KINGSTON, ON / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 – Organized by the Youth Out Loud Kingston & Area Youth Council (YOLK), this year’s annual Youth Summit will take place on Friday, May 27th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Memorial Hall, City Hall.
The Youth Council, supported and coordinated through the United Way, is made up of local youth who provide input into local initiatives, including youth homelessness. The Council has planned the summit to raise awareness on the issue of youth homelessness in our community. This follows the recent launch of a local education and awareness campaign, which is a key strategy to ending youth homelessness in Kingston and area.
The summit will include a short documentary video, produced by a grade 12 student and youth council member. The video is a compilation of personal stories told by local youth who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. The event will also offer youth some practical, interactive and fun breakout sessions on topics related to youth homelessness and youth employment.
“The reasons that youth become homeless are different than those of adults”, says Bhavana Varma, President & CEO, United Way of KFL&A. “1 in 3 people in Kingston shelters are made up of youth between the ages of 15-24 years. When compared to the national average of 1 in 5, we know local solutions need to be different in order to meet the needs of youth in our community.”
“The voices of youth throughout this project have reminded us of the courage and resiliency of youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” says Varma. “The summit is an opportunity for youth across our community to have their voice heard, and contribute to ending youth homelessness in Kingston and area.”
The summit is supported by the local school boards and the City of Kingston. A diverse group of local youth will participate, including youth from local high schools, alternative education, youth serving programs, and youth from the community.
About Youth Out Loud in Kingston & Area
The Youth Council is a committee of youth leaders from our community who come from local high schools, shelters, transitional housing programs and youth serving agencies. They provide the voice of youth by giving feedback and input to community initiatives related to youth.
For information on the plan to “End Youth Homelessness in Kingston & Area” visit: https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/programs/youth-homelessness/
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Media Contact:
Bhavana Varma, President & CEO, United Way of KFL&A
613-542-2674, ext. 1101, bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca
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