discuss this major disparities between being a CYW and a MSW.

Youth need to know what their rights are. After the implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989 nations across the world began to take child protection a lot more seriously. Governments were mandated to provide the basic necessities to children to help them reach their full potential. As a part of the child protection services in Canada it is mandated that children always know what their rights are. But how can children exercise their rights? Before the advocacy office was shut down in 2018, they were the essential voice for youth in care in Ontario before the Ford administration shut it down. The impacts are still affecting youth today. In this episode, we sat down with Jackson Gate, a former youth in care, and a current practicing paralegal. He gives us a break down of the essential information youth need to know on how to best advocate for themselves. He also is working with an upcoming organization to help educate youth in their rights in a way they can understand.

Please Check out our website for more details about the programs we have https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

and for more information regarding the CYFSA please check out our previous episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/5w6lE50lE37CoVrwkw1EDj?si=tsmaG9PfT1y_CHe_hRJp9w

Disclaimer *the following episode contains discussions around the topics of suicide and other potential disturbing material including abuse and violence viewers discretion is advised.

Where do the troubled youth who seem to have difficulty adjusting in the family-like home go? What if there are no available bed in foster homes? The group home is a structured environment that for a lot of youth closely resembles the prison system. In this myself and sadeqah talks about the violence that happens behind closed doors that is hidden from the rest of the world. This a very heavy episode which needs further discussion in the future.

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

“Religion is such a taboo topic” said Rose. She was right. Religion is something that is not really talked about to youth in care. Why would it be? Why would youth believe an all-loving God but still allow tremendous tragedy to enter their life? Why bother believing when your environment reflects darkness and not love?

Rose Jones, an aspiring musician, paints for us her story about finding her identity through spirituality and how her foster parent played such a significant role in her journey. We share with each other how foster care was the answer we were asking for before we entered and how it gave us a greater purpose. Spirituality helped her find her calling, and to give back, she now uses her talents to help others. At the end Rose shares her some sneak peaks for her up and coming album

Be sure to check out Rose's Music and Social Media

https://open.spotify.com/artist/23yJckP72eUInR0EKb57a2

https://www.instagram.com/rosetwentyseven/

For more information about us click HERE

What does it mean to identify as a Black youth in care? This is a really special episode because our guest has two distinct point of view of what it means to be black. Not only that, but they also have had two vastly different experiences in care despite sharing the same social worker. In this episode we talk about identity, morality, and perception. We dive into importance of providing youth the option of being close to culture and how that plays into their identity. We cover aspects of the LGBTQ community, politics, and the One Vision One Voice project. Due to how incredibly emotion and elaborate the conversation was, we needed to split it into two parts. Join me Kyngston and Aidan in this thought-provoking conversation and share this with your peers.

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

On this week’s Episode of the Rising Youth Podcast Salvatore interviews David Thibodeau about his project called Sport for Social Impact a program that seeks to explore and educate on the power that sport has to create a positive impact on society. Specifically looking at sport policy and how we can use programs and policies for maximum impact. The hope is that these conversations and ideas will help achieve the maximum benefit of sport in our society.

For more information about Sports for Social Impact visit: https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/

Twitter @DavidSThibodeau // FB and IG @SportsSocImpact

For more information about our previous programs visit us at : https://www.risingyouth.ca

https://www.instagram.com/risingyouthtig/

https://www.twitter.com/takingitglobal

https://www.youtube.com/user/takeitglobal

https://www.facebook.com/takingitglobal

https://www.linkedin.com/company/takingitglobal/

RisingYouth #LeadersToday

What does it mean to identify as a Black youth in care? This is a really special episode because our guest has two distinct point of view of what it means to be black. Not only that, but they also have had two vastly different experiences in care despite sharing the same social worker. In this episode we talk about identity, morality, and perception. We dive into importance of providing youth the option of being close to culture and how that plays into their identity. We cover aspects of the LGBTQ community, politics, and the One Vision One Voice project. Due to how incredibly emotion and elaborate the conversation was, we needed to split it into two parts. Join me Kyngston and Aidan in this thought-provoking conversation and share this with your peers.

https://linktr.ee/project.outsiders

Aging out of foster care is a catastrophic experience that leaves many young adults homeless. The main kind of preparation given to youth from care as they approach 18 is the mentally preparation for a life of poverty and adversity. How can youth in care fight against provincial neglect? Youth in Care Canada (YICC) and The Ontario Child Advocacy Coalition (OCAC) have been working on abolishing the age out process all together and replacing it with a readiness-based system. Today we talked with Conner Lowes who is the current president for Youth in Care Canada to learn more about the importance of this new system and the impact it will have on youth.

https://twitter.com/connerlowes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowes-8a6b7c5d3e0f9g/

https://youthincare.ca/

https://twitter.com/youthincare

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyc-podcast

Want to know what programs are available in your community? Check out our blog. We are constantly updating our page with new local programs, news, and policy changes. You can also learn about your rights and supports that are afforded to you by the government. Click here to find out more.

Melissa Teles discusses her research on human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Ontario. In this provocative conversation we talk about the difference between sex trafficking and sex work, notions of consent, youth agency, and how all those who work with young people can support people around these topics.

To learn more about the research, to read the full report, and to access free online training on supporting young people who have been trafficked please visit https://supportyouth.ca/

Welcome to the Foster Care Experience Podcast Hosted by Chanice McAnuff. Please be sure to tune into our program every Friday night.

Please Like, Share and Follow us on Social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/project-outsiders-b6b840202

http://www.projectoutsiders.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyc-podcast

At project outsiders we aim to highlight the vulnerabilities of the child welfare system So that you can know what’s happening to youth in your communities and through this We aim to develop partnership with organizations to share resources you can use to stop these ongoing injustices and create a stronger system for youth in care together.

