From program participant to youth leader
When Mr. T participated in an OJEN public legal education program while in youth custody, he never imagined that he would one day help deliver that same program to other young people.
Today, he is a university student with aspirations of attending law school and a member of OJEN’s Youth Leadership Team, using his experiences to support youth facing circumstances similar to his own.
A key strength of OJEN’s youth outreach programs is the involvement of youth at every stage of the planning, delivery and evaluation. The Youth Leadership Team (YLT) and local Youth Project Officers (YPO) bring insight into the lived experiences of the young people and communities we work with, and the issues that matter to them. Their input allows us to tailor programming to the needs of specific audiences and to deliver it in a way they can relate to.
“Programs are strongest when youth have a meaningful role in shaping them. Youth bring perspectives and experiences that help us ensure that our programs are relevant and responsive to their realities.” – Enisoné Kadiri, Director of Outreach Programs.
The newest member of OJEN’s Youth Leadership Team began his university studies this year and has his sights set on attending law school in the future. It’s a goal he has dreamed of for a long time, but the path that led him here has been anything but straightforward.
Mr. T was first introduced to OJEN as a participant in the Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) for Racialized Youth program at the youth custody facility where he was serving a sentence. Within the facility, the program had gained a good reputation with both the staff and youth. The positive reviews from previous participants inspired Mr. T to sign up for the program in the fall of 2025.
“It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” he said.
OJEN’s PLEI for Racialized Youth program was developed with funding from the Department of Justice Canada’s Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP). The multi-session program provides culturally relevant and responsive public legal education for racialized youth in Ontario. Through interactive activities, discussions, and connections with legal and community professionals, participants learn about their legal rights and responsibilities, develop legal life skills, and learn about sources of reliable information and community-based supports.
“Not a lot of youth know what their rights are,” Mr. T says. “OJEN was able to give useful information. I can guarantee you that every youth that participated in the program was able to take away at least one thing.”
The connections made with lawyers, community members, and other legal professionals who volunteer with the program were especially impactful for the youth participants. Mr. T explained that spending time with legal professionals who understood the kinds of discrimination experienced by Black and diverse youth populations in the justice system and society was an important part of the program.
“It’s one of the things that a lot of youth in custody need to actually understand – that not every cop is out there to get you. Not every lawyer is out there to mess up your freedom, not every crown prosecutor is out there to put you in jail for things that you did not do, and not every mentor is out there to lead you towards the wrong path.”
Mr. T believes the program would benefit all youth who face discrimination but is particularly important for youth in custody. He emphasizes that the information they receive will stay with them for the rest of their lives, providing opportunities to learn about the law that many might otherwise miss.
After nearly five years, Mr. T was released from custody shortly after completing the OJEN program. Applying for university was one of his first steps. Although he had missed the deadline for registration, he was not going to give up on his dream. He went to the university in person to advocate for himself and was successful in securing a place.
Another step he took shortly after beginning classes was to contact OJEN’s Program Manager, Kassandra Thompson, expressing an interest in joining the OJEN team. He recalls how excited and happy he was when he was offered a position on OJEN’s Youth Leadership Team.
As a YLT member, Mr. T supports the program he previously participated in. Interacting with youth in custody now that he’s on the “other side of the wall”, he said, is an amazing experience. Having spent much of his own youth in custody, he appreciates the opportunity to stand up for others in similar circumstances. As someone who has so recently been in their situation, Mr. T offers a perspective few others can. “Someone like me is not speaking from years past. I’m speaking from months past, days past, not long ago.”
Mr. T’s message to youth in custody is clear. The formula for his success? Focus on education. Take advantage of every support and every program. You only have one life. Protect it with everything you’ve got.
“It is possible to make a change” he tells them. “It is possible to push and make your goals and your dreams come true.”
Kassandra Thompson, OJEN’s Program Manager, saw Mr. T’s engagement firsthand when he participated in the program and now works with him as a member of the Youth Leadership Team.
“Mr. T stood out from the beginning because of how engaged he was in the program. Now, as a member of the Youth Leadership Team, he is able to draw on that experience to connect with and support youth who are where he was not long ago.”
“No one stood up for me when I was a kid,” he recalls. “When I was incarcerated at 15, I didn’t have any plan whatsoever or know what my future would look like. I did not see what my possibilities were.”
Today, Mr. T has a plan. He knows exactly what his future looks like and he is on the way to achieving it.
The PLEI for racialized youth program was delivered in partnership with youth-serving community organizations and youth custody facilities throughout Ontario. During its 4-year funding cycle, 469 racialized youth have benefitted from justice education programming that addresses a variety of legal issues affecting their communities.