BYR Youth Leadership Conference

Where? BMO IFL Flagship Learning and Collaboration Space (3550 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, ON M1W 3Z3)

When? Saturday, June 18, 2022 10:00 am - 4:00 pm & Sunday, June 19, 2022 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Who? Black youth and allies across the York Region and the Greater Toronto Area

What? The BYR Youth Leadership Conference is designed for Black youth and allies across the York Region and the Greater Toronto Area to address anti-Black racism. Throughout this conference, youth will be given opportunities to network with others and attend workshops about various topics, such as BSAs, public speaking, mental health, intersectionality, discrimination, poetry, career tips, and more.

Why? The conference will create a stage for youth voices to be heard by youth with have similar aspirations while inspiring politicians and policymakers and those who are there to learn. Youth will become better activists, empowering them to bring their ideas into reality. More change will be made through youth, as they will be given the tools to help better their own schools and communities.

How? You can register for the conference by clicking the button below.

Black York Region Youth (BYR Youth) was founded in 2020 by four youth named Sydney Baxter, Cameron Davis, Rachel Cheng, and Hannah Mullings-Tatum, plus District 16-OSSTF teacher Vanessa Stoby. This organization was founded with the purpose of dismantling anti-Black racism, systemic racism, anti-Indigenous hate, and discrimination in all of its forms within York Region and its surrounding communities. Thanks to this group's incredible team of youth, allies, and adult mentors, they have been able to accomplish milestones. From over half a thousand followers on Instagram to speaking on CBC Radio, BYR Youth does it all.

What do we do?

BYR Youth strives to create positive change within communities across York Region through advocacy, education and our commitment as youth to combat anti-Black racism in all of its forms.

• Advocate for Black youth and families in York Region.
• Educate York Region communities on addressing anti-Black racism.
• Commit to actions that dismantle the systems perpetuating anti-Black racism.
• Hold people accountable for their strategies to combat anti-Black racism. These people include: educators, administrators, school board trustees, system leaders, politicians, community leaders, and allies.
• Uplift Black youth voices, as well as the voices of other marginalized groups, across underserved sectors, such as schools, jobs and media.