Trust 15 is a youth community support organization in Marcia Brown’s home community of Rexdale. Offering a safe and comforting environment for role models and mentorship, Trust 15 caters to boys and girls (age seven to 18) and their families. With a focus on the social and educational tools necessary to succeed in society, Brown fosters skills in leadership, while coaching self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. She is celebrated and awarded as a community leader, activist, and enabler.

Prior to COVID-19, Trust 15 entered into a partnership with two community agencies that would allow an increased reach within Rexdale, expanding programs to include more youth and children between the ages of 11-15. Trust 15 had plans to revamp their Summer Program into a more STEM and Music based platform. The aim was to allow access to different musical abilities and STEM-based learning for the youth whose regular curriculum had limited or zero proponents of those areas.

Talk about how your day-to-day operations have been impacted by COVID-19.

All of our programs have been cancelled as a result of COVID-19. We have had to let our placement students go early, without being able to express our appreciation in the traditional ways. Our kids and youth have been inquiring about a summer program, which has, for years, been an accessible alternative to expensive summer camps for parents. Our Summer Program is also usually a means for us to employ 6-10 area youth who face challenges when seeking employment. The loss of these has been deeply felt by our youth and children, and the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to keep this organization running.

What are you doing through these challenging times to remain engaged and continue to provide services to the individuals and communities you support through your work?

I have been in constant contact with the parents and the children throughout isolation. I am working on setting up a daily zoom call with different guests who will speak to the children and youth in an online version of our targeted mentorships. We are also looking into different online museum tours and explorations of different places, as we can use this time to create opportunities for cultural education. Staff is putting together some options that will allow us to maintain a connection with all of our kids and youth until the isolation is over.

How do you feel youth, in general, have been most significantly impacted by COVID-19?

For the younger ones, we know that there is a lot of longing for socialization. I am afraid for the children whose parents do not speak English as a first language, which may be struggling to keep up with online learning.

As much as youth are adaptable, there may be a lot of confusion on their part about exactly why this is all happening. Because many of our youth are from lower-income households, I worry about them having access to good food during these times.

Overall there are so many children and youth who need in-person instruction to learn, and I think they may be experiencing the greatest loss at this time.

What can we, as a community, do to help support those in need?

We can stand behind each other as a community. There are vulnerable people who may not appear vulnerable, and I believe it is our responsibility to look out for them. There is also the sad reality that incidents of domestic violence have risen since social isolation measures have started. I’m not sure how but there have to be services available to those who may need to escape terrible situations at this already stressful time. I think mental health should be considered for every single child and young person, but also for the parents who are unaccustomed to being responsible for the education of these young ones. This society has placed so much emphasis on being productive and staying busy that a forced slowdown may have a detrimental effect on how people are viewing themselves and their worth, and these all need to be addressed. Counselling services, helplines that can be manned from home offices, or even a ‘Quarantine Buddy’ system may keep people feeling connected.

Are there any other initiatives you are a part of in support of COVID-19 relief efforts?

I have been personally arranging for families in need of extra income to be given mask-making kits; I have also connected many families with supplies like rice and personal care items.

What uplifting message or advice would you like to share with the Humber community and the community at large to help navigate these unprecedented times?

Remember that your worth as a human being is NOT dependent on how much you are contributing to anything. Check in on each other in unintrusive ways. Check on your neighbours every now and then. Be kind to yourselves and each other. Give yourself a break. Give your kids a break; this is all new for them too.

To the kids and youth, I say hang in there and spend as much time reading as you can. Try to do at least two hours of schoolwork a day. Be patient with your parents; they are trying their best. It is okay to be scared or anxious, write about it, paint about it, sing about it.

Stay safe. Things will get better.