Item - 2024.EC15.3

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations to co-fund and administer the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program, and implement recommendations for improvements based on the 2024 program evaluation.

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the City Clerk to work with Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying (ENAGB) Indigenous Youth Agency to administer a full-time Indigenous Youth Fellowship program, subject to approval of funding for the program through the 2025 Budget Process.

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the City Clerk to work with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations to develop flexible options for youth participating in the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program to complete the total hours of the fellowship over a condensed period of full-time work or a longer period of part-time work.

4. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the City Clerk to work with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying (ENAGB) Indigenous Youth Agency to develop clear and collaborative processes around identification of Council members’ offices to participate in the program and for matching of fellows with Council members’ offices to ensure inclusive and relevant quality work experiences that aligns well with the interests of the fellows and needs of the Council members’ offices.

This report responds to Council direction, EC26.7, by providing details on the outcomes of the enhanced Diversity Youth Fellowship Program for 2022-2024 endorsed by City Council and advising on the feasibility of co-developing targeted Diversity Youth Fellowship programming for Indigenous youth.

The Diversity Youth Fellowship is a leadership and career development program for young people 18 to 29 years old from equity-deserving communities to gain hands-on experience working with Toronto's elected officials at City Hall. The Fellowship includes training, mentorship, placements in Council Members’ offices and financial support to undertake a community project. The program currently serves approximately 30 youth annually.  The program began in 2018 as the Muslim Youth Fellowship in partnership with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. The Fellowship has since expanded to include the Black Youth Fellowship, Tamil Youth Fellowship, Filipino Youth Fellowship and Chinese Youth fellowship.  The program ensures 50 percent of the fellows are women or identify as women. The Fellowship provides equitable access to opportunities for equity-deserving communities by supporting young people with career navigation, job experience and professional network development. It amplifies the experiences and needs of equity-deserving communities in municipal decision-making spaces and ultimately, enhances representation in municipal government and politics. 

Moving forward, this report recommends enhancing the Diversity Youth Fellowship with a Newcomer Youth Cohort, and the implementation of an Indigenous Youth Fellowship beginning in 2025 in partnership with Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig – A place for healing our youth Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying? – Where did we come from? -Youth Program, known as ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency.