Get your ideas funded!
Agents of Change - Have Ideas for Health Initiatives? Get your Ideas Funded!
Do you want to improve health and living conditions in the community? Agents of Change offers the mentorship, connections, and funding you need to turn your ideas into reality!
The Agents of Change Program at York University aims to support innovative student-led community initiatives that uniquely address the Social Determinants of Health and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program offers students start-up funding, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
If you have any questions regarding the Agents of Change Program, please email scchelp@yorku.ca.
25+
Student Start-Ups
12+
Social Determinants of Health Addressed
7+
UN Sustainable Development Goals Supported
100+
Currently Involved Members
Agents of Change Mission Statement
“We are agents of change for health, transforming lives, communities, systems and the world.”
About us
The Agents of Change Program was established by an alumni donor in 2013, driven by the goals to promote applied learning opportunities and develop students' transferable skills. A project-based learning approach is adapted by the program to foster students’ engagement to real-world problems through their personal, community-oriented, and health-related initiatives—their very own “Agents of Change Project”. Applications to the program open in early summer of each school year, the projects run in a year-long timeline that begins in August and ends in May of every year.
Nine years on, the program has achieved noteworthy outcomes and impact through 25 student-led initiatives focused on meeting the health-related needs of vulnerable or marginalized community members. Past Agents of Change initiatives have covered a broad range of categories, including supporting physical and mental health, gender inequity in health leadership, and homelessness.
The current Agents of Change projects are innovative in addressing SDH and are actively participating in achieving the UN SDG. Check out our projects and their project-specific SDH and UN SDG below!
Black Students Mentorship Program (BSMP)
- Income
- Education and Working Conditions
- Social Safety Networks
- Gender
- Social Exclusion
- Race
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
10. Reduced Inequality
Period to Period Poverty
- Income
- Education
- Gender
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
5. Gender Equality
10. Reduced Inequalities
Discover You
- Unemployment and Job Security
4. Quality Education
Empowering Women in Health (EWIH)
- Gender
- Education
- Health Services
- Social Safety Networks
- Race
- Disability
- Indigenous Ancestry
3. Good Health and Well-Being
5. Gender Equality
10. Reduce Inequality
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Lingua Franca
- Education
- Social Safety Network
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequality
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
- Education
- Social Safety Network
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
The Academic Wellness Project (TAWP)
- Education
- Social Safety Network
4. Quality Education
Toronto Tooth
- Income
- Health Services
- Social Exclusion
- Housing
1. No Poverty
3. Good Health and Well-Being
10. Reduced Inequality
16. Peace, Justice and String Institution
Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE)
- Education
- Employment and Working Conditions
- Health Services
- Social Exclusion
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequality
Agents of Change Information Sessions 2023-2024 – TBD
AGENTS OF CHANGE INFORMATION SESSIONS 2022-2023 – June 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 2022
Agents of Change - Have Ideas for Health Initiatives? Get your Ideas Funded!
Do you want to improve health and living conditions in the community?
Agents of Change offers the mentorship, connections, and funding you need to turn your ideas into reality!
The Agents of Change Program at York Universityaims to support innovative student-led community initiatives that uniquely address the Social Determinants of Health and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program offers students start-up funding, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
To help students prepare their applications, we will be facilitating a series of information sessions. By attending a session students will:
- be introduced to the application proposal and the process of submission
- learn how to strengthen your project proposal
- learn about the funding available for Agents of Change projects (up to $500 for each project)
If you wish to learn more about the program and the application process, attend our Information Sessions:
- Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 1:30PM-2:30 PM
- Wednesday, June 15, 2022 from 1:00PM-2:00PM
- Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 1:00PM-2:00PM
- Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 3:30PM-4:30PM
- Monday, June 27, 2022 from 5:00PM-6:00PM
- A recording will also be available on our website.
RSVP HERE: https://tinyurl.com/ApplyAgents22
Please visit https://www.yorku.ca/colleges/ccsc/agents-of-change/for program details. If you have any questions regarding the Agents of Change Program, please email scchelp@yorku.ca.
