Youth Rising Above

Join Youth Rising Above at THREADS OF CARE, dedicated to supporting young people in our community. Youth are invited to come pick out warm clothing, winter essentials, and everyday necessities, all at no cost.

Stay for a hot meal, connect with others, and enjoy a welcoming space where you are valued and supported. Whether you need a coat, extra layers, or just a good meal and great company, we’re here to support you!

Address: Ralph Thornton Community Centre
Date: 25th February 2026
Time: 5pm - 8:30pm

Our annual Free Emergency First Aid & CPR Level C training was a great success 😀

On December 6th, 2025, nine youth attended our training, which was led by at The 519 . These newly trained first responders left with new knowledge, skills, and the confidence to support someone in an emergency.

From identifying safety concerns during an emergency, to assessing unconscious individuals, stopping bleeding, administering chest compressions and breathe, to using a AED. These actions in critical moments help save and prolong life. Their communities, homes, and schools now have 1 more person trained in First Aid & CPR.

The YRA team is extremely proud to see 9 more young people ready to help in the community 👏 👏

Our annual FREE Emergency First Aid & CPR Level C training is back on Saturday, December 6th The 519 location. This program is for local youth between the ages of 16-24 years old.

Our partners at SAJE Vital Signs delivers this comprehensive and life changing training for a select 12 youth. Please apply through our website for this important opportunity to learn life saving skills and knowledge. (Every applicant is screened and interviewed)

Visit youthrisingabove.org/first-aid-training to apply. We look forward to seeing you!

🎉 We’re closing out with the final set of amazing Passion Projects. Every one of these youth poured creativity, courage, and heart into their work, bringing bold ideas and authentic expression to life. 🌟

Together, these projects form the complete collection of Cohort 4’s Passion Projects - a true celebration of voices, journeys, and dreams brought to reality. ✨

✨ The Passion Projects are LIVE! ✨

We’re so excited to share the first 5 incredible Passion Projects! 🌟 Each project reflects creativity, courage, and the authentic voices of youth who poured their heart into bringing their ideas to life.

From powerful storytelling to inspiring designs, these projects show just how much passion can spark when we create space for growth, exploration, and expression. 💡💙

💫 Swipe through to see the first 5 Passion Projects and stay tuned, because there’s so much more to come!

🎉 It’s here, it’s here! We’re so excited to share the Passion Project!

Over the next couple of days, we'll be highlighting the creativity from the amazing participants of BeYou Cohort 4. 🌟

Each project is filled with heart, dedication, and real self-expression - showcasing everything participants have learned, the skills and confidence they’ve built, and the unique voices they’ve brought to BeYou. 💫

In the meantime, swipe through to catch some program highlights!

As the BeYou Program has come to a close, we’re feeling so grateful! Over the past weeks, we’ve shared laughs, learning, and some really meaningful conversations. 💙

A HUGE thank you to our amazing participants - your openness, honesty, and support for each other made this program truly special. You’ve built a community full of growth, connection, and positivity, and we couldn’t be prouder! 🌟

💫 In the coming weeks, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the Passion Projects our participants poured their hearts into! Stay tuned to celebrate all their creativity, dedication, and hard work. 👀

✨ Session 4 of our BeYou Program was all about Healthy Relationships.

We were grateful to welcome Laura from the Women’s Support Network of York Region who led an engaging and meaningful workshop on what it means to build and maintain supportive, healthy connections! Shout out to Laura for bringing her energy and insight to the BeYou Crew! 🙌

A special thank you as well to our guest facilitator Henrietta (YRA's very own Operations Ninja) for stepping in to host the session and guiding our group with care and passion. 💙

Each week, BeYou has created space for connection, reflection, and growth - and we’re so grateful for all the moments shared along the way. We can’t wait to come together one last time next week to celebrate the journey! 🎉


www.facebook.com/womenssupportnetwork

Today the BeYou crew engaged in a tough but powerful session on Body Confidence and Self-Esteem.🌟 The topic isn’t always easy to talk about, but everyone approached it with honesty and openness.

We explored how to appreciate our bodies for what they can do, not just how they look, and challenged unrealistic appearance ideals from media and society. Super proud to see everyone embrace their unique selves!!

Next stop → Session 4 Healthy Relationships…we can’t wait for our guest speaker! 🎉

Last week the BeYou crew dove into Session 2 on Resilience which explored how to bounce back from challenges and keep moving forward. 💪 We hoped on Padlet to reflect on what resilience means and to share strategies for building it! ✨ Check out what some of the participants shared!

We also welcomed an inspiring guest panel who shared their career journeys, giving participants a chance to ask questions, gain insight, and reflect on their own futures. 🌟

Grateful to our panelists Asiya, Fiona and Allison for pouring into the next generation and to our participants for showing up with curiosity! 💬🙌