Youth community organization Trust 15 simply wouldn’t be as effective if it wasn’t for the education its founder and executive director Marcia Brown received at Humber Polytechnic.

Each week, Trust 15 Youth Community Support Organization opens its doors to 275 youth in the Rexdale and North Etobicoke community through its multiple after-school drop-in programs. The organization provides a safe, nurturing space for young people to discuss and find solutions to real life issues surrounding self-esteem, conflict-resolution, abuse, violence, peer pressure and family life.  

“My mission is to change people’s lives and to give them opportunities they never had and that’s where Trust 15 comes in,” said Brown. “Without the education I received at Humber, I don’t think Trust 15 would be what it is today.”

Brown graduated from Humber’s General Arts and Sciences program in 1987 before returning almost 20 years later to enrol in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, graduating in 2006.

Brown credits Humber for sparking her passion as an educator and mentor. She developed the skills and attitudes necessary for supporting children, families and communities by engaging in innovative learning and simulation experiences at Humber.

In class, Brown learned about social justice and the idea of creating global citizens while concepts such as diversity and inclusion were at the forefront of her studies as well as the acceptance and appreciation of varying cultures.  

Brown cites the mentorship she received from professors as a factor in accomplishing her goals. Lessons in child assessment and a big picture perspective helped her see the long-term benefits of investing in early childhood education.  

Enhanced by her previous studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences, she has thrived in cultivating responsive relationships with differing groups.  

“Truthfully, when I started Trust 15, I really wasn’t thinking of my Humber education all that much,” said Brown. “But everything I learned I’ve been able to implement into the program.”

The idea of Trust 15 began to coalesce while Brown was working as an educational assistant with the Toronto District School Board, where she observed youth needing support beyond the classroom. She devised a plan for an after-school program.

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 through Trust 15. Her endeavors inspire progression and change and shine a positive light on priority neighborhoods.

In 2018, Brown received the House of Commons - Canada 150 Community Award. She also received the Queens Rising Together - Inspirational Woman Award and a Recognition of Outstanding Community Service from the Jamaica Canadian Association Women's Committee, among many other notable achievements. Recently she received the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for her significant community initiatives.

Brown was also nominated for a Premier’s Award in 2019. The annual awards are given to graduates from colleges across the province in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Both the winners and the nominees have attained professional success after graduation while being actively involved in the community and making notable contributions to their respective sectors.  

In 2011, she received a Premier's Award of Ontario for Teaching Excellence Support Staff.

The community leader and activist feels that Trust 15 is having a positive effect on the youth, and she takes pride in that accomplishment.

“It makes me feel great to know that the youth are better prepared to head into the world,” said Brown, who credited her mother for pushing her to enrol in post-secondary rather than pursue a full-time job right out of high school.

Humber Polytechnic is more than just a place for higher education. It's a place where students come to reach their full potential, where they can find the person they knew was in them all along. In this Spotlight Series, part of Humber's The You, You Knew Was In You campaign, we're highlighting current students and alumni who found the you that was in them, and gained their edge at Humber. Learn more by visiting humber.ca/you.