CALUMET AND STONG COLLEGES PRESENT: AGENTS OF CHANGE EXPO 2022
The Agents of Change Program supports students in creating community-oriented initiatives that address the social determinants of health and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through provision of seed-funding, networking opportunities, and mentorship.
The purpose of this event is to bring together students, Peer Leaders, alumni, staff, and other active community members together to learn about and network with the Agents of Change projects for 2021-2022. The Agents of Change Expo 2022 will also be an opportunity to learn about the impact of the current Agents of Change projects in the community, as well as their successes, challenges, and future direction.
For those interested in applying for the Agents of Change program, this will be an opportunity for you to interact with project leads, learn about Agents of Change projects, crystallize your thoughts, and ask questions to Agents of Change Program staff and current project leads.
At the Agents of Change Expo, you will have the opportunity to connect with the following:
- Black Student Mentorship Program (BSMP), led by Amanda Nkeramihigo & Edman Abukar
- Discover You, led by Concetta Barranca & Esterina Stella Batti
- Empowering Women in Health (EWIH), led by Tatiana Espinosa
- The Academic Wellness Project, led by Dema Talib
- Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE), led by Parmin Rahimpoor-Marnani, Mohamed Elsayed Elghobashy, Dorsa Shakeri & Amireza Goli
- Lingua Franca, led by Farwa Arshad & Kaye Canoy
- Luminate Mental Health Conference Series, led by Gwyneth Campbell
- Period to Period Poverty, led by Pukky Oluwapelumi Fambegbe
- TorontoTooth, led by Dayana Davoudi
Date: June 8th, 2022 Time: 6:00-9:00PM
Location: Founders College Room 152 (Founder's Assembly Hall).
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/AgentsExpo20
To ensure the safety of attendees, we will be following York University safety procedures as they relate to Covid-19. As a requirement to attend the event, we will ask all attendees to complete the YU-Screen Tool prior to entering the building. A registration volunteer will confirm your PASSED screening results before allowing you entry into Room 152.
The YU Screen Tool can be found here.
York University's Mask Mandate will be followed. For more information on York University Covid-19 Guidelines, visit York Better Together.
Registration is free. Advanced registration is mandatory.
In case of changes in York University Policy regarding in-person events or other emergency situations, the event may be shifted to a virtual format. Calumet and Stong Colleges staff will update you in regard to any changes.
CALUMET AND STONG COLLEGES PRESENT: AGENTS OF CHANGE EXPO 2021
To celebrate the journey and achievements of the 2020/21 Agents of Change Cohort, Calumet and Stong Colleges (CCSC) hosted the Agents of Change Expo Ceremony, held on May 26th, 2021. The Expo brought together students, Peer Leaders, alumni, staff, and other active community members together to learn about and network with the Agents of Change projects for 2020-2021. The Agents of Change Expo 2021 was also an opportunity to learn about the impact of the Agents of Change projects in the community, as well as their successes, challenges, and future direction.
At the Agents of Change Expo, the following projects presented:
- Discover You, led by Concetta Barranca and Mohammed Elghobashy
- Empowering Women in Health, led by Tatiana Espinosa-Merlano
- Humans in Progress, led by Haniah Saleem
- Luminate Mental Health Conference Series, led by Rupkatha Basu and Gwyneth Campbell
- TorontoTooth, led by Dayana Davoudi
- ZEAL, led by Sarah Labib.
Date: May 26th, 2021 Time: 6:00-8:00PM
Click here to watch the full event and hear from project leads on their journey with Agents of Change!
The Agents of Change Program was selected to present a panel presentation at York University's Teaching in Focus Conference 2021, which occurred on May 10th and 11th, 2021. The panel includes Agents of Change Project Leads, CCSC staff, College Heads and key stakeholders. With the transition to a virtual environment, the panel discussed how the Agents of Change program supported Project Leads in addressing community health issues and how Agent of Change projects were able to make an impact in the communities they were serving.
Panelists: Abdulkhader Mohammed, Kaysie Ngo, Dayana Davoudi, Rupkatha Basu, Gwyneth Campbell, Tatiana Espinosa, Mohamed Elghobashy, Julie Castle, Professor Jennine Rawana, Professor Mazen J Hamadeh .
