“I am because we are.”

– African proverb, widely associated with the Ubuntu philosophy

Across Cultures and Generations, Community is a Strength.

At YouthSpeak Charity, community isn’t just a concept—it’s a living, breathing part of how we show up for one another and the youth we serve. Our team is made up of individuals from richly diverse backgrounds, each shaped by unique understandings of what it means to belong, support, and grow together. 

We recognize that many Indigenous and ancestral cultures around the world have long understood community as central to well-being, resilience, and identity. For many immigrants and children of immigrants living in Canada, these values travel with us.

This is an open letter. Let us share with you, a closer look at the community behind YouthSpeak Charity.

YouthSpeak’s Diverse Team on the Meaning of Community

In this spirit, we asked members of our YouthSpeak team to reflect on a simple question:

“What did community mean to you growing up? And how does it show up in your life today?” 

Their answers reveal the shared values that unite us, as well as the beautiful differences that enrich our work.

“Community is an integral part of my life. My parents immigrated to Canada from Punjab, India. My Dad grew up in a village, where the neighbouring mothers operated in an unspoken matriarchal alliance in order to care for all the children. The Punjabi community in Brampton where I grew up is my village. Having my Bibi (my Dad’s Mom) live with us, which is a common thing in our culture, proved to be another kind of village. One that enriched my experience as a young person seeking belonging. 

Seva, meaning selfless service, is a prevalent principle in Sikhi (Sikhism) and other Dharmic traditions. We believe that offering your time, energy, or resources from the heart, without expectation of reward is a sacred duty. It’s a way to uplift others and, in doing so, uplift the self. One way this shows up in my life today, is that my Bibi helped take care of me when I was little, and now I help take care of her in her elder years. 

Community just means togetherness. I yearn to hold on to the meaning of community as I navigate my life as a member of a diasporic population living in the western world.”

– Varinder, Creative Lead, DEI Coordinator at YouthSpeak Charity

“Throughout my life, I have always struggled with my sense of community, not knowing where I fit in or where I wanted me to fit in. I would make meaningful connections along the way, but they always felt fleeting, minus the few I consider family.

Though at times, it was hard for me to see those as a part of my community, as it wasn’t always in my field of vision, and I had to view things a little differently. 

That all the people I’ve met are still a part of me, and I am who I am today. Also, that community can be found in the smallest interactions between two living beings. Through that, I can always find a sense of belonging. The “Good morning” and a smile from that stranger you passed on the street, to that bird singing outside your window. Reminders to me that we are all in this together. Quietly supporting each other.

Community isn’t always close-knit, but in the connections you’ve made, no matter how small, and the ones yet to be made. Community to me is feeling shared between two or more living beings, the big moments, but also the small.”

– Brian, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

“Growing up, community meant family gatherings, cultural events, and shared celebrations moments where we dressed in traditional clothing, ate familiar food, and felt proud of who we were. These spaces were filled with joy, connection, and cultural pride. But outside of them, in the predominantly white neighborhood I grew up in, I often felt like an outsider. My food, my clothes, even my celebrations were mocked or misunderstood, shaped by harmful stereotypes portrayed in media. Over time, I started to distance myself from my roots, believing I had to blend in to be accepted.

As I got older, something shifted. Seeing more Sri Lankan, Tamil, and South Asian creators and stories represented in media and online reignited the pride I once had. I began to see the richness, resilience, and beauty in my culture again not through someone else’s lens, but on my own terms. Today, community for me is something I’m actively rebuilding. I find inspiration in my Tamil heritage and choose to celebrate it l whether it’s through the content I create, the spaces I show up in, or the people I choose to uplift. Community is no longer just something I grew up in, it’s something I now nurture with intention.”

– Pratheep, Marketing Coordinator and Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak

“Community to me growing up meant showing up for one another when it was necessary. It shows up in my life today as my friends and family.”

