Preston Heights Community Group begins new youth 'City to City' program

Preston Heights Community Group is helping youth become leaders of tomorrow through a new trip-based leadership program.

Set to start in August, 'City to City' is a leadership development program for teens aged 13 to 17, that explores community from different locations, experiences, and lenses.

The Preston Heights Community Group is a not-for-profit organization that supports positive development in the community and offers programs, events, and activities for all ages and abilities.

Teens who participate in the City to City program will visit three community spaces over one week; a farm, a city, and an Indigenous community space. They will explore themes of built environment, food, transportation, social location, and culture.

“We are really excited. We have a great group of kids that are signed up and the feedback has been great,” said Silverheights Neighbourhood Association community engagement coordinator, Kathleen Cameron.

“This program is to help provide unique experiences and build curiosity for youth as they develop an interest in becoming future leaders and community builders.”

Cameron says, through group and self-reflective activities, teens will develop leadership skills of collaboration, curiosity and openness, active listening, self reflection, social awareness, and humility and attention to privilege and posture in community work.

The goal is to provide an opportunity for youth to gain a curious and critical perspective of social issues and solutions within their own community through insight into different life experiences.  

“We want this to be an open space for teens to build relationships with each other, a space for them to ask questions and talk about what they are, or are not familiar with. We realize that a lot of kids come from different backgrounds and different experiences,” Cameron said.

Traditionally, Preston Heights Community Group has offered a leader in training summer camp volunteer opportunity for kids in Grade 9 through to Grade 12.

“This includes volunteering at our summer camp and helping staff. Often, this also includes volunteering on field trips, " Cameron said.

"But these types of programs may not interest all youth in the community. So, we began exploring ways of offering unique and different opportunities for them."

There will be 15 youths taking part in the City to City program next month. They will attend three separate locations including Six Nations Tourism, and the Springbank Community Gardens at RARE Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge.

“And the last one is a day trip to Toronto. We will take the TTC and visit sites including ROM, Graffiti Alley, and Casa Loma,” Cameron said.

“For some participants, they may have visited Toronto before, but maybe they have not been on a subway. Some may never have visited Six Nations, or a farm.”

Cameron says the goal is to offer different experiences and opportunities while helping to build strong soft skills.

“That includes active listening, self reflection, and social skills. These experiences can offer a space were youth can talk about their own experiences with each other,” Cameron said.

“It’s also about having new experiences that will help build leadership. We hope they will all get something out of it.”

The 2023 City to City program is now at full capacity but those interested can still be added to the waitlist. 

“And they can still join our traditional leader in training volunteer opportunities or get involved in other aspects of our community summer initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Action Grant (NAG),” Cameron said.

NAG’s are grants up to $650 for anyone interested in developing a project within their own neighbourhood such as events, activities, learning opportunities and legacy projects.Grants support local residents to be leaders in community development projects in their neighbourhoods.

“The hope is that we will be able to offer City to City, annually."

Cameron says after taking part in the program, youth might then be inspired to take on additional leadership roles, whether it be at their schools, clubs or neighbourhoods.

“We hope, after this program, kids will come back saying, what can I do next?" Cameron said.

"Maybe this will make them think about what they can do in their own community, and how they can give back."