On this weeks episode of ARTS Salvatore speaks with Linh Nguyen Grant Alumni for #RisingYouth about her project BIPOC Creative Programming, a project that aims to educate individuals of ethnic minorities how to express themselves in a creative writing workshop. Linh also recommends some fantastic literature to our listeners as they discuss culture and literature and breaking down barriers for oneself in regards to creative writing.

For more information regarding the other grants we’ve highlighted please visit us at: https://anchor.fm/risingyouth

And https://www.risingyouth.ca

Ursella Khan of the Ubuntu Youth Council in Central Alberta, Canada talks about why it’s important for young BIPOC folx to learn council and board membership skills, issues facing young people in central Alberta, and why the RCMP think conversations with youth are too political to have. To learn more about the Ubuntu Youth Council, please visit https://www.instagram.com/ubuntu_youth_council/ https://twitter.com/councilubuntu?lang=en For more information regarding the grants we provide please visit us at https://www.risingyouth.ca https://www.instagram.com/risingyouthtig/

Fighting the Mental Health Sitgma a short documentary called Broken From La Ronge / Lake La Ronge Indian Band developed a documentary alongside her cousin about Julianna’s personal mental health struggles and coping strategies to help break barriers about mental health stigmas.

Please check out Julianna’s Documentary alongside this episode and share this much needed information as we break barriers in the mental health community. https://youtu.be/FyxH5yNomMc and check out her website

Fighting the Mental Health Sitgma a short documentary called Broken From La Ronge / Lake La Ronge Indian Band developed a documentary alongside her cousin about Julianna’s personal mental health struggles and coping strategies to help break barriers about mental health stigmas.

Please check out Julianna’s Documentary alongside this episode and share this much needed information as we break barriers in the mental health community. https://youtu.be/FyxH5yNomMc and check out her website https://www.saniskamedia.com

For more information regarding the grants we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca

For more information regarding the grants we provide please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca

Young people in and from the child welfare system have long been working towards changing how they are cared for, their transition out of state care, and ensuring support past their 18th birthday. In Canada, the network of provincial Youth In Care agencies across the country have been at the forefront of ensuring these matters are addressed. The national body working with all these provincial organizations is Youth In Care Canada (YICC). In this episode of CYC Podcast the new president of YICC speaks about the organization, some of the pressing issues facing young people in and transitioning out of care, and how those working with young people can support these clear calls for action. To learn more about YICC, please visit https://youthincare.ca/

On this Week’s Episode of #RY Podcast Salvatore interviews Kerbens Boisette founder of the Aftermath Exhibition. This project aims to aid young black youth with dealing with learning and understanding their deep rooted Canadian History and allow them to reconnect with themselves through various art forms.

Please check out follow their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Theaftermathexhibition/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBFimZ2_qDEiezCbY5YZFnfWcikio

And be sure to check out our numerous grant opportunities for #RisingYouth at https://www.risingyouth.ca

This week’s episode is a conversation with Kismet Meyon, Dr. Maggie Inchley, and Dr. Sylvan Baker from The Verbatim Formula. The Verbatim Formula is “a participatory research project for care-experienced young people. It uses verbatim theatre techniques, listening and dialogue to work with young people, care leavers, social workers, and universities” which “aim[s] to work with young people to make care and education better” (http://www.theverbatimformula.org.uk/).

During our conversation Kismet, Maggie, and Sylvan discuss the process that The verbatim Formula uses, the impacts on them and others as creators, how it is received by those who see their performances (including service providers), and the results of their research.

Visit their website to hear clips and learn more about the innovative and necessary work they create.

On this week’s episode of Arts Salvatore speaks with Kassandra Helibron of Mentoring the Stars a Youth-Led Tutoring and Mentorship program. This program is focused on developing an individual approach to helping improve the learning and daily lives of the children they work with. This organization is entirely digital where staff work remotely to provide support to Children going through virtual education in British Columbia

Mentoringthestars@gmail.com

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this conversation Brett Cox and Wolfgang talk about a workshop series and mural making process on the theme of decolonization. We speak about how colonization impacts relationships, “allyship” with Indigenous communities, youth led programming, and some of the challenges with social enterprise projects. This workshop series and mural was a collaboration with Press Start (https://arcadepressstartpsc.wordpress.com/home/), Montreal Indigenous Community Network (http://reseaumtlnetwork.com/), Canadian Roots Exchange (https://canadianroots.ca/), and Concordia University’s Office of Community Engagement, and was partially funded by #RisingYouth.

In this week's episode of ARTS, Salvatore speaks with his long-time friend Lara Subeh a frontline staff worker for a Shelter in the GTA. This Shelter Workers series is a several part conversation of a 3-hour chat between Salvatore and Lara as they discuss several aspects of the Shelter system from education to way to improve the system for services users. We will be uploading parts of the conversation throughout the rest of the year so please enjoy.

Glad to have Salvatore be producing his regular subject matter again!

Apologies on the Original uploads audio.

This episode begins with a monologue about being young, queer, and navigating drinking & drug culture in the lesbian community. Claire the writer/performer (not her real name) and I then have a conversation about some of the themes raised in the piece. Specifically, the attraction of alcohol to young queer folk, the challenges of not drinking, and how to support young people navigating that space.