– Basma, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

“Community is a strong word in my life. As someone who has been isolated my whole life my community has always been something that has helped me grow into the person that I am today. Community meant that I was able to be myself and wasn’t afraid of anything pushing me back. Playing together with my cousins and my parents’ families.

As it shows up today in my home my family are always eating together and our meals were enjoyed as a family. My parent’s even invited people that were not in our direct family to join us for meals. We would be gathered around a Communal bowl called the Apotoyewaa and eat various dishes. There was a lot of transparency and honesty that were embedded in our home and culture. The Adults were mentors and were always there for the young people in the community and it always brings a warmth to my heart that I can have someone I could trust.

Community is something that I will hold to and I hope I am able to share my meaning to my loved ones in the future.”

– Akua, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

Growing up, I thought community only existed within family. I saw myself in my father’s humor, my mother’s care, and my sister’s curiosity—it felt natural, expected, and rooted in love. But as I spent time with friends on the playground, I began to understand that community also lives in shared moments, laughter, and quiet growth with others outside the home. Those connections taught me that I am not the sole maker of who I am. Today, that understanding still shapes me—community now shows up in the people I choose to grow with, learn from, and share life with beyond just blood ties.

– Mesha, Content Development Lead and Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak“

To me, the word community brings to mind the ideas of support and connection. It reminds me of all the soccer teams I joined growing up where each week a different family brought snacks. It also reminds me of the smell of tomato sauce. Growing up in a predominately Italian neighbourhood meant that when August rolled around almost every house had a team of family members making tomato sauce in their garage. It was always made in big batches so it would last us the whole year. Community also reminds me of picnics. On the Croatian side of my family every summer we would have picnics where the whole community would gather to play bocce ball, roasted pig, and gossip. But, most importantly, the community reminds me of the warm and fuzzy feelings I get when I feel like I belong somewhere.”

– Melissa, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

“Growing up, community meant resilience. A strong circle of support is what I really needed to thrive. Anthropologist Margaret Mead was once asked by one of her students what the first sign of modern civilization was, and her answer was that it was a healed femur, showing that someone stayed behind to care for another. To me, that story captures what community is all about: connection, care, and reciprocity.

That philosophy has guided me through challenging times and shaped who I am. It’s why I’m passionate about community spaces and resources today. I’m grateful to live in a city where I’ve built relationships with folks from different cultures and backgrounds. You can learn something from every community, and we’re stronger and more resilient together. Impossible becomes possible when there are people in each other’s corners.”

Natasha, Partnership Developer at YouthSpeak Charity

“What community meant to me growing up was a sense of belonging. Unquestioned belonging. I’ve always kind of described myself as the black sheep of my family even when I was younger. I’ve always felt different, and it felt like I was a stranger on the outside looking in. It made sense as a queer kid who grew up in a traditional and religious community. 

How community shows up in my life today is being part of a mostly queer D&D group. It’s also being out to some family members. And it’s working in an organization where my truth is something I don’t hide, but is seen as a source of strength and value.”

– Paul, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

“Growing up, community meant safety, connection, and a deep sense of belonging. Being Jamaican, the idea that “it takes a village” isn’t just a saying, it’s a lived reality. Even though I didn’t grow up in Jamaica, every visit made it clear how deeply rooted that sense of community is in our culture.

Any time I stayed in my grandfather’s neighbourhood, even as an adult, the people there – many who didn’t know me personally or well – would check in on me, bring me food, offer help, or simply let me know they were there if I needed anything. That kind of love and support, without condition or expectation, always stayed with me. It made me feel like I was never truly alone, even if I was far from home.

To me, community is my favorite thing about where I come from. It’s the way people look out for each other, the unspoken understanding that we’re all connected. Today, I try to bring that spirit into my own life, showing up for others, building relationships rooted in care, and creating spaces where people feel seen and safe. That village mindset is still guiding me, and I carry it with pride.”

– Ashli, Youth Facilitator, Speaker at YouthSpeak Charity

YouthSpeak’s Founder on the Meaning of Community

“When I am out walking, I experience a great sense of community and oneness with the planet. I live in a medium-size town, but it still has the “small town” feeling that I grew up in with many friendly neighbourhoods and lots of green spaces. 

