WELCOME

The “On the Road” Youth Mentorship and Self-Development Project is a dynamic, community-driven initiative designed to support and uplift Black youth and other racialized communities in Edmonton. Led by EL Shama C.A.R.E.S, a Christian-based youth organization rooted in cultural inclusion and trauma-informed practice, this project combines anti-racism education, leadership development, and culturally grounded mentorship to address and expose systemic inequities that so heavily besets black youth and their families and empower youth to thrive.

Who Does the Project Benefit?
This project is designed to directly benefit Black Canadian youth, particularly those who are immigrants, newcomers, or part of underrepresented communities in Edmonton. It also serves Indigenous youth and other racialized groups who experience systemic barriers, racism, or exclusion in traditional programs. In addition, the project engages all youth interested in anti-racism education, creating a safe and inclusive space for cross-cultural learning, leadership building, and solidarity. Target participants are between the ages of 13–24, with an emphasis on those facing social, economic, or mental health challenges.

Over the course of our year-long pilot, we’ll travel across Edmonton to four vibrant hubs Meadows Recreation Centre, Bonnie Doon, Mill Woods, and Booster Juice Community Space, to host a series of three exciting sports tournaments. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or new to the court, you’re invited to join us at one tournament or all three, connect with peers you might never have met, and build teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence through friendly competition.

Between in-person events, our hybrid model keeps the conversation and the empowerment going strong with twice-weekly virtual meetups. In these sessions, we dive into topics that matter: from self-advocacy and confidence-building to exploring gender equality and dismantling systemic barriers, especially those that impact BIPOC youth. Each workshop is co-designed and facilitated by mentors who share your lived experiences, ensuring that every discussion is relatable, respectful, and rooted in cultural understanding.

What makes “On the Road” truly unique is its mobile, pop-up format. We collaborate closely with community recreation centres, schools, and social organizations to turn familiar neighbourhood spaces into inspiring venues whether it’s a basketball court one day, a wellness fair the next, or an open-air gathering on someone’s front lawn. This approach breaks down physical and psychological barriers, inviting both sheltered and unsheltered youth to co-create positive experiences and forge new friendships.

Journey with us as we build bridges across communities, celebrate our rich cultural mosaic, and empower Edmonton’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders. Ready to ride along? Register today, lace up your sneakers, and let’s make history one court, one conversation, one connection at a time. For full details and to sign up, visit our Mentorship Program page. We can’t wait to see you out on the road!

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"On the Road" Youth Mentorship and Self-Development Project

Introduction To Project

In alignment with the City of Edmonton's Anti-Racism Strategy, we are launching a year-long initiative dedicated truly to the "others" yes, Black, Indigenous and all peoples of color. This is truly re-imagined, a program where all our "other youths" come together and celebrate what so often divides us.

This program is geared towards empowering Black Canadian youth, immigrants, Indigenous youth and newcomers. This program is designed to foster leadership, promote cultural understanding, and actively combat racism within our community. By equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to challenge systemic barriers, we aim to cultivate a more inclusive and equitable Edmonton.

Our initiative is designed to empower marginalized Canadian youth, immigrants, and newcomers in Edmonton by fostering leadership, promoting cultural understanding, and actively combating racism. We aim to achieve this through a hybrid mentorship model that combines bi-weekly in-person workshops with continuous virtual engagement.

By collaborating with recreational centers, schools, and community organizations, we ensure accessibility and inclusivity, meeting youth where they are and providing tailored support to address their unique challenges. This program is meeting the youth where they are, yes, we are meeting them wherever they are MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, and in the spaces where they are most comfortable to shine, yes those spaces where "typical leaders" shy away from. This was built by "OTHERS" for "OTHERS"

Understanding of Scope, Objectives, Priorities, and Requirements

We recognize the multifaceted challenges faced by our target demographic, including systemic racism, cultural dislocation, and socioeconomic barriers. Our program is structured to address these issues by:

Providing Culturally Relevant Mentorship: Connecting youth with mentors who share similar cultural backgrounds and experiences to foster trust and relatability.

Enhancing Accessibility: Utilizing community spaces and a hybrid model to remove barriers to participation.

Promoting Anti-Racism Education: Incorporating discussions and activities that challenge systemic racism and encourage advocacy.

Measuring Impact: Implementing robust data collection methods to monitor progress and inform continuous improvement.

Critical Success Factors

Strong Community Partnerships:Collaborations with local organizations to facilitate referrals and provide venues.

Engaged and Trained Mentors: Recruitment and continuous training of mentors to ensure effective guidance.

Comprehensive Data Management: Accurate tracking of participant progress to assess program effectiveness.

Resource Allocation: Efficient management of resources to maintain program sustainability.

The Need: Addressing Systemic Barriers

Statistical evidence highlights the barriers preventing Black Canadian and immigrant/newcomer youth from accessing conventional social services:

70% of Black Canadians report experiencing racial discrimination in social and institutional settings. (Statistics Canada, 2021)

Over 60% of Black youth in Edmonton feel underrepresented in local service providers and mentorship programs. (Community Engagement Survey, 2023)

Less than 30% of Black and immigrant youth utilize existing youth programs due to a lack of cultural relevance and perceived exclusion.

Unemployment rates among Black youth in Canada are nearly double the national average. (Canada Labour Force Survey, 2022)

Many immigrant families face language barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate services, limiting their engagement with existing social programs.

Program Objectives and Implementation

Empower

Support Youth

Our programs empower young individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Through mentorship and self-development initiatives, we aim to boost educational outcomes, enhance social well-being, and empower families in need.

EL Shama Cares inspires positive change by providing support and guidance to marginalized youth. We believe in the transformative power of education and mentorship to create a brighter future for young individuals and their communities.

Inspire

Transform Lives

Engage

Community Involvement

Our community engagement programs foster collaboration and empowerment among Black families. By promoting education, social integration, and self-reliance, we strive to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Coming Up

What Sets This Program Apart?

Empowering youth through 6 Program Objectives and Implementation, offering support in 4 General Program Components.

Community-Integrated & Referral-Based

Unlike traditional mentorship programs, we work in tandem with recreational centres, schools, and other community social organizations. These partnerships serve two key functions:
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Referral Networks: Schools and community organizations can refer youth who would benefit from our program.
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Accessible Workshop Spaces: We use stakeholder facilities to host bi-weekly in-person workshops, ensuring youth can engage in a familiar and supportive environment.
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Engaging Mentorship: Each workshop includes mentors delivering motivational speeches or guiding youth through structured discussions on topics that align with the program’s goals.

Hybrid Model for Continuous Engagement

Our program bridges the gap between in-person and virtual support to ensure continuous mentorship:
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Every in-person workshop is followed up with a virtual session, reinforcing lessons and allowing youth to process and apply what they’ve learned.
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Participants gain access to a read-only chat room where mentors share daily motivation, career tips, and educational videos.
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The next in-person meeting builds on these virtual interactions, creating seamless and ongoing engagement.

Mobile ‘Pop-Up’ Youth Engagement – Taking the Program to the Youth

Traditional youth mentorship programs expect participants to come to them—we flip the script by bringing the program directly to where youth naturally gather.
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Pop-Up Events: Whether it’s a basketball tournament in a rec centre, a wellness fair in a school gymnasium, or a community gathering at a social hub, we create exciting, inclusive spaces where both sheltered and unsheltered youth can coexist and inspire one another.
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Youth Igniting Youth: This model fosters peer-driven motivation, allowing youth from different backgrounds to connect, learn from one another, and find inspiration in shared experiences.