Youth Taking Flight After School Program

The YTF Aerospace and Aviation project was created in response to the growing demand for post-secondary school graduates in the Aerospace and Aviation industries. This project is designed to promote equal access to education and resources; assisting in breaking down barriers and inequalities that exist in a society based on race, gender, and socio-economic status. The lasting objective of this program will be greater diversity and increased participation of Black/Racialized youth as well as young women in the educational fields of STEM, Aviation/ Aerospace. Given the increased focus on the career opportunities within the Aerospace and Aviation fields, this project is committed to helping bridge the gap that has been created through systemic barriers and resulting in the lack of diversity within this industry. This program will provide Black/ Racialized youth interested in pursuing careers in Aerospace, Aviation and STEM with the education, mentorship and support from Black professionals in similar fields. Youth will explore the plethora of possibilities while developing 21st-century skills.

Alignment with the 5 Year Strategic Plan: Youth Taking Flight aligns with our strategic plan in that this project aligns with our strategic objective to fund youth-focused initiatives that specifically support young people within the education system, to provide them with the opportunities to realize their full potential.  This project partners with the school board to host the trainings, and in turn strengthens the leadership capacity of young people with lived experience in the justice, education, and child welfare systems.