City of Brantford and Wilfrid Laurier University announce Youth Community Changemaker Program

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Youth Community Changemakers Program

BRANTFORD, ON – The City of Brantford, in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University and Laurier LaunchPad Brantford, is excited to offer the Community Changemaker Program for Grade 11 and 12 students this March Break. Now in its eighth year, the Changemaker initiative invites students to develop a program, service, or event that can support social inclusion and community development in Brantford.

This program begins on Monday, March 11 and will run daily until Friday, March 15 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at  Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford Campus. The program will cover a variety of topics including project and budget management, creativity and idea validation, marketing, evaluating success, and project sustainability planning.

The Community Changemaker program invites youth to develop projects that explore questions like: 

  • What programs or project would enrich youth experiences in Brantford?
  • How can we encourage feelings of belonging and inclusion for youth?
  • What barriers need to be removed in order to create more accessible and meaningful youth-led initiatives?
  • What dreams do youth have for the future of their communities?

Youth participants will be invited to pitch their idea to a panel of City of Brantford judges on Friday, March 15. All successful participants will receive a participation certificate from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Those interested in taking part can apply now at bit.ly/changemakers-youth-2024. The program is open to Grades 11 and 12 students (aged 16-18) and the deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 6, 2024 by 4:30 p.m. Registration is limited to 25 participants.

“We are thrilled to partner with Laurier to offer the Community Changemaker Program this March Break,” said Taylor Berzins, Community Initiatives Coordinator, City of Brantford. “This is an exciting opportunity for young people to collaborate and brainstorm youth-led projects and programming that will contribute to a more inclusive community.”

The Spring 2024 edition of Community Changemakers supports the City’s Empowering Youth Strategy and Inclusive Community Plan by fostering opportunities for youth to engage with themes of inclusion and be peer leaders in youth communities. The Youth Community Changemakers 2024 is funded by the Government of Canada’s Building Safer Communities Initiative to support youth well-being.

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Media Contact:

Chelsey Tobin | Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5048 | ctobin@brantford.ca