Community-Led Initiatives
When it comes to preventing violence, there are proven alternatives to policing and incarceration that are considerably more effective and affordable. These include championing a public health approach to community violence and providing opportunities for social, political and economic mobility.
To help create these opportunities, Justice Fund actively engages our community partners through multiple pathways of collaboration; from advocacy and mobilization support to wrap- around programming and unrestricted grants.
JUNE 2021
Elevate Talent
Determined to create more sustainable pathways, Justice Fund has partnered with Elevate Talent to to equip young professionals with skills training, micro- credentialing programs and equity- informed employment support to level the playing field & build thriving careers for underrepresented communities in the tech sector.
Elevate Talent is a comprehensive rapid workforce development program for under-represented communities that matches training to the 80,000+ open jobs in the tech, digital and corporate sectors in the GTHA alone. Through intentional, inclusive and accessible program design, Elevate Talent is built on the foundations of empowering communities to thrive through career development and promote economic mobility and growth for a better and stronger economy.
Looking for a way to improve your job skills & resume?
August 2021
Justice Fund Care Packages
Justice Fund believes that when provided with opportunities to thrive, under-resourced communities become less violent, thus breaking the cycle of conflict. When it comes to preventing violence, there are proven alternatives to policing and incarceration that are considerably more effective and affordable. These include improving school attachment and educational attainment, and providing opportunities for social engagement, employment and career success among low-income youth.
To help create these opportunities, Justice Fund curated 330 Care Packages to engage youth in Toronto’s North East and North West, which were distributed at the end of summer ‘21 with the help of 10 community organizations.
Each Care Package, valued at approximately $1,500, contains items meant to help build stronger foundations to equip our communities and youth with resources to support their experiences in and outside of educational systems and the workforce.
Interested in getting involved and/or supporting in the next cohort of Care Packages?
August 2021
The Walrus
Justice Fund is pleased to partner on the launch of the inaugural Writing Residency for Emerging Black Journalists at The Walrus. The program offers a paid 6 month opportunity to join an established national publication to develop their work, and allows for the candidate to focus on research and writing while receiving mentorship from an experienced editorial team.
In December ‘21, It was announced that Julia-Simone Rutgers was selected as the first Justice Fund Black Writer in Residence at The Walrus.
August 2021
All Out by Monumental Projects
Justice Fund is proud to be a supporting partner of All Out Canada, a project created for and dedicated to providing greater access to the outdoors & wilderness activities for racialize communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
All out is a movement that celebrates exploration, encouraging young people to try an activity that they’ve never done before by providing the necessary education and removing material barriers that prevent them from getting started.
The project was founded by a diverse group of change-makers from organizations across the GTA who have found adventure & solace outdoors.
%20(5%20%C3%97%202.5%20in)%20(4%20%C3%97%202.5%20in).png)
.png)
SEPTember 2021
DEAR TORONTO,
In Fall ‘21 Justice Fund rolled out its inaugural campaign “Dear Toronto, a love letter and a wake-up call .”
Over the past year, one of our main objectives has been to amplify the inequities that surround the Canadian charitable sector that in turn have been mirrored in our communities.
Posters were put up around the city with messaging that provoked the public to think critically about what issues remain unchecked.
In 2022 and beyond, we will continue to raise awareness around important inequities that don't normally get a spotlight.
October 2021
Tim Hortons Foundation Camps
Launched in fall 2021, Justice Fund and our partners at Tim Hortons Foundation Camps collaborated to build an impactful combined at- camp & in-community program where youth developed meaningful foundational and transferable skills to become agents of social change and support the successful transition to adulthood.
Founded in 1974, Tim Hortons Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping youth change their stories. A leader in youth development programming, Tims Camps believe in the power of camp and community; and leverage the camp experience as a catalyst for change. More than 300,000 youth have experienced Foundation programming at no cost to them or their families.
November 2021
40 Mobile Studio Case
In 2019, Noah “40” Shebib, co-founder of Justice Fund & Toronto-born lifestyle brand October’s Very Own (OVO) and his sister Susanna Shebib founded the 40 Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding sustainable solutions to Toronto’s growing youth violence problem by investing in the very youth involved in it.
Noah and Suzanna both see hip-hop culture as a way to help younger generations deal with difficulties and trauma in their lives. The 40 Foundation aims to support existing organizations and initiatives provide programming and advocacy to youth who are engaged with the legal system.
Last fall, the 40 Foundation launched the 40MSC Initiative, a set of innovative mobile studio cases that are fully equipped with professional- grade programs and capabilities, and provide a unique opportunity for young people to engage with music and STEM education.
In partnership with Justice Fund, the 40 MSC are set to be delivered to select Community Partner Organizations over this next school year.