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Come to @SuccessBL Youth Space @WestviewCentSS for the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities “Listening Tour” Feb. 12th at 3:30PM

Register today https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pcyo-listening-tour-west-gta-tickets-19433874241

In 2013, Toota Hassanien came across a Success Beyond Limits info booth at York University and inquired about volunteer opportunities within the organization.  In those first few months as a volunteer, she tutored students, assisted with our after school program, and contributed to strengthening our evaluation efforts.  As summer approached – our most intense time for programming – she took on a seasonal role and made her mark as a part of the SBL team.  With the start of the school year she was successful in obtaining the role of After School Supervisor.

As all of our mentors, students, parents, partners, board members and team members are well aware, her contributions to the growth and impact of Success Beyond Limits have always been at a high level, and have been critical in so many of the positive steps we have taken.

Building on her York U degree in psychology, Toota went back to school in 2015 to complete a Human Resources certificate at Seneca.  This focus on expanding her knowledge and skills was applied directly to SBL where she engaged in building critical structures within the organization.  Her passion for evaluation and building a strong and resilient organization led to the formation of the role of Organizational Assistant, which she has operated in for the past year.

These accomplishments and contributions have been vital to SBL, but they are not what Toota has been most known and loved for.  She is always present and prepared to drop anything for someone that needs to talk and to be heard.  She has brought a positive presence into our space that reflects the welcoming and supportive place SBL strives to provide in the community.  Her heart is always dialed in to help and to be of assistance wherever needed.

As Toota takes these steps forward in her own professional growth, she will remain a part of the SBL family.  SBL will not be the same without Toota, but it is better because she has been a part of it.

For the past three months, Success Beyond Limits staff Mohamed Ahmed, Tesfai Mengesha and Shanaz Ali who are also certified teachers participated in a 3-day module called Helping Readers Who Really Struggle, a PLC training session. This grassroots initiative aims to help secondary Westview students that are struggling with reading and to provide effective strategies to support students that are not reading at their appropriate grade level. The strategies and activities that have been taught to the SBL staff members will be utilized in the SBL after-school program. More specifically during the daily homework club program in order to help struggling readers build the fundamental reading skills needed to achieve academic success. This is one of our many ways of getting involved with Westview’s culture by collaborating with other teachers in the building who do great work in supporting the students who need it most.

Long lasting, sustained and deep-rooted relationships are a cornerstone for much of the work we do. Our model of youth development and support from Middle School all throughout High School and now even to post-secondary means that we are there for the most formidable and impressionable years of the young people we support. This stems from our hyper local, system focus which not only allows us to positively impact young peoples lives in a community we are intimately familiar with, but also to continually push the envelope of these systems while helping to direct policy – impacting youth on a wider scale. None of this would be possible at the deep level, far reaching impact that we have without forming very important relationships. There is no relationship more important than those with our mentors and mentees. These relationships are important because when we as staff focus on providing the infrastructure to keep our youth space and community organization viable and lasting, our mentors form that integral and important bridge to the mentees. And in turn, we as staff support past mentors into staff and board roles. The model is holistic and renewing. And that is precisely why the model is so effective.

Many of these relationships initially start in grade 8 and continue on through their high school journey. Although the work we do is focused at the elementary and secondary level, those important relationships continue on into adulthood.

As our mentors graduate high school and go on to post-secondary, join apprenticeship programs or enter the workforce, many stay connected by tutoring in our after-school program, facilitating programming, while some become SBL staff and board members.

On December 21, 2015 staff and mentor alumni got together for competitive games of bowling and dinner.  The evening was yet another way of sharing stories, checking in, staying connected, celebrating their successes, while creating new memories. It was an evening filled with smiles, laughter and nostalgic moments. Most importantly, the impetus for the mentor alumni dinner came from the alumni mentors themselves, reminding – both staff and mentor alumni – of the many important reasons we do the work that we do.

On November 24^th, PEACH, Success Beyond Limits, The Spot and community partners celebrated the Launch of the 40 asset model. The evening consisted of great learning around the 40 Developmental Assets® Model, the power of building these assets in youth and how everyone plays a role in supporting

Developed by The Search Institute, the 40 Asset Model® is a set of 40 qualities, skills and experiences that support young people as they grow-up into thriving adults. At the heart of this framework is the importance of community and developmental relationships as foundational pillars in supporting young people during their most critical period of development

We are proud to be a partner in this movement on BUILDING ASSETS in the Jane Finch community and look forward to the impact this framework will have on redefining how youth are viewed!

The Generation Change Kick off conference was held on Wednesday November 04^th, 2015 at the Carmine Stefano Community Centre. Members of the Success Beyond Limits team Delano Grant, Kaneka Watkins, and Mohamed Ahmed conducted two workshops titled “Present Your Best” for the student leaders from Westview Centennial Secondary School, Downsview Secondary School, and C W Jefferys Collegiate Institute. The workshop focused on youth engaging around the themes Be Prepared, Engagement, and Time Management, in preparing them for the presentations they will be doing for the Middle School students in their community. The Success Beyond Limits team will be hosting a series of “Reaching Back” workshops starting January 2016 for Brookview and Oakdale Middle School in engaging and supporting youth on various topics such as Healthy Relationships and Anti-Bullying. Success Beyond Limits Mentors will conduct these workshops with staff support and Generation Change student leaders. Lots to come in breaking barriers to community Engagement.

The Westview Centennial Secondary School grade ten retreat took place from October 14^th-16^th, 2015. The Generation Change student club hosted the camp in partnership with Success Beyond Limits Education Program at Camp Pine Crest in embracing learning beyond the classroom. This opportunity provided 50 grade ten students and 20 grade eleven and twelve student leaders the chance to explore the outdoors and build healthy relationship amongst each other. The camp allowed youth to step away from the distraction of technology devices and to embrace Self-Exploration in a different environmental setting. A big part of creating leaders is acknowledging one, and grade 11 and 12 student leaders from Generation Change and SBL got the chance to build upon their mentorship role in ensuring the grade ten students felt supported and encouraged in knowing they had support system amongst their peers.

Many individuals who have gone through our graduation model have grown from one position and transitioned into a variety of different roles. Delano has gone through this model and has been a vital person to the success of this program. His past experience as a mentor for 3 consecutive years while attending Westview C.S.S has made him a great candidate for the recreational staff role. As a recreational staff for 2 consecutive summers, he has been working closely with many youth in the mentor position and exemplified positive leadership. Delano has recently graduated and received his degree in social work from Ryerson University. His work in and out of school has been reflective of what we look for in an individual who has the passion to influence positive change in our community. Delano is currently working in a new role with SBL during the school year on a full time basis as one of our core staff supporting the growth and development of our youth. His outgoing personality and strong connection to SBL participants is one of the assets that he brings to the table along with his outlook on ways in which we can tackle community issues. We welcome Delano Grant with open arms as he embarks on a new role with SBL and enters in with a strong head start.