The Youth Lab: Building Capacity & Collaboration Among Today’s Anti-Racist Leaders

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is launching the Anti-Racist Youth Lab. It will take place in Toronto from March 24-26, 2023.

The three-day event offers young leaders an opportunity to build skills that improve their capacity to sustain or scale their anti-racism initiatives. Youth will take part in youth-led workshops that are informed and designed by their peers. 

Participation in the Youth Lab is free for attendees. Travel and stay in Toronto is subsidized for up to thirty youth based on self-identified financial need.

The Details

The Youth Lab will be an immersive and engaging space for youth leaders to connect with one another, learn new skills, and share their anti-racism work. Participants can expect 1.5 full days of programming that include:

• Workshops delivered by youth and anti-racism organizations
• Networking and peer mentorship opportunities
• Performances and marketplaces

Who is eligible?

Attendees are eligible to participate in the Youth Lab if they meet all of the following criteria and based on capacity considerations

• Currently live in Canada
• Within the ages of 18 to 30
• Have created a club, organization, coalition, network, or any other initiative whose mission focuses on anti-racism work in Canada and which primarily supports youth within the ages of 18 to 30*

*Your Initiative does not have to be incorporated as a nonprofit, business, or charity

Youth will be representing their organizations during the entirety of the event.

What skills and experiences can participants expect to gain from the Lab?

Based on the needs that youth leaders shared during past consultations with the CRRF, the Youth Lab will strengthen the following skills:

• Peer to peer networking
• Advocacy for your organization
• Grant writing
• Organizational development
• Managing burnout and mental wellbeing

Throughout the Lab, participants will identify ways to increase the impact of their anti-racism work. Participants will leave the Lab with new connections with anti-racist youth leaders from across the country. 

Is the Lab a one-time only event?

The Youth Lab is one component of CRRF’s larger efforts to work with youth leaders. Our program follows a ‘for youth, by youth’ model, meaning that we consult youth on what they think should be next steps at every stage. Based on what we hear from youth, we’ll be providing more programming that supports youth needs and interests.

Are there other criteria?

To participate in the Youth Lab, individuals must be available from March 24-26 to travel to Toronto. To apply, interested participants must complete an Expression of Interest  (EOI) form. The EOI will be evaluated based on alignment to our programming and regional representation. 

Expressions of Interest are due by February 8, 2023 noon Eastern Standard Time. For any questions about the Youth Lab, please email Uswah Ahsan, CRRF Programs Manager, at uahsan@crrf-fcrr.ca. 

About the CRRF

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is a Federal Crown Corporation and Charity with a mission to facilitate knowledge and expertise that contributes to the elimination of racism in Canada. In the Fall of 2022, the CRRF conducted a consultation of youth leaders to understand the challenges and experiences of youth leaders doing anti-racism work.