Our Insights

In 2020 after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor I was asked to participate in a Black Lives Matter rally in my hometown. When it was over, I – along with 3 other youth founders and our adult mentor, Vanessa Stoby – formed BYRyouth. My role in the organization has included using my experience in video editing, and my nature as being an optimistic outgoing public speaker. As a team, we use BYRyouth to tackle important issues affecting Black people in our education system and our community.

In grade 10, my civics teacher told me that “racism doesn’t exist in Canada.” That statement was ridiculous. The experiences I had growing up – from having “the talk” from my parents about how to safely carry myself in public, to being called “white” because I spoke well and was good in school were proof of that. BYRyouth is one way I work to change that kind of injustice at the educational and social level. Furthermore, I used my voice to network, organize events and speak at panel discussions to get more and more people involved in the organization and involved in making their own respective positive changes in their community. I saw that people responded to the information I was sharing and that allowed for real change that helps all of us.

Advocacy is an altruistic form of work. That’s something that I stand by and something I hope people understand. Being an advocate – from community leadership to politics – should always be unselfish. It’s a form of service that should be meant to benefit those who need it. Through advocacy we have an opportunity to listen; we educate ourselves on pressing issues; we learn from each other; we build and create; and we improve our own issues as well as the issues others may encounter. And then we act, implementing these issues to ensure growth and success individually and collaboratively.

I know I’m not perfect and I consider my imperfections and mistakes as challenges that I need to overcome to be the best person I can be. And I hope that other people will do the same. I advocate because I’m living proof that people can learn from their mistakes and change into someone who can do better, for themselves and for others.

There haven’t been many challenges that I’ve faced. I don’t keep track of the cons in my life. I always focus on using them as a building block to better myself. That incident with my teacher in grade 10 led to me taking up public speaking and advocacy work. I was told I was too young to

run a business and I once again proved people wrong when I launched my clothing company, 721 merch.ca. I always prove those who are against me wrong, and I use challenges as a way to accomplish my goals. My resilience is what allows me to overcome any challenge I encounter and never being afraid to ask for help (from parents, peers, and friends) is something I’m also proud of.

Q5: As a youth-led organization, BYR Youth is supported by a few adult mentors. What has the impact of mentoring and networking had on you, as an individual from a marginalized group?