This October, the Agents of Change Program is excited to announce our Fall/Winter 2020-2021 Agents of Change Cycle. From a pool of many incredibly impressive, thoughtful, and competitive applicants, the Adjudication Committee has selected four projects to be the recipient of the program’s funding. They are, in alphabetical order:
(1) Empower Women Empower Women, led by Tatiana Espinosa-Merlano, aims to celebrate the achievements of female leaders in the field of Health, for International Women’s Day.
(2) Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, co-led by Gwyneth Campbell and Rupkatha Basu, aims to connect York students with research related to mental health and wellness.
(3) TorontoTooth, led by Dayana Davoudi, aims to provide homeless youth at the Kennedy House with oral hygiene products.
(4) ZEAL, led by Sarah Labib, aims to bridge the gap between first-generation students with resources such as peer support groups, and provide a safe space for them to express their academic and mental health challenges.
The project teams have undergone training on September 26th and are now progressing into their first step of launching their initiatives. Congratulations to all project members and we wish you the best of luck!
On October 3rd, 2019, Calumet and Stong Colleges invited members of the York Community to attend the Agents of Change Community Consultation. At the consultation, community members reviewed the program and past projects, discussed the strengths, challenges and the future direction of Agents of Change.
Participants included former Agents of Change Leads as well as current students, peer leaders, staff, faculty, alumni, Fellows and other active members of the community.
The consultation provided important recommendations for the Agents of Change program moving forward. For more information regarding the consultation or the recommendations, please email: abdulk@yorku.ca.
For more information on the Agents of Change program, feel free to email scchelp@yorku.ca.
Agents of Change Program Updates: November 2021
This November, the Agents of Change Program is excited to announce our Fall/Winter 2021-2022 Agents of Change Cycle. From a pool of many incredibly impressive, thoughtful, and competitive applicants, the Adjudication Committee has selected nine projects to be the recipient of the program’s funding. They are, in alphabetical order:
Black Student Mentorship Program (BSMP)
Co-led by Amanda Nkeramihigo and Edman Abukar. Aims to address and remediate the demonstrably persistent lack of Black representation in the population makeup of graduate students and professionals in health-related studies and professions.
Discover You
Led by Concetta Barranca and Esterina Stella Batti. Aims to provide graduating high school students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, interview, and professional development skills through online interactive workshops led by undergraduate Peer Coaches.
Empowering Women In Health (EWIH)
Led by Tatiana Espinosa-Merlano. Aims to rewrite female leadership and celebrate the achievements of female leaders in the field of health and ultimately, empowering the next generation women.
Lingua Franca
Co-led by Farwa Arshad and Kaye Canoy. Aims to create a sense of belongingness and self-esteem in ESL students who experience difficulty interacting in an English-speaking environment by ensuring that ESL students feel comfortable and confident communicating in English in different workplace and academic settings.
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
Co-led by Gwyneth Campbell and Samantha Mason. Aims to promote undergraduate student mental health by connecting York students with research related to mental health and wellness.
Period to Period Poverty
Led by Pukky Oluwapelumi Fambegbe. Aims to reduce stigmatization of menstrual cycles, campaign and advocate ending period poverty and distribute free accessible products for all menstruating individuals.
The Academic Wellness Project (TAWP)
Led by Dema Talib. Aims to improve the academic wellness of postsecondary students pursuing a degree, by hosting interactive and evidence-based workshops addressing student perceptions around academic wellness.
TorontoTooth
Led by Dayana Davoudi. Aims to provide oral hygiene products to individuals experiencing homelessness during the Fall and Winter terms of 2021-2022.
Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE)
Led by Parmin Rahimpoor-Marnani. Aims to support students in their pursuit of research opportunities by developing and offering an annual summit workshop for students to hone and develop their research skills and provide students with the opportunity to engage with their own research through an annual conference.
Conversations on South Asian Mental Health (COSAMH)
Led by Nusrat Iftikhar
COSAMH is a student-led initiative focused on building a platform where South Asian mental health experiences and perspectives are explored in relation to existing psychological based research.
