$1.39 M Youth Opportunities Fund helped craft a successful pathway for Black youth to engage better with employment, education and training

June 27, 2025

Scarborough, ON – On Friday, June 27, MPP Raymond Cho met with representatives from TAIBU Community Health Centre to hear from them about the impact of a $1,387,000 Youth Opportunities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has enabled it to craft a better and successful pathway for Black youth who are not engaged with employment, education and training (aka NEET youth). The project began when the group received its six-year OTF grant in early 2019.

“I’m proud to celebrate the outstanding work of TAIBU Community Health Centre and the vital support provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to Black youth in Scarborough and beyond. Over the past six years, this initiative has helped identify and dismantle barriers to education and employment, setting a powerful example of how collaboration and lived experience can drive lasting change. Investing in our youth is investing in the future of Ontario, and I look forward to continuing to work with TAIBU to build on the positive impact of this important work.” – Dr. Raymond Cho, MPP for Scarborough North

Funds from the grant were used to develop the From to School Success Pipeline (FSSP) project, which worked with Black youth, parents/ caregivers and community stakeholders across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The program examined the root causes of Black youth disengagement from education, employment and other supportive systems which tend to lead to situations that put them at risk of being in contact with the law and the criminal justice system. The FSSP project’s objective was to counteract the systems impact that leads Black youth to what is traditionally known as the ‘school to prison pipeline’.

“The From School to Success Project has engaged Black youth, parents, caregivers and collaborating stakeholders with the aim of crafting a pathway for Black youth for success in education, employment and training. We are grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the support and collaboration in implementing these important systems change initiative. We also want to express our sincere thanks to the Black youth who have trusted us with their stories and life experiences; with the parents and caregivers who have shared their struggles and their strengths and of course the collaborating partners – Black Creek CHC, Rexdale CHC, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, Hamilton Urban Core CHC, and
CEE Centre for Young Professionals.” – Liben Gebremikael, CEO TAIBU CHC

As a system change project, FSSP used the grant to build frameworks and strategies to move forward with this innovative program, developing new ideas that will help create possibilities for Black youth to have culturally affirming support and improved experience in the education system. Over the last few years, the project looked at enhancing the capacity of parents and caregivers so that they will be better positioned to support their children and youth. The project also recommended innovative ideas and models that were tested during the project implementation to community organizations and stakeholders.