Get your coffees and have a listen to our latest Connecting Conversation!

This week, we sat down with Kenny Gbadebo. Kenny is the Executive Director at the Youth Connection Association, a Windsor-Essex nonprofit organization that provides after-school activities and programs for disadvantaged kids. The goal of the organization is to keep children away from the worries of the streets and in productive programs that help foster their individual talents and interests. Since it was founded, The YCA has supported more than 2,000 young people and their families each year.

Kenny is a large believer in taking life “one step at a time”, which he attributes to the organization’s growing success. When they see a need in the community, they fill it with additional services and programs. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, the association has certainly got their hands full as children spend more and more time at home. In response, the organization has created virtual activities and have even shifted their annual Spelling Bee to a virtual platform in order to give the children an event to look forward to. 

In our chat, we walk through the prevalence of “streaming” in the education system, whereas Black youth are consistently being led away from academic post-secondary careers and into trades and labour routes. Kenny explains how this practice has led to a decrease in the confidence of POC youth, which leads to more antisocial behaviours. This is where the YCA steps in to build up the children’s self esteem and confidence and give them the power in themselves to keep moving forward. 

This is only a small summary of the conversation we had with Kenny, and if you would like to hear more be sure to watch the full video above!

Interested in the Youth Connection Association? Find them at www.youthconnectionassociation.com , through email: info@youthconnectionassociation.com , or through the phone at (519) 252 - 7222. 

You can also connect with the Youth Connection Association through their FaceBook at  @youthconnectionassociation