“It’s unfortunate that it took (gun violence) to get the collective ear to the ground,” said Lekan Olawoye, chair of the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities, a key contributor to the strategy’s development. “I’ve called mothers, and supported mothers, to bury their children. That stuff is not OK,” said Olawoye, who is also executive director of For Youth Initiative, which works with youth in Toronto’s Weston-Mount Dennis priority area. “Some tragic incidents have happened and we knew that there had to be action. This is the tangible outcome.” Targeted goals include: making sure youth have safe spaces where they can hang out; that they’re physically and mentally well, have the tools they need for academic success, and feel a sense of safety in their communities. Meaningful employment opportunities and healthy relationships with caregivers are also on the list. Stepping Up builds on recommendations from a 2008 report, Review of the Roots of Youth Violence; another report called Stepping Stones: A Resource on Youth Development, and Ontario’s Youth Action Plan, which was launched in August 2012 a month after the Danzig incident.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 20:10:14 +0000
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