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Community programs

OJEN’s community-based public legal education initiatives are designed to address the specific legal needs of youth aged 12 to 29. By partnering with community groups across Ontario, OJEN delivers engaging programs and workshops that build knowledge, develop legal life skills, and empower youth to navigate legal challenges in their own lives and drive positive change in their communities.

Workshops and programs cover various legal topics and focus on four main outcomes:

  • Share information about the law and where youth can go to get help and support;
  • Introduce and practice skills (e.g. communication, legal issue spotting, advocacy, critical thinking organizing and prioritizing information) to navigate legal challenges and/or make change in their communities.
  • Build connections and relationships between youth and the people who work within the justice sector.
  • Elevate youth-voice: to ensure that youth perspectives are heard and valued.

How it works

  • Outside formal education: Community programs usually take place outside formal educational settings. However, we also offer adapted programs for school environments, such as ESL/ELL or inclusive classrooms.
  • Local partnerships: Collaborate and partner with community groups to ensure that the programs are relevant and accessible.
  • Adapted content: Each program is customized to address the specific needs of the participating youth..
  • Engaging sessions: Facilitated by OJEN staff, sessions are interactive and designed to build both knowledge and practical skills.
  • Making connections: Open conversations to create an engaging and supportive learning environment.
  • Engagement with justice professionals: Youth have opportunities to interact with justice sector professionals to:
    • Clarify misconceptions: Address common misunderstandings about the law and the justice system.
    • Gain insight: Offer legal professionals a deeper understanding of youth experiences, promoting mutual understanding and positive interactions.

Most of OJEN’s programs are available in-person, online or in a hybrid format. Check out our Menu of Program Options for Community Organizations to learn more.

If you are interested in delivering a program to a youth group in your community, contact OJEN’s Outreach department at programs@ojen.ca or fill out the program request form.

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Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) for Racialized Youth

PLEI for racialized communities is a new, interactive, culturally relevant and responsive program designed for youth who identify as African, Caribbean, Black (ACB), or Indigenous, ages 14–29, living primarily in urban areas across Ontario. Using scenarios, games and experiential activities, these programs use a collaborative, interactive, dialogue-based approach. Over 8-9 workshops, PLEI programs inform racialized […]

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