In this week's episode of the #RisingYouth Salvatore talks with Topaza Yu about her project Uke of Tope. This project helps provide children with safe-space to cultivate their musical talents with the Ukelele. These Children end up growing exponentially as they become more comfortable with their surroundings allowing them to make mistakes and grow at their own pace. We also talk about the Student Wellness initiative towards community health (S.W.I.T.C.H.) where we take a deep dive into cultural humility. For more information regarding our programs please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca/

In this episode, Shezell-Rae Sam and Chantal Adams discuss their research with Sister Rising “an Indigenous community-based project for Indigenous girls, youth of all genders, and communities speaking back against gendered and sexualized violence.” Sisters Rising is an ongoing multi-generational project which draws upon arts-based and land-based ways of addressing violence. To learn more about Sisters Rising please visit: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/sistersrising/

In this week’s episode of RisingYouth Podcast Jade Roberts is back and is speaking to a wonderful youth based out of Winnipeg. Meet Danika Duncan and they project Elder Tea Celebration. This program ran by both Danika and her sibling focuses on improving the relationship between the youth of indigenous background and elders in their respective communities. This week’s focus is on intergenerational change through connection for more information regarding grants and other programs please visit: www.risingyouth.ca

In this episode Wolfgang speaks with Jenny Ge who co-developed the Innovate & Inspire Youth Leadership Workshop in partnership with the Working Women Community Centre located in Toronto Canada. Jenny talks about elements of leadership, perseverance, failure, support, the debate over whether leaders are “born” or if leadership can be taught, and how asking for help from Rising Youth was instrumental in the project’s success.

To learn more about Working Women Community Centre please visit https://www.workingwomencc.org/

To find out more information about how you can apply to Rising Youth go to https://www.risingyouth.ca/

On this week’s episode of ARTS Salvatore speaks with Shelby Maunder about their project Junior Roller Derby a junior team for female-identified folk in Whitehorse Yukon. Tune in this week as they discuss how its more than just a roller derby team shes creating but a group of up and coming strong female-identified individuals and how they are paving the way to make safe spaces for themselves.

This episode of CYC Podcast/#RisingYouth, Wolfgang talks with Mo Phùng from Oceans Week HFX about why the oceans matter, climate justice, activism, and confronting racism, misogyny, and homophobia in environmental movements. To learn more about Oceans Week HFX please visit: http://www.oceansweek.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/oceansweekhfx/ https://www.instagram.com/oceansweekhfx/ For more grant information visit https://www.risingyouth.ca/ and feel free to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/risingyouthtig/?hl=en

On this week’s episode of the #RisingYouth Podcast Salvatore talks with Fatimah Mulla and Fadime Salman about their project Anxiety Support Group. Based in Toronto for girls and women from the Muslim/immigrant communities its purpose is to help girls and women gain support and learn skills to help manage anxiety that causes them difficulty at work/school, in their relationships, or in other social situations. Focusing on creating a safe space for women to connect, and discuss and learn about their anxiety.

On Episode 11 of the #RisingYouth Podcast Jade Roberts Talks with Alexandra Jarret about their project The Art and Hip-Hop Show! This is a roaming local show that Alexandra and facilities to help connect students to art and art resources through means of donations and grants provided by the community. They’ve been doing this for several years and we hop to see many more projects!

Alejandra Cabrera talks about the 2SLGBTQIA and people of colour skateboarding collective Femmes Across the Board. In the conversation we talk about access to space, misogyny, and some thoughts on why skateboarding has the reputation it does. You can follow FAB on Instagram at @femmesacrosstheboard

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with Melissa Tobin about her project called Sunshine Swimming Camp. Melissa’s project focuses on running a swimming camp for athletes living with intellectual disabilities. Melissa talks candidly about creating a safe space for athletes with intellectual disabilities and what gaps she hopes her project could address. Salvatore and Melissa also talk about accessibility and how it is important to see each athlete as an individual.

Awarded as the “Artist For Peace 2018” by the Quebec-based artist collective “Les artistes pour la paix,” Aquil Virani is a visual artist who integrates public participation into his socially-conscious art projects. Following the Quebec City mosque shooting, Aquil paid tribute to the six men who have lost their lives that day by painting six portraits.

Episode Transcript coming soon Aquil Virani a été nommé « Artiste pour la paix 2018 » grâce à l'importance qu’il place sur les pratiques artistiques accessibles et les questions sociales. Né d’une mère d’origine française et d’un père d’origine indienne, il est un artiste animé par le désir de communiquer des idées socialement pertinentes de manière accessible, interactive et engageante. Suite à l’attaque terroriste à la Mosquée de Québec, Aquil a tenu à rendre hommage aux six hommes qui y ont perdu la vie, à travers six portraits.

On this week’s episode of #RisingYouth Podcast Jade interviews 2 bright Individuals helping increase awareness of indigenous teachings in the home community and the struggles of setting up a grassroots project in a remote community.

Fox and Alexandra Nordstrom organized and facilitated a four-day summer program for Indigenous youth on Poundmaker and Little Pine First Nations that focused on the intersection between arts, science, and conservation from an Indigenous perspective. Engaging students in a collaborative learning model that uses the Cree tradition of using land as pedagogy for scientific learning, Janay and Alexandra created a space for Indigenous youth to explore their Cree culture and Indigenous ways of learning.

For more information about #RisingYouth Grants please visit https://www.risingyouth.ca/

This episode is a conversation with theatre artist, mask maker, and arts-facilitator Carmen Lee about their project Settle Elsewhere. Carmen is one half of the artistic team running Theatre du Poulet, a theatre company and non-profit organization based in Halifax, with a specialization in puppetry, mask performance and physical theatre. In the conversation, Carmen and Wolfgang speak about immigrating to Canada, creating provocative art, the role of artists in social justice, and ways to navigate the challenges of funding theatre projects. To learn more about Theatre du Poulet visit https://www.theatredupoulet.com/

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with RudeGang Entertainment. Rudegang Entertainment is an Indigenous Hip Hop & Multimedia group based in the Greater Vancouver Area, B.C. In the conversation RudeGang members discuss music, advocacy, inspiring young people, and resisting colonialism.

Be Sure to check out Their new single Tides on Soundcloud

Follow Rudegang Entertainment on Instagram @RudegangEnt and be sure to check out #RisingYouth and the grants we provide at www.risingyouth.ca

Let’s Raise Awareness together!

On this week’s episode of the #RisingYouth Podcast, Jade Roberts Host of Still Here Still healing sits down with Mackenzie who talks about her contribution to the Red Dress Project. Mackenzie a Rising Youth Alumni was inspired by the work Jamie Black. The Red Dress project is a response to the more than 1000 indigenous women who are missing or have been murdered in Canada. Symbolizing the indigenous women who are stolen from their families, an arrangement of red dresses are displayed in a public place. Mackenzie brought the project to her hometown of Fort McMurray to help raise awareness and educate other youth.

For more information regarding to help turn a passion into action visit: https://www.risingyouth.ca/

This episode, a collaboration between CYC Podcast and #Rising Youth, a program of Taking It Global, is a conversation with Justine Yu. Justine talks about the magazine and community building project called Living Hyphen. Living Hyphen began as a journal that explores the experiences of hyphenated Canadians – that is, individuals who call Canada home but who have roots in faraway places.

To learn more about the Living Hyphen please see https://livinghyphen.ca/ or visit their blog at https://medium.com/living-hyphen. And to find out how to signup for your own grant go to https://www.risingyouth.ca/

For our french listeners please check out this link!

In this episode recorded in Montreal, Amira and Eva sit down with three #RisingYouth alumni to discuss ways to transform your passion into action. Nadia discusses her art project in a high school bathroom, Steeve talks about his Community Brunch, and Harry elaborates on his Youth Magazine. The intention with this series, produced in partnership with CYC Podcast and TakingITGlobal, is to give the floor to young leaders.

English Transcript Here

Dans cet épisode enregistré à Montréal, Amira et Eva s'entretiennent avec trois anciens participants du programme #JeunesEnAction et discute de façons de transformer votre passion en action. Nadia nous parle du projet artistique qu'elle va réaliser dans les toilettes d'une école secondaire, Harry nous partage les détails de la conception de son magazine jeunesse tandis que Steeve nous donne l'eau à la bouffe avec son projet de brunchs communautaires. L’intention derrière cette série, produite en partenariat avec CYC Podcast et TakingItGlobal, est de laisser la parole aux jeunes porteurs de changements positifs au sein de leur communauté.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore and Christopher continue the conversation they started from the previous episode. This episode main focus was on advocacy. Both Salvatore and Christopher share what they have learned in the field and some challenges to advocacy. Let's Raise Awareness Together!

This conversation with Michael Furdyk and Jennifer Corriero introduces an exciting new pilot partnership between CYC Podcast and Rising Youth (https://www.risingyouth.ca/) a project of TakingItGlobal (https://www.tigweb.org/). Jennifer and Michael introduce #Rising Youth & TakingItGlobal, speak about some of the projects they support, and why we are doing this collaboration. We also talk about the politics of language when creating podcasts in a multi-lingual country. Starting in January, CYC Podcast will start doing a French language podcast each month, we will also be doing bilingual podcasts, and will be working towards providing transcripts of the podcasts in at least two languages. By February we will increase our schedule to deliver a podcast every Wednesday, hosted by a variety of people. Salvatore will continue on the 2nd Wednesday of the month and Wolfgang will still be on the last Wednesday. We will be adding new hosts on the 1st, 3rd (and when there are 5 Wednesday’s, the 4th) Wednesday of each month. We are excited about these changes and look forward to developing new, diverse, and engaging conversations in the coming months.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with Christopher Cottle. Christopher talks very candidly about his lived experience in the care system. The conversation starts off with Christopher stating some of the challenges within the care system and then turns to the importance of young people having a mentor in and out of care. Christopher and Salvatore then start to discuss their experience in working with young people. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode. Let's Raise Awareness Together!

This is part 2 of the conversation begun in October, 2019. Melanie Doucet and Harrison Pratt discuss the Photovoice research project titled Relationships Matter for Youth “Aging Out” of Care (https://www.yumpu.com/document/view/59918518/relationships-matter-e-book). Melanie and Harrison are both researchers with direct experience living in the child welfare system. In this episode, they discuss the place of arts in research, the Photovoice process, and analyzing images for themes.

To learn more about the project please visit:

Relationships Matter Project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lmPDZ360ow&t=40s

· Relationships Matter Photo E-Book: https://www.yumpu.com/document/view/59918518/relationships-matter-e-book

· Relationships Matter Executive Summary + Research report (child welfare policy & practice oriented), published via the BC Representative for Children and Youth: https://rcybc.ca/reports-and-publications/reports/relationships-matter-youth-aging-out-care

· Megaphone Magazine cover story and article, January 2019, What do YOUth think? Research project that aims to improve B.C.'s foster care system goes straight to the source.

· Tyee article, December 13, 2018, Want to fix foster care? Ask kids who have been through the system

· Tyee article, December 15, 2017, Creating Connections Through Photography

On this episode of your right to speak Salvatore talks with Deirdre Carroll on the topic of mindfulness practice. Deirdre has 12 years of experience in the social work field and youth and women and is a registered Psychotherapist who has extensively travelled to India to learn yoga instruction and other alternative health practices. Deirdre and Salvatore start the conversation speaking to how the word mindfulness has become a buzzword. The conversation then turns to what is mindfulness practice and offers advice to people entering the field of social work who are facilitating mindfulness. Let’s Raise Awareness Together!

