[mogbeyi]

A moment I’ll never forget is when a young person transferred into my care at 18, and I began supporting him as his Primary Case Worker. When he first arrived, he relied mainly on gestures, so I respected that while gradually reintroducing PECs. Over time, he grew more confident, and the plan is to introduce more advanced means of communication as the next step.

Community outings became a turning point. On his first bus ride, he froze when it was time to exit. I paused, realized he needed more preparation, and from then on explained how many stops were left and let him choose how to leave.

Later, I worked with his family and the school board to ensure he could continue in school, as Ontario allows students with special needs to remain until 21. This moment still lives with me because it showed me how small adjustments can create big changes.

[REX]

Mogbeyi 💛 Wow, thank you for sharing this.

The way you met him where he was, supported his voice, and worked with his family and school is so inspiring.

It really shows how patience and small, intentional steps can open up big possibilities for young people.

Stories like this remind us why this work matters and keep us grounded in what true support looks like.

• This reply was modified 2 days, 16 hours ago by  REX Virtual Cafe.

[Caitlin]

I’ll never forget it! It was the summer before the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had just started as a Community Outreach Coordinator with Flaunt-It Movement. Back then, I hadn’t yet realized the impact this work would have on the trajectory of my life and my connection to Jane-Finch and Rexdale; instead, I worried about whether the team would like me and if I could meaningfully contribute.

The Executive Director (who has since become one of my dearest friends) hosted an elaborate, gorgeous picnic at a park in Jane-Finch to welcome the new team. I was surrounded by other young women and non-binary folks who embraced me with warmth. It was one of the first times I experienced the convergence of my identities; my girlhood, my advocacy for community, and the shared joy and resilience of being held by a team of young people who carried these identities too.

Our night ended with the heaviest rainfall I’ve ever experienced, but in true Flaunt-It fashion, going through it together cemented the approach we would take when going through experiences as racialized, Black, and gender-diverse young people labelled “at-risk”: with joy and with each other. I laughed harder that day than I had in a long time, and I still laugh when I remember it, almost five years later.

I also always think fondly of one of my first Flaunt-It photoshoots. It was makeshift: an Amazon backdrop, a few living room chairs, and a dream! Yet it turned out to be my favourite photoshoot ever. I loved how it captured the beauty, inherent talent, and vibrancy of Jane-Finch and how, no matter how few or many resources we have, we always, always make it work.

Since beginning my youth work in 2020, I’ve learned that being a young person from my community while also serving and advocating for it is incredibly difficult. I’m constantly navigating life myself while also applying for funding, being a resource for my community and others, and so much more. Still, moments like this remind me why I do this work: they ground me in what I know and love, the resilience, creativity, and brilliance of my community. 💞

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 4 days ago by  Caitlin Arizala.

[REX]

Caitlin 💛 , thank you for sharing it with us.
I love how you capture that mix of joy, community, and resilience, from the picnic in the rain to the makeshift photoshoot.
It’s such a powerful reminder of how youth work is about heart, creativity, and holding space for each other, even while we’re navigating our own journeys.
Your reflection really shows the brilliance of Jane-Finch and Rexdale and why this work matters so deeply.