The Community Development program is lived out in a youth empowerment program called The Den. We provide safe, free and inclusive after-school and summer programming for 15-30 youth (under the age of 16) in the community of Meadowgreen in Saskatoon. Meadowgreen is a hub for newcomers to Canada and Indigenous families. Historically, it has experienced higher rates of discrimination, increased gang presence and access to drugs, and reduced community resources in ways that create barriers for children and youth.
The aim of The Den is to provide young people more access to youth-centered programs and to build authentic relationships across difference through mentoring and engaging youth in shared activities. The issues we try to address on a macro-scale are racism and discrimination and on a micro-scale they are isolation, loneliness, intercultural relationship building and empowerment.
We operate out of Meadowgreen House For All Nations church and rely on our other partners such as with W.P. Bate Community School and the Mennonite Youth Farm.
The Community Development program:
- Provides drop-in programs twice weekly that
- start with Sharing Circles to promote togetherness and trust in the group
- teach peace and conflict resolution skills
- facilitate learning and discussion on issues such as racism, bullying, social media usage, healthy relationships and more
- teach gardening and cooking skills
- engage youth with popular mediums such as hip-hop dance and spoken word poetry
- With partners, facilitates Equine Assisted Learning for 10 youth every year
- Runs a week-long summer camp called “Raise The Peace”
- Engages constituents as volunteers in the youth programming