If you would like you and contact Deirdre through Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=531936134000846&ref=content_filter

Or Instagram at deeserendipity44

Melanie Doucet and Harrison Pratt discuss the Photovoice research project titled Relationships Matter for Youth “Aging Out” of Care (https://www.yumpu.com/document/view/59918518/relationships-matter-e-book). Melanie and Harrison are both researchers with direct experience living in the child welfare system. In this episode, part 1 of a two-part conversation, we talk about the genesis and intention behind the project, aspects of the 12 findings from the research, and their thought on the meaning of care.

To learn more about the project please visit:

Relationships Matter Project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lmPDZ360ow&t=40s

· Relationships Matter Photo E-Book: https://www.yumpu.com/document/view/59918518/relationships-matter-e-book

· Relationships Matter Executive Summary + Research report (child welfare policy & practice oriented), published via the BC Representative for Children and Youth: https://rcybc.ca/reports-and-publications/reports/relationships-matter-youth-aging-out-care

· Megaphone Magazine cover story and article, January 2019, What do YOUth think? Research project that aims to improve B.C.'s foster care system goes straight to the source.

· Tyee article, December 13, 2018, Want to fix foster care? Ask kids who have been through the system

· Tyee article, December 15, 2017, Creating Connections Through Photography

On this episode of Your Right To Speak Salvatore talks with Rima Dib who is the director of curriculum and education at Harmony At Work. The topic of the conversation is shaming and moving to a place of education with regard to anti-oppression. Rima explains the importance of not shaming people and the benefit of it. She offers an example of what shaming looks like and what a place of education looks like. Let’s Raise Awareness Together!

In this conversation Dennis Long speaks about adolescent substance use, if substance use is of concern (and why), the impacts of changing cannabis laws, opiate overdoses, harm reduction, and how to support parents

Dennis Long is the Former President of the Ontario Federation of Community Addictions and Mental Health Programs, the past Executive Director, of Breakaway Substance Abuse Treatment Centre, and a current teacher, educator, and activist related to substance use.

On today’s episodes of A Right to Speak Salvatore talks with returning guest Alyssa. Alyssa is current a masters student at Ryerson’s Child and Youth care program. Alyssa will be talking to us about some her research regarding her thesis which she is currently conducting. Alyssa will be explaining to us how youth in care need a better system put in place for their transitional periods. Thank you Alyssa and we hope to have you on the show once your thesis is complete.

This episode is a recording made at the 22nd South African National Association of Child and Youth Care & 4th CYC-Net world conference, which took place in Durban South Africa of June 2019. The presenter was Werner van der Westhuizen, from Port Elizabeth, South Africa The following is the conference abstract: “During 2018 the presenter, a former director at a residential child care centre, was contacted by a number of the former residents via Facebook wishing to reconnect with each other. As discussions started regarding a possible reunion, the presenter was struck by how the perspectives of these young people have changed and evolved over the past couple of years and suggested to them having discussions about their views and experiences. Following an overwhelmingly positive response, a series of conversations were arranged where both these young people and former director “come full circle” as for the first time, they talk honestly about their relationships and experiences with each other years after they left the residential care centre. This presentation offers the highlights from these discussions as a process of mutual meaning-making unfolded between the former director and the young people. Some of the highlights of these discussions include their views on aspects of child and youth care work that affected them, such as de-institutionalisation, residential child care workers versus shift workers, the absence of male role models, structure and routines and values. As they reflect on their childhood while in residential care and how their experiences of independent living have evolved their perspectives on child residential care, many express a desire to “return to their home” and become involved in the care of children now in residential care. Now adults, they also considered how these experiences contributed to their own value systems and shaped the way they view both their past and the future, the society they wish to live in and how they want to shape society for future generations. The views and experiences of these young people offer additional insights and possible practice implications for practitioners in the child and youth care field.”

This episode is a recording made at the 22nd South African National Association of Child and Youth Care & 4th CYC-Net world conference, which took place in Durban South Africa of June 2019. The presenters were: Professor Paul Cooke, Dr Lou Harvey, Martin Keat and three Child and Youth Care Practitioners from Leth’ithemba Isibindi Safe Park, Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni.

The following is the conference abstract”

“Since 2016, the University of Leeds in the UK has been working with the Bishop Simeon Trust in Ekurhuleni, using arts-based projects to develop and sustain ‘Youth Committees’ in a number of Isibindi Safe Parks across the region. These projects have helped to build the confidence of the young people they support, on the one hand, and also helped the Safe Parks access state funding, on the other (for which having a functioning ‘Youth Committee’ is obligatory). Specifically, these Youth Committees have used a range of art forms – including theatre, music, dance, ‘grass-roots comics’ and participatory filmmaking – to organise ‘advocacy campaigns’ that have raised awareness of a range of issues that are important to the young people who use the safe parks, but that they feel tend to be ignored or misrepresented in their communities.

In so doing, this work has highlighted to a group of young people who are frequently either ignored by, or seen as a problem for, their communities the potential of their voice and its power to help them effect change in their lives for themselves. In 2019, the various Safe Parks we work with will be focusing on the question ‘What does my Safe Park mean to me?’ and will be developing a joint campaign to raise awareness of the role played by Isibindi Safe Parks in their communities.

The aim of our presentation is twofold. First, it will showcase the work of the young people involved in the Youth Committees we have supported, providing them with a national platform for their activities and a significant opportunity to highlight the potential of their voice. Second it will present a set of training materials we are developing for other Isibindi Safe Parks interested in using arts-based methods to create and sustain their youth committees.”