Mission & Vision
COSAMH aims to destigmatize mental health stigma and discrimination prevalent in the South Asian community/cultures through workshops and discussion panels. Our central goal is to empower and represent South Asian individuals’ lived experiences. Which will be by deconstructing general misconceptions and stigma within South Asian circles and highlighting the importance of mental well being through education and proactive discussion.
We aim to raise awareness and empower prospective South Asian mental health advocates and professionals. Further, bridge the gap in psychological research to subjective experiences, attitudes and values of South Asian individuals.
Health & Exercise for Accessible Living (HEAL)
Led by Dayana Davoudi & Sepehr BaghaeiDowlatabadi
Coming soon!
Mission & Vision
Coming soon!
Lingua Franca
Co-Led by Farwa Arshad & Kaye Canoy
Lingua Franca is a project created by former ESL students to support the learning and professional development of current and former ESL students at York University. Lingua Franca translates to a universal language of communication, which in our communities, is the English language.
Mission & Vision
Aims to create a sense of belongingness and self-esteem in ESL students by providing a platform for students to enhance their communication and public speaking skills along with a space to practice their leadership skills and ultimately helping them to feel more confident in both professional and academic settings.
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
Co-Led by Gwyneth Campbell, & Samantha Mason
Luminate is an entirely student-run initiative based in York University, Toronto. The initiative is centered in promoting undergraduate student mental health by taking a psychoeducational approach to making research more accessible to a diverse audience.
Mission & Vision
Aims to bridge the gap between academia and practice by disseminating evidence-based strategies and creating meaningful discussions around the applicability of current research to improve student mental health awareness and well-being.
TorontoTooth
Led by Dayana Davoudi
TorontoTooth is a student-led initiative that is structured to implement a preventative approach against oral health maladies in the unhoused population of GTA.
Mission & Vision
Aims to provide oral hygiene products to homeless children, at-risk youth, and underprivileged women, during the Fall and Winter terms of 2021-2022 and promotes improvement of oral health in individuals who do not have proper access to oral hygiene products or dental care. Specifically, TorontoTooth aims to provide 1500 toothbrushes, 1500 tubes of personal-sized toothpaste, and 900 Ziploc bags to the Kennedy House organization, The Scott Mission, Good Shepherd Ministries, and North York Women’s shelter (NYWS).
Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE)
Co-Led by Parmin Rahimpoor-Marnani, Mohamed Elsayed Elghobashy, Dorsa Shakeri & Amireza Goli
Primary Contact: Dorsa Shakeri & Amireza Goli
UHRE promotes inclusiveness in a research context by helping Faculty of Health students, particularly those who have experienced systemic barriers, in multiple areas of research placement obtainment at York University and beyond.
Mission & Vision
Aims to support students in their pursuit of research opportunities by developing and offering an annual summit workshop for students to hone and develop their research skills and provide students with the opportunity to engage with their own research through an annual conference.
Black Students Mentorship Program (BSMP)
Co-Led by Amanda Nkeramihigo & Edman Abukar
The Black Student Mentorship Programs’ (BSMP) aims to address and remediate the demonstrably persistent lack of Black representation in the population makeup of graduate students and professionals in health-related studies and professions.
Mission & Vision
The goal of BSMP is to establish mentorship and a safe and supportive environment, education, and community for black undergraduate students across the Faculty of Health connecting them to each other and to black graduate students, alumni, scholars, and professionals in the field of health.
BSMP envisions an increase in confidence, access, and capacity for black students to pursue higher education and/or employment in health-related professions. Ultimately, BSMP sees an increase in diversity in research and innovation streams and other professional fields.
Discover You
Co-Led by Concetta Barranca & Esterina Stella Batti
Discover You project is aimed at fostering leadership, communication, professional development, interview, and interpersonal skills in undergraduate and high school students as they continue paving their academic and practical pathways.
