“My Love for social justice stems from my upbringing in the Jane and Finch Community. It is this same passion of being, the voice that is heard, that has enabled me to be one of the most entertaining MC’s in Toronto to date”
– Femi Lawson, Winner of the 2013 INI Community Impact Award
On Friday December 6th 2013 I attended the 6th Annual Identify ‘N’ Impact (INI) Awards Ceremony held at Toronto City Hall. The INI Awards are hosted by the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) and the City of Toronto and they are part of a city program working for youth advocacy that supports programs such as the Identify ‘N’ Impact Fund. The Identify ‘N’ Impact (INI) Investment program (created in 2006) funds youth-led groups to deliver meaningful opportunities for youth to be involved in their community. INI funded projects help to promote healthy youth development and broader community safety in the City of Toronto. The Identify ‘N Impact Investment Fund picks up on the idea of the Toronto Youth Cabinet’s Identify ‘N Impact Awards, supporting and encouraging the valuable contributions young people make to their communities. The INI Fund will help youth turn IDEAS into ACTION. (Sourced from the City of Toronto Website). The mission of the INI Awards is to celebrate the valuable contributions young people make throughout Toronto Communities. The awards are aimed to showcase the valuable contributions that Toronto’s youth play as advocates, visionaries, and agents of social change. The 2013 INI awards sponsors were ArtReach Toronto and Toronto Hydro.
Doors for the event opened at 6pm on Friday. I got there about a half hour to start time and the bands were jamming, people were getting to know one another and there were delicious snacks and drinks to enjoy. Host of this years INI Awards were the hilarious Lincoln Anthony Blades (writer and public speaker) and very beautiful Bridget “Bee” Quammie (healthcare professional, blogger, freelance writer, social media manager, and speaker). There was great music, with performances featuring the band Ghost Tapes and Troy “DJ Soul Child” Patrick throughout the awards ceremony. Twelve INI awards were given out to celebrate youth advocacy in Toronto. Application for these awards was open to youth ages 13-24 and youth-led organization that has a focus on servicing young people in the City of Toronto. All the award finalists live, work, play, and/or attend school within the City of Toronto and have made a positive impact in the larger community through their actions, demonstrated leadership, and have been a positive role model for youth.
The 2013 Award recipients included:
1) Community Impact Award – Award recipient Femi Lawson
2) Sexual Health Awareness Award – Award recipients Forgiveness Project
3) Street Level Advocacy Award – Award recipients Yonge Street Mission
4) Building Community through the Arts Award – Award recipients Toronto Emerging ArTivist
5) Building Community through Entrepreneurship Award – Award recipients Carolynna Gabriel
6) Building Community through Athletics Award – Award recipient Cynthia Beringer
7) Youth Advocacy Award – Award recipients Youth Sarcoma Initiative
8) Equality and Diversity Award – Award recipient Gabriella Carafa
9) Community Crisis Response Unit – Award recipients Youth Worx
10) Community Crisis Response Unit – Award recipients ROMA Youth Project
11) I’N’I Grants – Legacy Dream 2 Reality
12) I’N’I Grants – Malvern Youth Cabinet
All in all it was an amazing night of celebration, honouring youth who make a difference in our city!
For more information visit Identify ‘N’ Impact Awards
Contact by email: tyciniawards@gmail.com
What’s the TYC all about?
The Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) is an organization that was established in 1998 by the Toronto City Council. The TYC consists of youth working in conjunction with Toronto City Councillors to provide the youth of Toronto with a public forum that strives for substantial local change and a positive impact in our city – to feel encouraged and liberated and have the opportunity to have a voice heard regarding municipal affairs. The TYC represents 320,000 youth members at City Hall with decisions made through consensus or formal voting. They elect an executive council, which includes a Chairman and six directors sitting on the Cabinet board. Joining the Cabinet is fairly simple as youth between the ages of 13 – 24 whom live, work, play or learn in Toronto are encouraged to become members. For more information on how to become a member visit the Toronto Youth Cabinet website
Major TYC Accomplishments include:
- Successfully lobbied City Council to introduce a dedicated grants stream for youth-led initiatives called the Identify ‘N’ Impact Investment Fund.
- Successfully lobbied City Council for Parks and Recreation Youth Outreach Workers.
- Successfully stopped a ban on youth activities on Albert Campbell Square in Scarborough.
- Organized major campaigns and events, including The Cause, INI Awards, Youth Forum on Homelessness, Community Speakouts, Save the Pools Campaign, Stop the Violence Campaign, Recreation Works Campaign, etc.
- Published a report on youth homelessness in the City of Toronto.
- Published a report on youth homelessness in the City of Toronto.
(Sourced from The Toronto Youth Cabinet Website)