The following is the presentation write up from the July I had the pleasure of attending the 22nd South African National Association of Child and Youth Care & 4th CYC-Net world conference in Durban South Africa:

How Can I Be Homeless When I Just Left One? An Observation from Working on the Streets of Pietermaritzburg with Young People by Thamsanqa Gcwabaza & Rob Ng-Yu-Tin, from Life Changer

“What do we mean by the word home? Is it a house? An address? A bed to sleep in? A family? Perhaps we need to explore what we mean by homeless and perhaps consider it as ‘houseless’. We are living in the aftermath of the HIV Pandemic. Our reality now is an emerging group of older vulnerable youth and young adults who are making a living off the streets. Many of these predominantly young men have lived in multiple homes, had an array of significant care givers, and been in informal kinship care or formal foster care. Some have been adopted and even lived in residential care. But now? They find them themselves without a family, with no idea of who to turn to, ask for advice and seek refuge. They are seen as beggars, filthy down-and-outs who have made bad choices. We have even heard them referred to as vermin. These young adults were possibly once celebrated as newborns. A celebration to a family. They grew up being offered some love, and family. Where do these young people go once faced with huge hardship? Huge emotional psychological and behavioural problems. All desperate for love, affirmation and a family. To add to that child and youth care centres struggle to want to accept these children in care, and social workers don’t know what to do.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with youth who are part of Olori. Olori is a project formed by multiple organizations that work with Black youth around Blackness and identity. The focus on this episode is on anti-Black racism in the school system. Sharifa, Lukman, Isaiahm, Pikmen in the episode are candid about their experiences in the school system and how they have seen and experienced discrimination. The conversation then turns the topic of du-rags and how their school has banned on them. The interviewees explain what du-rags mean to them and how society sees them. Please note: since the episode was recorded the school has lifted their ban on du-rags from a petition students started. Let’s Raise Awareness Together!

Johana, Khyna, Edward, and Cody from the Surrey You Advisory Committee (YAC) talk about what brought them to the YAC, what it has accomplished over two years, thoughts & suggestions for new practitioners/students, and some of the challenges facing Youth Advisory Committees.

On this episode of your right to speak we will be talking with Rosa, a returning youth guest. We will be talking to Rosa about living with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Rosa starts the conversation with the challenges of living with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis and how it impacts her day-to-day activities. The conversation then turns to Rosa explaining that the only things that help her with the pain is medical marijuana, and she discusses what the impact of having invisible pain has had on her life. Near the end of the conversation Rosa expresses how sometimes it is a challenge to work with social workers and Child and Youth Care Practitioners because they don’t always believe that she is in pain.

The mission of the Child and Youth Care Alliance for Racial Equity (CARE) is “to challenge systemic and institutional oppression within child and youth care education, policy and service provision that impact the lives of young people in the Province of Ontario”. In this conversation with two members of CARE we speak about how racial, and other forms of inequity, manifest in CYC; ways the field and individuals can address these oppressions; broadening conceptions of care beyond the ways it has been historically been taken up in CYC; and the roll of research for CARE.

Juanita Stephen is a Co-Founder of CARE, she has worked with young people in numerous capacities over the years, and also teaches CYC. After completing her diploma, undergrad and Master’s in Child and Youth Care, Juanita is currently doing her Ph.D. in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s Studies at York university in Toronto.

Peter Amponsah is a professor at Sheridan College in the Child and Youth Care program. He has done direct practice with young people, worked in management, and helped developed policy for child welfare agencies. Much of Peter’s work, like Juanita’s, focuses on anti-oppressive & anti-racist theory and practice. Peter is currently working on his Ph.D. in Social Work at York University.

To find out more about CARE email TheCareAlliance@gmail.com; visit at https://www.facebook.com/EquityInCYC; and follow on Twitter @EquityinCYC

In this interview, Kaz MacKenzie speaks about her research looking at whiteness, some of the impact of white supremacy on Indigenous children and youth, why whiteness is an important topic for CYC practitioners to think and talk about, and mentions many authors, books, and other resources to learn more about some of these topics. Out of her research in collaborative dialogues with experienced, critical, politicized CYC practitioners, four themes emerged that attend to systemic issues and the difficulty of challenging dominant white norms and conventions in the field of CYC: 1) working in colonial violence and racism; 2) white settler fragility; 3) power and privilege, and; 4) troubling ally-ship. These key themes explore the complex, embodied individual and collective ethical responsibilities of white settler CYC practitioners. Kaz MacKenzie is a white, cis woman (she/her) living on the unceeded territory Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. Her ancestors are of Irish, Scottish and English lineage. She is currently an MA student in CYC at the University of Victoria, completing her thesis, “Integrating Fluid, Responsive and Embodied Ethics: Un-settling the Praxis of White Settler CYC Practitioners”. For the last 25 years she has worked, and learnt, as a recreation facilitator, alternative education co-ordinator, and youth outreach worker in community-based agencies, on and off reserve, in rural and urban settings; this work has been beside the resilience, fortitude, and beauty of youth people facing the violent realities of settler colonialism and racism. Recently, she has started a co-op work term as a researcher with the Office for the Representative for Children and Youth. Kaz strives, in her life, work and research, to be committed to her own unsettling, to attend to the responsibilities of settler/occupier repair and to forge pathways to anti-racist, anti-colonial, and intersectional praxis in CYC.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks Wendy Curnew-Harris who is a residual counsellor and has been an Additions worker. Wendy starts off explain what the Harm Reduction approach is and how to work with youth who have additions. Throughout the conversation Wendy stresses the importance of taking an individualized approach and being authentic with youth. In keeping with that through Wendy also discuss that sometimes the best approach for youth is abstinence. Let’s Raise Awareness Together.

Dr. Jen Couch contextualizes her insights from practice and research with young people who came to Australia as refugees. In the conversation we start by reflecting on the murders at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand, we then move into discussing relational work with young people. Dr. Couch closes by speaking about the benefits of working with young people from a refugee rights model, in contrast to a needs model.

