The Anti-Racist Youth Lab

Active involvement in anti-racism work does not need to be labelled explicitly as “anti-racism.”

We recognize that many forms of community work contribute to advancing equity and addressing systemic barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities.

This may include:

• Working with community organizations, collectives, or initiatives that primarily serve or are led by Black, Indigenous, or racialized communities.
• Supporting work in areas such as education, health, justice, housing, food security, or climate justice where there is a clear focus on addressing inequities experienced by Black, Indigenous, or racialized communities.
• Volunteering, mentorship, or leadership roles that account for the experiences, needs, and priorities of Black, Indigenous, or racialized communities.

No. You do not need formal experience in public policy.

This program is designed for individuals already engaged in anti-racist work through volunteering, work or community involvement, and want to better understand how to connect their work to policy and systems change.

This program is best suited for individuals who already have some experience in anti-racist work and are looking to deepen their impact through policy and systems change.  

Strong applicants are typically:

• Curious about how decisions are made and how to influence them.
• Motivated to understand how to connect their community work to policy and systems-level change.
• Ready to apply what they learn in their communities.
• Have some experience in anti-racist work through community, volunteer, or professional roles.

All basic costs to participate in the program will be covered, including travel to and from Toronto, accommodation, and select meals for all participants.

Any additional costs not included in these, such as personal expenses, extra meals, or incidentals, will be the responsibility of participants.

Yes. Full participation is required. Due to the limited number of spaces, only applicants who can commit to attending all sessions will be considered.

We are committed to making this process accessible. If you require support or accommodation to complete your application, please contact Jamal Boyce at jboyce@crrf-fcrr.ca.

We will also be hosting an information session on May 4 at 1:00 PM EST for prospective applicants to learn more about the program and ask any questions.

Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot provide individualized feedback on applications.

All applicants, whether selected or not, will be notified of their application status by email.

A policy or systems change goal is a specific issue you want to improve by changing how systems, institutions, or policies work. This could include addressing barriers in areas like education, health, justice, or housing. We’re looking for a clear issue, why it matters, and how it connects to your work.

Example: “I work with a community organization supporting Indigenous youth facing barriers to accessing mental health services. Through this work, I’ve seen gaps in culturally responsive care. I want to improve access by advocating for changes within publicly funded health programs.”

This example:

• Identifies a specific issue (access to mental health services).
• Connects to a community (Indigenous youth).
• Shows the connection between your work and the issue.
• Points to a systems-level change (public health programs and how services are delivered).

Your response should explain how this program will support your ongoing vision for future anti-racist work.

We are looking for applicants who have thought about how they will apply what they have learned in their community.