TORONTO

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to grow as a community member and leader. I’m especially excited to collaborate with passionate, like-minded young people from across Toronto and learn from their unique perspectives and experiences. As RISE offers a rare chance to build the knowledge and skills needed to create real change in our communities, I’m eager to work alongside my community and turn our ideas into action, developing impactful projects that foster positive growth and change.

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to learn how I can make a difference in my local community and meet like-minded people who are passionate about social change. I have little experience with civic engagement, but am passionate about education, accessibility, and food security and hope to make positive change in these areas and beyond.

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE because I got tired of seeing some of the disheartening things that happen in the province, country, and world around us and feeling somewhat powerless about them. I was drawn to the opportunity to step into my political power as a single piece of a larger collective and to charge other youth to do the same to make positive change in our communities. 

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE because I’m seeking activist spaces that prioritize long-term relationship and trust building through regular gathering, co-creating something tangible and sustaining. I want to cultivate a politic of care and accountability with other youth who share these values, and embody them in ways that challenge and subvert systems of power. My goal is to help create truly accessible, inclusive, and safer spaces where more people feel able and welcome to show up.

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to learn valuable skills to help my community now and in the future!

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to learn more about how I can work towards creating meaningful and lasting change within my community. 

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to connect with other young people who care about making change and to challenge myself to grow in community work. As an immigrant and artist, I’ve seen how creativity can spark conversations and bring people together and I want to build on that. Through RISE, I hope to learn new skills, collaborate with others and explore how art and storytelling can create spaces that feel safe, supportive and empowering.

Why I joined RISE

Community, skills, and food! I want to develop certain projects to address the needs of my communities, however, I am not sure where to start, and I was hoping that through the experience of developing and executing a project with RISE, I'd gain the skills and knowledge. New friends and free dinner were huge motivations too :D

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE to learn more about how I can make change both in my community and across the country and to connect with more people who are also interested in building new movements!

Why I joined RISE

I joined RISE in order to obtain practical experience bringing about constructive change in the community. The program helps young people develop into self-assured, purpose-driven leaders by providing training in civic involvement, project planning, and teamwork. Additionally, RISE offers peer networking, mentorship, and chances to elevate marginalized voices. It's a motivating environment for developing practical skills, leading with empathy, and making a significant contribution to a society that is more engaged and inclusive.

Why I joined RISE

Mental health care often overlooks the broader social context and how people’s intersectional identities shape their experiences. Because of this, I want to learn how to support community needs in truly inclusive and anti-oppressive ways. Having recently graduated, I’m excited to build connections beyond university, meet like-minded people, and create programs that genuinely reflect what communities need.