Building safer and more inclusive communities for immigrant and racialized youth on the North Shore begins with listening. The Youth Experiences Survey and Focus Groups, led by Impact North Shore and supported by NSIIP partners, provided 247 young people with an opportunity to share their experiences related to racism, mental health, loneliness, connection, and belonging.
The findings revealed important challenges facing many immigrant and racialized youth. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported experiencing discrimination, while 76% reported feelings of loneliness or isolation. These insights underscore the need for continued action to understand and foster equitable and safe communities for young adults.
The research findings were shared with more than 45 community partners to help ensure that the lived experiences of racialized youth remain central to community planning, program development, and service delivery. Practical multilingual resources for newcomer parents and youth were developed based on the research, reaching more than 12,000 community members and service providers.
This project was one of several initiatives undertaken this year to address racism and advance inclusion across the North Shore. Additional efforts included the development of a resource for employers outlining their role in preventing and responding to workplace racism, which was shared with more than 100 employers and organizations. Through the NSIIP Service Provider Forum, more than 50 community partners examined emerging patterns of racism identified through our annual client survey, deepening their understanding of community experiences and strengthening their ability to provide responsive and inclusive services.