Mission & Vision
Aims to provide graduating high school students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, interview, and professional development skills through online interactive workshops led by undergraduate Peer Coaches. Discover You Program strives to provide students with an opportunity to connect with undergraduate Peer Coaches and engage in activities to enhance their confidence when applying for jobs/volunteer/research positions.
con24@my.yorku.ca & stella07@my.yorku.ca
School partnership within Canada and USA: kahssoyu@gmail.com
Student participation: kahssodiscoveryou@gmail.com
Empowering Women in Health (EWIH)
Led by Tatiana Espinosa-Merlano
Empowering Women In Health (EWIH) is a student female-run team consisting of members from diverse backgrounds who share an unfaltering belief that regardless of educational, societal or biological background, health affects all of us - and thus, equal representation and unbiased treatment is crucial in this field.
Mission & Vision
Mission: Rewriting female leadership in health
Vision: Connecting and Empowering Female Health Leaders of Tomorrow
Values: courage, impact, connectivity, leadership, empowerment, diversity, and inclusion
Lingua Franca
Co-Led by Farwa Arshad & Kaye Canoy
Lingua Franca is a project created by former ESL students to support the learning and professional development of current and former ESL students at York University. Lingua Franca translates to a universal language of communication, which in our communities, is the English language.
Mission & Vision
Aims to create a sense of belongingness and self-esteem in ESL students by providing a platform for students to enhance their communication and public speaking skills along with a space to practice their leadership skills and ultimately helping them to feel more confident in both professional and academic settings.
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
Co-Led by Gwyneth Campbell, & Samantha Mason
Luminate is an entirely student-run initiative based in York University, Toronto. The initiative is centered in promoting undergraduate student mental health by taking a psychoeducational approach to making research more accessible to a diverse audience.
Mission & Vision
Aims to bridge the gap between academia and practice by disseminating evidence-based strategies and creating meaningful discussions around the applicability of current research to improve student mental health awareness and well-being.
Period to Period Poverty
Led by Pukky Oluwapelumi Fambegbe
Period to Period Poverty is a student-led initiative that aims to create awareness about period poverty, distribute menstrual products to menstruating individuals experiencing homelessness, and campaign for free accessible menstrual products for all.
Mission & Vision
Aims to reduce stigmatization of menstrual cycles, campaign and advocate ending period poverty and distribute free accessible products for all menstruating individuals to populations who are experiencing homelessness and/or persons where lack of income becomes a barrier in managing their menstrual cycle.
The Academic Wellness Project (TAWP)
Led by Dema Talib
TAWP is a student-led initiative that promotes student academic wellbeing by increasing their understanding of the applications of Academic Integrity.
Mission & Vision
The project aims to improve the academic wellness of postsecondary students pursuing a degree, in addition to high-school students in the Jane-Finch community through the enhancement of the perceptions and knowledge of first-year undergraduate students at York University regarding academic integrity, considering the resulting implications for both academic progress and mental well-being.
TorontoTooth
Led by Dayana Davoudi
TorontoTooth is a student-led initiative that is structured to implement a preventative approach against oral health maladies in the unhoused population of GTA.
Mission & Vision
Aims to provide oral hygiene products to homeless children, at-risk youth, and underprivileged women, during the Fall and Winter terms of 2021-2022 and promotes improvement of oral health in individuals who do not have proper access to oral hygiene products or dental care. Specifically, TorontoTooth aims to provide 1500 toothbrushes, 1500 tubes of personal-sized toothpaste, and 900 Ziploc bags to the Kennedy House organization, The Scott Mission, Good Shepherd Ministries, and North York Women’s shelter (NYWS).
Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE)
Co-Led by Parmin Rahimpoor-Marnani, Mohamed Elsayed Elghobashy, Dorsa Shakeri & Amireza Goli
Primary Contact: Dorsa Shakeri & Amireza Goli
UHRE promotes inclusiveness in a research context by helping Faculty of Health students, particularly those who have experienced systemic barriers, in multiple areas of research placement obtainment at York University and beyond.
Mission & Vision
Aims to support students in their pursuit of research opportunities by developing and offering an annual summit workshop for students to hone and develop their research skills and provide students with the opportunity to engage with their own research through an annual conference.
TorontoTooth
At TorontoTooth, we aim to provide the Homeless youth community of Toronto with oral hygiene supplies. Our goal is to improve the health of our city by making oral hygiene accessible to those who cannot afford it but need it most. We strive to raise awareness about income-related inequalities in dental care in Ontario and help our community stand for social justice.
