Providing support for the Black community2 min read

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Around the Region showcases the work of community partners. For February, we highlight how Kind Minds Family Wellness is helping to address anti-Black racism and systemic oppression in Waterloo Region.

Written by: Destiny Cobbinah, Kind Minds Family Wellness

Kind Minds Family Wellness (KMFW) provides culturally informed supports for the Black community in Waterloo Region.

We specialize in culturally grounded counseling, education and research advocacy. Our goal is to address anti-Black racism and systemic oppression in the community.

One of the ways we do that is by working with community partners.

In November 2021, Kind Minds Family Wellness was the proud recipient of the Region of Waterloo’s Community Innovation Grant. In 2021, the $50,000 grant program was open to groups that support connectivity and learning for Black, Indigenous and racialized youth in Waterloo Region.

With these funds, Kind Minds Family Wellness is delivering the Black Youth Impact program in 2022 and 2023. This is a leadership and entrepreneurial program designed to empower Black identifying youth between the ages of 15 and 21 who are enrolled in high school.

The program will include workshops, field trips, meeting mentors and using opportunities to demonstrate learning with organizations in our region. 

The Black Youth Impact program will teach many skills including leadership, financial literacy, racial trauma and building healthy relationships. We hope these skills enhance self-confidence, social networking, activism and overall social participation among members of the Black community.

We also want this program to nurture lasting change for Black youth in Waterloo Region. The Black Youth Impact initiative can be a template to improve how existing mainstream programming in our community engages with Black youth. The program will empower Black youth to address racism and discrimination, start their own businesses, and increase an overall sense of social cohesion in our community.

A community information session will be held on February 16, 2022, at 6 p.m. for prospective participants, mentors, collaborators, sponsors and volunteers to attend. Community members are invited to learn more about the program and to pose questions to KMFW members.

For youth who are interested in participating in the Black Youth Impact program, registration will open on Friday, February 18, 2022. Stay tuned to our website and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts for ongoing communications and updates about the program.