Dr. Couch is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Arts at the Australian Catholic University, which she came to after working extensively in the youth and community sectors of Australia and South Asia. Including with many young people who lived as refugees.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Rosa talks with Salvatore about some of the challenges she has faced from CYCPs and social workers due to being of mixed ethnicity. The conversation then turns to how Rosa has been able to navigate through the social constructs society has placed her in.

Let's Raise Awareness Together.

Drawing upon his own work in residential care and as a foster parent, Dr. Smith talks about care as an action and a disposition. He discusses several theories and aspects related to care, what it looks like in practice, the relationship between care and love, and some of the difficulties regarding care in this current managerialist climate.

Dr. Mark Smith spent about 20 years working in residential care before moving into academia. He has published widely on topics related to residential care, ideas of love in child and youth care, historical abuse in residential care, and in 2018 co-edited a book titled Social Work in a Changing Scotland. Dr. Smith currently teaches at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with Bailey, Liam, and Kirkland, three young people from the Cross Over Youth project (http://crossoveryouth.ca) about the closing of the Ontario Child Advocates Office. The conversation starts with the guests explaining what they think the impact will be as a result of closing the Office and how it may affect young people across Ontario. They go on to discuss some of the gaps and challenges they foresee the Ombudsman office will be facing. Let's Raise Awareness Together.

In this episode Marleigh Pirnasar talks about working in Northern Quebec after growing up, going to school, and becoming a CYC in southern Ontario. She explains how she had to reckon with her southern geographical privilege, differentiates between cultural competency, cultural humility, and cultural safety, and discusses the necessity of understanding self when working in cultures different from one’s own.

Marleigh Pirnasar is a Child and Youth Care Practitioner who works in Nunavik, northern Quebec.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak Salvatore and Wolfgang reflect on 2018 and the conversations they have had on their shows. Wolfgang and Salvatore talk about some of their memorable moments and what they’ve learned in 2018 from their guests. Reflect on these and other experiences they offer their thoughts to Child and Youth Care Practitioners and Social Workers entering the field.

Let’s Raise Awareness Together

Dr. Laura Steckely talks about Threshold concepts, what they are, how they are relevant to CYC practice, practitioners, and those we work with. Threshold concepts are ideas central to a field that once understood “transform learning and practice” leading to “new ways of thinking and understanding”. Threshold concepts have been identified and discussed in multiple fields, yet only minimally considered in Child and Youth Care. In this episode Dr. Steckley talks about her research into Threshold concepts in residential care and what she has identified so far.

Dr Steckley is the Course Director of the MSc in Advanced Residential Child Care at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland. Prior to becoming a faculty member, she worked in residential treatment in the USA and residential care in Scotland.

This episode of Your Right to Speak is a press conference recording that took place on November 29, 2018 organized by the Ontario Children’s Advocacy Coalition. The press conference was in response to a recent decision by the Provincial Government. Below is a press release from the Ontario Children’s Advocacy Coalition regarding the Government’s Decision:

“On November 15, 2018, the Ontario Government announced its intention to discontinue the Ontario Child Advocate’s Office (OCA; formerly known as Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth). This Office ensures young people have a voice about things that affect their lives. This decision is especially devastating for young people living on the margins, Black youth, Indigenous youth, young people living in the care of public institutions like child welfare or youth justice and those with special challenges or disabilities.

The current Ontario government has said that they will transfer some of the functions of the Office of the Child Advocate to the Ombudsman of Ontario, a much larger office that deals with consumer complaints by adults in a wide range of public services, but that has no experience dealing with child welfare, child and youth mental health and youth justice sectors. Young people involved in those sectors are unfamiliar with the Ombudsman, and there are no opportunities for a collective voice. The Child Advocates Office would be subsumed under an institution that deals solely with adults. An independent Office must be maintained to ensure the appropriate support and care of Ontario’s most vulnerable children and youth.

Presently, the Provincial Child Advocate was chosen and appointed by an all-party Committee of the legislature and he reports directly to the legislature through the speaker. This is to ensure that his Office remains independent and is not unduly influenced by the government or at risk of reprisals for releasing reports to the public that are critical of the government’s performance, particularly as it relates to children in its care. Bill 57 introduced by the Progressive Conservative Government would cut three legislative officers which includes the Ontario Child Advocate. Disrupting the independence and authority of the Child Advocate who represents the most vulnerable children and youth in the province without thoughtful consideration of the facts or thorough public consultation demonstrates an unconscionable breach of power.”

This is part 2 of our is a panel conversation with Tanitia Munroe, Karlene Williams-Clark, Dr. Lance McCready, Elise Yusef and Cannary Branco regarding the research project Understanding Non-Financial Barriers to Black Queer Youth Transitions from High School to College. The primary goal of the project was to build an evidence base to guide the work of postsecondary education connectors working with organizations that serve Black queer youth. The guests are a mixture of researchers, community partners, and people interviewed for the research project.

Due to the number of people we went longer than usual with this episode. Rather than playing the whole 1 hour at once, we split the conversation into two episodes, you can listen to part 1 by going to the October 31 2018 episode of CYC podcast.

On this episode on Your Right to Speak Salvatore talks with Karen Prosper the Executive Director of Arrabon House and a returning guest Catherine Ellis-Dobson the Assistant Director of Arrabon House. Karen and Catherine talk about what programs and services Arrabon House offer young women and what gaps they have seen in the residential group home setting. Karen and Catherine’s extensive experience shines through as they share their belief in the importance of utilizing a person-focused wellness model and reflect on the most important lessons they have learned thus far. Let's raise awareness together!

This episode is a panel conversation with 5 people, Tanitia Munroe, Karlene Williams-Clark, Dr. Lance McCready, Elise Yusef and Cannary Branco. The conversation is about a recent research project called Understanding Non-Financial Barriers to Black Queer Youth Transitions from High School to College. The primary goal of the project was to build an evidence base to guide the work of postsecondary education connectors working with organizations that serve Black queer youth. The guests are a mixture of researchers, community partners, and people interviewed for the research project.