Connect with TorontoTooth
Empowering Women in Health
It is a project that aims to empower female university students studying in the field of health into becoming leaders in their field. By empowering students into changing future practices of gender and social exclusion and recognizing key figures in the field of health, this project will foster self-reflexivity, and calls on society itself for action - provoking real change.
Connect with Empowering Women in Health
empoweringwomeninhealth@gmail.com
Zeal
ZEAL is an online platform that hosts weekly virtual peer support groups for first-generation students, as well as customized information packages for mature students and Indigenous students.
Our vision is to be an effective service that helps support overlooked groups of the next generation of York University students, researchers, and leaders by providing consultations where we will equip students with tailored resources and plans to help them maximize their potential.
Our goal is to tackle some of the unique challenges faced by our target audience in a safe space that upholds our community values such as respect, empathy and inclusivity.
Connect with Zeal
zealquantum@gmail.com
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
Luminate Mental Health Conference Series (LMHCS) is a student-led initiative aimed to support mental health on campus. Our mission is to develop a conference series, which will include multiple interactive, evidence-based workshops and a larger student-centric academic conference.
Our workshops focus on key facets of student mental health and offer practical skills and resources that are grounded in recent psychological research findings. Our March 2021 culminating conference is an opportunity for students to share their research projects, learn from faculty and other experts, and build a stronger sense of community among their peers.
Connect with Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
Humans in Progress (HIP)
is an organization that aims to create positive social change by providing hands-on workshops and training programs on leadership and meaningful living to young leaders across the GTA. In July 2020, HIP implemented their first Leadership for Positive Social Change Summit including workshops on Exploring Meaningful Living, Building Meaningful Connections, Resilience, and Authenticity using skills-building activities and psychological research to empower participants from across the GTA to live meaningfully and lead responsibly.
Connect with Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
humansinprogressteam@gmail.com
Discover You
The Discover You program provides graduating high school students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, interview and professional development skills through online interactive workshops led by undergraduate Peer Coaches.
Connect with Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
For School Partnership within Canada and USA, please email: kahssoyu@gmail.com
For Student Participation, please email: kahssodiscoveryou@gmail.com
Humans in Progress (HIP)
is an organization that aims to create positive social change by providing hands-on workshops and training programs on leadership and meaningful living to young leaders across the GTA. In July 2020, HIP implemented their first Leadership for Positive Social Change Summit including workshops on Exploring Meaningful Living, Building Meaningful Connections, Resilience, and Authenticity using skills-building activities and psychological research to empower participants from across the GTA to live meaningfully and lead responsibly.
Connect with Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
humansinprogressteam@gmail.com
Discover You
The Discover You program provides graduating high school students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, interview and professional development skills through online interactive workshops led by undergraduate Peer Coaches.
Connect with Luminate Mental Health Conference Series
For School Partnership within Canada and USA, please email: kahssoyu@gmail.com
For Student Participation, please email: kahssodiscoveryou@gmail.com
Ascend
Focuses on providing a space for youth to develop their leadership skills through a three day conference setting. The conference will tackle areas of leadership through interactive and engaging sessions, while also providing a social setting for delegates to connect with one another.
Regiftcard Program (Fix the 6ix)
Focuses on tackling issues related to homelessness through the collection of unused giftcards to provide individuals needing relief with staples, such as food and clothing, encouraging agency and giving back to the community. Learn more!
Creating Ordinary Into Legendary (COIL)
Focuses on teaching highschool students personal writing skills as a means of expressing themselves. The program will feature opportunities for students to share their writing and collaborate with peers. For more information about this project, please email scchelp@yorku.ca.
The Youth Exercise Project
Focuses on promoting and encouraging students at the primary school level to engage in physical activity through fun and interactive activities, facilitated by university students.
Recent studies have shown that nearly 1 in 3 children in Canada are overweight or obese.
In order to get kids healthy and active, the Youth Exercise Project (YEP) was created by two York University Students. YEP has been visiting elementary schools in order to teach students about the benefits of exercise.
