A program that aims to help high school-aged youth strengthen their leadership skills by taking on key roles in an advisory council setting. Similar to a Hart House Club or Committee, youth get to guide their own activities – designing and executing projects relating to their interests – and build genuine connections along the way.
Members of the Hart House Youth Advisory Council have the opportunity to gain useful experience as they hone their personal and professional skills by participating in fun, interactive workshops and meetings. While it’s a casual space to learn and grow, youth have real opportunities to shape the future of Hart House by sharing their thoughts and insight through advisory tasks and presentations to the Hart House Board of Stewards.
The program is led by work study students, and advised by a Hart House staff.
Focus
- Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
- Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
- Career exploration
- Community engagement
- Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
- Participant incentive(s) (e.g., expense reimbursement, bursaries, scholarships)
- Tutoring & mentorship
- Wrap-around services (e.g. provision of food, skills development workshops, writing centre and library access, etc.)
Timeframe
- Fall Term
- Winter Term
Participants
Ages
- High school students
Groups
- 2SLGBTQ+ students
- First-generation students
- Indigenous students
- Low-income students
- Newcomers to Canada
- Racialized students
- Secondary school students with low credit accumulation and/or achievement rates
- Students from communities with limited access to post-secondary education (e.g. rural or remote communities)
- Students requiring outreach/transition support
- Students with disabilities