Matt Galloway spoke with the deputy chief of the Toronto Police Service, Peter Sloly, and wirh Staff Inspector Mark Saunders, he heads up the Toronto Police Homicide Squad.
Listen 
(runs 8:08)
Latest News
Summer 2011
• 94 new grade 9 students registered in summer program, with 80 earning their first secondary school credit, a success rate of 85%.
• An additional 12 students joined the program late and were ineligible for the credit, with all 12 expressing in a survey that they felt more prepared for secondary school as a result of SBL.
• Of 106 students, 32% were transfer students, and 50% were referred to us due to social/personal/academic concerns from their schools, parents and/or community partners.
• 25 Mentors were employed full-time (20 in the classroom environment and 5 in a documentary film training program).
• Partnership with SkyWorks Films supporting 5 Mentors in the completion of two community focused documentaries.
• Of the 25 Mentors: 15 were former Mentees and 10 Mentors were former volunteers.
• 30 Volunteers (Mentors-in-Training) contributed 1260 hours to the summer program.
• 14 Volunteers (Mentors-in-Training) were former Mentees, with 100% expressing goal of becoming an SBL Mentor.
• Since 2010 we have worked with 11 TDSB teachers and 9 of that 11 had previously taught in the Jane-Finch community.
• Of 11 teachers, 5 are from the Jane-Finch community.
• 6 of 7 SBL teachers were returning staff, with one new hire from Westview Centennial Secondary School.
• In a research study done by Social Work Graduate students, 100% of SBL teachers surveyed indicated that teaching in the SBL Summer Program was transformational in their teaching practice, brought them closer to youth in the community, and encouraged innovation in their classroom.
• 2 former SBL/Westview students worked as dance instructors and paid facilitators in the program, delivering programming to youth participants.
• Completed our first annual general meeting, adding four youth members to our board of directors.
United Way programs keep kids in school
Kiana Eastmond, a former high school drop out, took a summer program that led to her enrolment Centennial College for business administration. SARAH DEA FOR THE TORONTO STAR.Louise Brown Education Reporter
Just four months ago, Kiana Eastmond didn’t see herself as a college student. Never mind that she has done some 10,000 hours of community service, sits on the board of East Metro Youth Services, is part of a youth round table advising the Nuclear Waste Management Organization – she’s 23 — and serves as a leader for, ironically, a Scarborough group promoting education.
Nearly 10 years after she dropped out of high school, Eastmond still had a mental block about higher learning. But a six-week summer course at Centennial College demystified the ivory tower — she even became valedictorian — and now she is enrolled in business management at the Scarborough campus.
“The program is officially called HYPE — Helping Youth Pursue Education – but they should really call it the No Excuse program because it leaves you with no excuse not to go on to higher education,” said Eastmond. Launched with the help of the United Way, although now funded by the college, HYPE illustrates the importance the agency puts on keeping young Toronto in school.
“They help you with the red tape for applying for a student loan. They cover the $130 application fee and give people like me who had trouble with regular school an idea what post-secondary is really like,” raved Eastmond.
Tony Bertin, manager of community outreach for Centennial, explained why it works.
“In six weeks on campus we try to reduce as many potential barriers as we can, including giving them free breakfast and lunch and free transportation to school and giving them a taste of the academic expectations at the college level.”
More than 400 students have graduated from the summer program since 2007 in such courses as auto body and mechanics, computer training, office administration, human development and hair styling. They also get life skills from financial literacy to conflict resolution, and begin to connect with people from beyond their neighbourhood through campus barbecues and movie nights.
For this, they earn a special interest college credit.
Across town in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, another program supported by the United Way also works to keep young people at risk in school. Success Beyond Limits, inspired by the former program Promoting Excellence, is a summer program for struggling students entering Westview Centennial Secondary School, and they continue to get support with after-school mentors, tutors, free snacks and transportation home.
The mentors themselves, senior students at Westview, sometimes find their own footing through helping others.
“I wasn’t doing very well one year – I was on edge – and the principal suggested I mentor to keep me out of trouble, and now I know that’s what I want to do with my life,” said Andrew Newsome, 20, now in second year at Humber College for social work.
Shyann Witter graduated from Westview in June and is now studying social services at Humber, largely inspired by being a mentor with the program.
“There’s a lot of stereotypes about Jane-Finch but we can choose to be on the right track,” said the 18-year-old who now wants to earn her master’s in social work.
With so many programs focusing on young people, the United Way has created a new network to foster the sort of brainstorming and tip-sharing that can be difficult when agencies struggle in isolation.
Called the Community of Practice of Youth Educational Attainment Partnerships, the group provides a regular discussion forum for more than 90 organizations from United Way agencies to the Toronto District School Board, local colleges and universities and youth groups. Representatives meet in person every other month to discuss ways to encourage keeping young people in school, and every two weeks a report highlights new research and tips from around the world.
“I got introduced to Mixed Theatre Company through this forum, a group I wouldn’t typically have had the opportunity to meet,” said Bertin about the interactive theatre troupe that helps audiences think about how to handle personal problems, from bullying to drug abuse.
“Now we’re seeing the potential it has to get involved in (campus) orientations. The Community of Practice is a unique venue; it lets partnerships develop.”
School year 2010-2011
• 163 students were registered in the 2010 school year program, with many more dropping-in, seeking one-on-one supports, and/or attending one-time events.
• 16 of 20 mentors from the summer program continued employment as a mentor during the school year (the other 4 mentors graduated and moved on to post-secondary education.)
• 4 volunteers (Mentors-in-Training) were able to take on Mentor roles.
• 60 Westview students volunteered during the school year totaling over 9,000 hours.
• Launched the March Break “Employment Readiness and Career Exploration Program” in partnership with Westview Centennial, which included 28 Westview students.
• Engagement of York University students as tutors at Westview Centennial through our partnership with the Community Legal Aid and Services Programme (CLASP) at York University: 10 tutors completing 320 hours combined.
• In partnership with Ontario’s Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and the Art Gallery of York University, we celebrated the launch of “The Life You Choose vs. The Life That Chooses You” Photovoice project, which included a full gallery showing and art installation, and a street postering campaign.
• 5 SBL students took part in the March Break Movie Making Madness Bootcamp offered by the Toronto International Film Festival and completed a short film.
• 4 SBL students took part in the TDSB Focus on Youth Leadership Retreat.
• 2 former Mentors worked with SBL as placement students totaling over 900 placement hours.
• Operated as core members of the Inner City Advisory Committee, Education Attainment West, and the United Way Community of Practice on Youth Educational Attainment in 2010-11.
• 7 SBL students took part on a panel discussing dropout rates at “The Pulse of Education” hosted by Education Attainment West.
• SBL Staff and a Mentor presented the SBL Model in Welland, Ontario at a forum on education.
Summer 2010
• 101 students were enrolled in the summer and 94 got the credit.
• Students were prepared for secondary school as a result of our program giving them the following:
– Exposure to the grade 9 curriculum.
– Academically and socially prepared through life skills component.
– Awareness of resources such as Senior Mentors and SBL staff.
– Feeling a sense of connectedness and confidence.
• Of students surveyed in 2009-10, 100% indicated an improvement in grades, motivation and/or attendance through the program.
• 14 Mentors received a co-op credit. 20 students volunteered.
• As reflected in surveys, 100% of our mentors have discovered new levels of purpose, responsibility, and focus.
• There were 5 SBL Staff and 8 TDSB teachers.
• Secured the York University Faculty Association as trustee, while SBL engages in the process of achieving charitable status.
• Secured a partnership agreement with the Toronto District School Board.