The goal of the Youth Exercise Project is to teach young adults about the value of exercise by bringing exciting equipment and interactive lessons to Physical Education classes. The program was met with praise and appreciation from educators in several schools. Almost 1000 students ranging from grades 4-8 have participated in the program, which works individually with classes in the school gymnasium throughout the school day.
Principles at all five schools were amazed with the success of the initiative, indicated by their requests to have the project return in the coming school year. The program has grown from a single school to interest from a variety of elementary schools in the GTA.
The organization sees its real success in its ability to place a focus on the importance of physical education for the institutions it has visited. Based in Barrie and Markham the YEP has created an important impact on the youth of these cities. Additionally, the Youth Exercise Project will be working with Scouts Canada groups in the coming months.
For more information, please contact: James Hutchinson or Khalad Maliyar
Email: youthexerciseproject@gmail.com
Loving Minds
Focuses on providing students with strategies that they can incorporate in their daily life to prevent anxiety and depression. Activities included yoga, expressive arts therapy, expressive dance, and meditation.
Depression and anxiety are a prevalent problem on university campuses across Canada. Mental health issues arise frequently due to the many new experiences and challenges faced by students. The Loving Minds campaign zeroed in on these matters at the York University Keele campus by providing students with strategies that they can incorporate into their daily routine to prevent depression and anxiety and increase the quality of their lives as well as their university experience.
The Loving Minds campaign was run during Frosh 2015 on Keele campus. A variety of activities aimed at tackling the effects of anxiety and depression were offered at various locations on campus, for frosh participants and frosh bosses. Activities included a morning yoga session, a meditation & breathing workshop, an expressive arts mural and workshop, and a dynamic movement dance workshop.
Feedback from participants was fantastic, and students noted that they had a chance to relax and de-stress during the very hectic frosh week schedule.
For more information, please contact: Eda Mucaj
Email: eda89@my.yorku.ca
Website: http://lovingminds.weebly.com/
Nothin' But Change
Focuses on raising awareness and reducing the stigma of homelessness on the York University Keele Campus. The program's main initiative is fundraising for organizations with a core focus on alleviating homelessness, by selling customized t-shirts to students and staff on campus.
Nothin’ But Change is a project at York university which is organized by three students who have a desire to better the housing situation in the greater Toronto area.
Their mission is to raise awareness about homelessness in the GTA and accrue funds to help people experiencing homelessness. While it is important that the project is able to help the cause of homelessness, the team places great importance on making sure that their project is sustainable for many years to come, and will empower people to make a difference against homelessness. In all, the vision is to provide leadership and support to end homelessness.
Specifically, the project involves selling custom American Apparel t-shirts on which the Nothin' But Change trademarked logo is printed. The team chose to go with American Apparel, out of all brands, because they valued quality and knew that the company has a sweat-shop free history. As well, Nothin' But Change has partnered with 360Kids, Raising The Roof and the Homelessness hub to sell socks and toques as part of an annual toque campaign.
In the future, the team envisions the creation of a ratified club at York University for Nothin’ But Change and hope to start chapters in other universities as well. Throughout the year, they plan to organize events which are built around their mission and vision.
For more information please contact: hello@nothinbutchange.com
Autism Teenage Partnership
Focuses on providing accessible, free and safe places for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder to express themselves through the use of social activities. ATP operates in the Greater Toronto Area.
As an older brother of someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Janson Chan had witnessed first-hand the struggles that a family endures to live seemingly normal lives. It was difficult to see his younger brother struggle with navigating high school, social isolation, making friends, and the cruel bullying and exclusion. Oftentimes, Janson would discuss with his family about how to address his brother's current and future needs to allow him to thrive and achieve his full potential. Autism Teenage Partnership was established to address those needs and is described as a labour of love to families and siblings living with ASD in our communities and beyond.
According to Autism Speaks Canada, ASD is a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 84 Canadians and the economic burden is $60,000 a year for every individual with ASD. The adolescent years are known to be a very difficult time as is, but teenagers diagnosed with ASD may have difficulty communicating with others, and as a result are socially isolated, bullied, and have trouble relating to the outside world. ATP's social programming aids in developing independence and positive social skills that enhance attendees quality of life and can potentially have long-term impacts.
