INITIATIVES

POLICE AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Police and Youth Engagement Program (PYEP) is a youth led and community driven two-week summer course that:

• Builds capacity for immigrant and refugee youth.

• Engages police and the community for relationship building.

In 2018, an evaluation on youth capacity building reinforced the program's effectiveness. It demonstrated the need for youth to have opportunities for leadership development, empowerment, and support for families to trust police. It also demonstrated the capacity building of the involved youth to create and codesign presentations. REACH provides support through coordination, access to space, learning opportunities, and youth leadership development.

This recognition of youth capacity building has promoted year-round engagement opportunities for youth to create and co-design presentations; most recently self-care and youth volunteering workshops. REACH will continue to provide support for these workshops through coordination of space, presenters, and youth leadership development.

INITIATIVE GOALS

• To build leadership capacity with newcomer, immigrant, and refugee youth.
• To build capacity for positive Canadian integration.
• To build parents’ positive perceptions and trust of police through the children.
• To build cross cultural friendships.

OUTCOMES

•  Increase knowledge and data related to:

  • Racialization of youth
  • Human rights, volunteerism
  • Employment, education
  • Leadership skills
  • Community safety and career options for youth
• Connection to Indigenous culture

• Increase youth leadership and mentorship capacity.

• Increase opportunities for youth to volunteer.