Due to the number of people we went longer than usual with this episode. Rather than playing the whole 1 hour at once, we are splitting the conversation into two episodes, one this month and the second one the last Wednesday of November.

On this episode of Your Right to Speak I talked with Catherine Ellis-Dobson who is the Assistant Director at Arrabon House. Catherine talks about some of the gaps in the group home/ residential care system and what needs to be changed. The conversation then turns to how to Child and Youth workers know the residential program is benefiting the youth and how success looks like. Near the end of the episode, Catherin offers advice for new students entering the residential setting. Let's raise awareness together!

Dr. Petra Roberts talks about her oral history research with 24 adults who, as children, grew up in residential institutions in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Her study sought to learn the positives and negatives of residential care in order to contribute to developing a model of care suited for high need, low resource countries. Dr. Roberts discusses residential care in T&T, some of the unique aspects of care in that nation, the positive and challenging experiences of those who spent time in care, and closes with making some recommendations regarding institutional care for middle- and low-income countries.

Dr. Roberts is currently an assistant professor in the department of Social Work at Algoma University in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario.

This presentation by Sabrin Hassan is the final of our uploads from Education Day, prior to the 20th Canadian National CYC conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia this past May. Sabrin discusses her experiences as a Black student going through post-secondary CYC education. Sabrin is a recent graduate of Ryerson Universities Bachelor in Child and Youth Care program.

Today’s episode is by Donna Reid, who speaks about considering alternative delivery models to the teaching of material related to trauma. Her presentation integrates research and conversations with faculty, and students, and applies the eight principles of trauma towards transforming the CYC classroom and the student experience.

Donna Reid is a Professor in the CYC program at George Brown College in Toronto. Her practice incorporates clinical assessment and treatment, group work and community-based support for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties connected to emotional dysregulation, adoption and developmental trauma. This presentation is based on research she has been doing for the past year looking at trauma and CYC education.

This week is the eighth in our uploads from Education Day, prior to the 20th Canadian National CYC conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia this past May. Today’s episode is by Graham McPheat. presenting on Threshold Concepts in CYC Education. Threshold concepts are central concepts in a given discipline which are transformative but also troublesome. They are important because they shape thinking and practice, but they are often difficult to grasp. His presentation concerns a research project led by Laura Steckley which explored the relevance of threshold concept theory to child and youth care and began the process of identifying potential threshold concepts in the field.

Graham McPheat worked in residential child care practice in Scotland for 10 years before moving into post-secondary education. He is currently the head of Learning and Teaching in the School of Social Work & Social Policy at the university of Strathclyde in Scotland. He teaches in the Masters of Science in Child and Youth Care Studies.

This week is the seventh in our uploads from the 20th Canadian National CYC conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia this past May, and is by Shadan Hyder and Colleen Snell. While the presentation is by two people, the voice you’ll hear most, is Shadan’s. Colleen is primarily dancing with Shadan.

This presentation was originally part of larger project, which began by questioning whether empathy and caring can be taught; asking if it is possible to value and trust instinctual wisdom, care ethics, love, relational knowing, or inter-subjective practices within academic institutions. Exploring the incongruence between preparing students for CYC practice within traditional academia the duet demonstrates personal narrative as a position of wisdom.

Shadan Hyder is an advocate, a practitioner, and currently finishing her MA in CYC at Ryerson University in Toronto. Colleen Snell is a dancer, choreographer, and the Artistic Director of Frog in Hand Productions, a dance company based in Mississauga Ontario. To learn more about Frog in Hand please visit www.froginhand.com

This week is the sixth in our uploads from the 20th Canadian National CYC conference. Today’s episode is by Dr. Mary Ventrella & Dr. Christine Slavik. They discuss Contemplative Pedagogy and how it relates to CYC education, focusing, in particular, on the use of mindfulness-based practices.

Dr. Slavik is an Associate Professor in the Child, Youth, and Family Studies Department at the University of the Fraser Valley in BC. And Dr. Ventrella is a full-time faculty member in the CYC program at Georgian College, in Ontario.

We have done some editing in this presentation as Drs. Ventrella and Slavik had us do two meditations. We have removed the recording of the silence during these meditations. At several points, they also ask questions of the audience, most of which cannot be heard, so we have edited down these moments as well.

Thank you for listening.

This week is the fifth in our uploads from the 20th Canadian National Child and Youth Care conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia this past May. In this episode, Matty Hillman talks about transitions he has gone through as a CYC Student. A Muralist. Community Citizen. CYC Practitioner. And now as an Educator.

Matty Hillman is a Child and Youth Care instructor in the Human Services program at Selkirk College in British Columbia. the traditional territory of the Sinixt people. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria. His research interests include, sexual violence prevention and response on post-secondary campuses, healthy masculinities and critical youth mentorship. As a muralist, he is especially interested in the intersection of youth work and public art - exploring the opportunity these complimentary practices create for empowerment, community building and social justice advancements.

This week is the fourth in our uploads from the 20th Canadian National Child and Youth Care conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia this past May. This session discusses CYC education practicums and is presented by Pamela Nicholls and Dr. Rob Lees. Pamela Nicholls is speaking as a 4th year practicum Student at the University of the Fraser Valley. Dr. Lees, is a faculty at the University of the Fraser Valley.

The focus of this presentation is the complexity of delivering CYC Education in rural and remote Canada. Kelly Shaw is a faculty member in the Child and Youth Care [CYC] diploma at the Nova Scotia Community College [NSCC] and Director of Care for Atlantic Youth. Jenny Oliver and Ocean Wyatt are both CYC students from Nain, Labrador.