Autism Teenage Partnership (ATP) is a non-profit initiative dedicated to providing accessible, free, and safe places for teens with ASD to express themselves through games, crafts, and team-building activities. ATP is an organization that aims to create systemic changes in the immediate community and beyond. ATP brings together student volunteers from various professional disciplines to support teens and their families by delivering weekly social programming to address their unique needs. In partnership with Autism Ontario, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, York University, Community Living, and local community associations, Autism Teenage Partnership has been successfully operating three locations in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Richmond Hill with over 100+ registered participants and 35+ volunteers. Through free and accessible programs, ATP is able to directly address the needs of individuals diagnosed with ASD, and their families. The financial support through grants and personal donations allow families to rely on a permanent community support program for no to little cost.
Since ATP started about one year ago, they have been featured in Maclean’s Magazine, and have been awarded a grant through the Laidlaw Foundation in their Youth-Led Community Change Program. With the increasing visibility and early success of ATP, the program hopes to fulfill their vision to expand across Canada through community-based programming to address and support families with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
For more information, please contact: Janson Chan
Email: janson.chan1@gmail.com
Positivity! Pass it On
Focuses on increasing social cohesion on York University's Keele campus and changing perceptions of mental health issues. The project achieves this through giving out bracelets with the intention of spreading compliments and positive messages.
Positivity! Pass It On is a student lead project on York University Keele Campus, that works towards increasing social cohesion on campus and changing the general perception of mental health issues from being an individual problem to a social problem Positivity! Pass It On was a recipient of the Agents of Change grant, for the 2013-2014 year, and took place during the fall of the 2014 year, on the Keele Campus.
The initiative was very simple; give out 2000 orange Positivity! Pass It On bracelets to people on campus. When an individual receives a bracelet they are charged with yet another simple task, finding and complimenting another individual, to give the bracelet to. The project further provided information about mental health issues and tackled the reduction of the social stigma associated with mental health issues. The bracelets were handed out over the course of two weeks, and the project received a lot of buzz on social media, from Twitter to Facebook.
PPON was a great success on campus, and proved that appreciating or complimenting someone can make a person’s day better. Although the project focused on small gestures, those gestures had a large impact on the people involved.
PPON has ended, and is no longer running, but the initiative was able to use its Agents of Change funding to successfully plan, run, and complete their project, leaving a lasting effect on the York community.
Y File - York University 's Journal of Record
"Looking for a mentorship program that is geared towards the Black undergraduate student experience in the Faculty of Health? The Black Students Mentorship Program (BSMP) offers Black students mentorship opportunities, resources for academic, personal and professional development..."
Excalibur
For organizations like Black Students Mentorship Program (BSMP), TorontoTooth, and Period to Period Poverty, the Agents of Change program provides the platform to “create grassroot level impact within the wider community”. 92 percent of the Agents of Change program’s current project leaders are women from diverse backgrounds and the program provides them leadership, empowerment and a community to thrive…
Y File - York University 's Journal of Record
The Empowering Women In Health (EWIH) initiative and the York International Global Peer Program is delivering an International Women’s Day Panel featuring the women leaders in the health field. “Join in to celebrate women’s leadership in health, network with our panel of distinguished leaders in the field, and learn about how to start changing the existing inequities in this gendered field”.
The Torontoist Blog
"Lentini, a York University health science student, started asking for gift cards from her friends and family, and was overwhelmed by the positive response. She then applied for, and received, seed funding from the university’s faculty of health to start a full-fledged grassroots organization.."
Metro Morning on CBC Radio
Featuring Deanna Lentini of the Regiftcard program, discussing her project and her charity FixThe6ix. To listen to Deanna's section of the broadcast please listen from 14.38 minutes to 18.03 minutes.
Toronto Metro News
“Homelessness is not a choice,” the York University health sciences student said. “It happens to someone who is at the mercy of the system, and that’s why we need to fix it.”
Toronto Star
For Arthur Mercer, 18, this program does more than just help him make friends; it gives him something to do. “It gets me out of the house,” he said. Mercer, diagnosed with ASD, considers himself high-functioning and can drive on his own...