Walking, in itself, gives me such a wonderful sense of peace, mental clarity, spiritual connection as well as all the health benefits, creating the tone for a deep feeling of belonging to something greater than ourselves. 

The “small town” feeling is evident when, seldom do I walk down the street without a mutual greeting of some sort – at minimum a smile, and sometimes a quick chat with a passerby that I don’t even know. Quickly, I am reminded that we are all in this together, and this is where I experience community.

More than once, I have had the gift of witnessing simple acts of kindness when someone just needed a helping hand. I’ll never forget a time when an elderly person, out walking on their own, was having difficulty making the curb when trying to cross the street, and several people immediately pulled over to help…it was so beautiful. 

I am also blessed to live within walking distance of the “happening” place in my town, called the Riverwalk Commons. It has become the town hub that sits behind our revitalized downtown main street and along a walking and bike trail that spans all the way to the town just south of us and the town just north of us. The Riverwalk Commons is always full of life whether its because of the Farmers Market, skating in the winter, some other event with music, people of all ages and diverse backgrounds and experiences, or simply other “walkers” enjoying this space, everyone is welcomed there.  

When I want to get some exercise, need some mental clarity or just a break from working, I go for a walk. This is where I am truly aligned with that oneness, and I am instantly immersed in a sense of community.”

– Una Wright, Founder and Executive Director at YouthSpeak Charity

Community in 2025: What It Means to Today’s Youth

Looking at community in current times, we must adopt a lens of societal equity. It is important to note that the intersection of patriarchy, colonialism and capitalism has geared the western space and populations living in it towards a pursuit of hyper-individualism, the complete opposite to community or communal living. Many communities that once held a strong presence in the fabric of societies became lost in the process. Today, many young people crave this community that used to be more prevalent. The need for community presents itself in the landscape of social media today. Many conversations amongst youth on social media either name their relief in finding a sense of community online, or their frustration with the lack of what are referred to as “third spaces”, places outside of school and work to connect with neighbouring populations.

Whether through historical conflicts or the shifting culture of modern day, it is evident that the idea of community is continuously changing shape. Yet, even still, community is something we as human beings consistently find ourselves drawn to. Whether it’s the backyard barbeque invite from your neighbour, the pottery class where you met another hobbyist, or the daycare where your kids have made friends, community is still at the core of our nature. One could argue, it’s supposed to be.

The Meaning of Community at YouthSpeak Charity

It is clear that what connects our variety of human experiences is the deep understanding that we are stronger together. At YouthSpeak, this belief shapes everything we do. Whether our team members are collaborating behind the scenes or presenting stories of resilience and belonging in schools, we rely on mutual support, open communication, and shared purpose. We loo build community through our mission youth empowerment, which is evident in every teacher’s testimonial, every school board’s recognition, and every young person that approaches one of our facilitators after a presentation to tell us they feel seen and heard and that they can belong.

Community isn’t just our foundation—it’s how we grow.

“We are all relatives.”

– Indigenous teaching (Turtle Island/North America)

Yours Truly,

The YouthSpeak Team

YouthSpeak is a charity organization based in the GTA, Canada that conducts assemblies and interactive workshops to help increase the resiliency of youth facing challenges today. Help support our For-Youth-by-Youth projects by donating at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/i-support-youthspeak

YouthSpeak resides on traditional lands called Tkaranto, now Toronto. Tkaranto belongs to and is still home to the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Alongside this, we remember the many forcibly displaced people of African descent who were not settlers, and are an integral part of the history of North America. In addition, we recognize racialized immigrants from countless nations for their uncredited labour, and its benefits to this country. We are grateful to be on this land, made possible by the Dish with One Spoon and the Two-Row Wampum treaties. YouthSpeak continues towards education in reconciliation, implementation of an anti-oppressive lens and engaging with indigenous communities for our mission of youth mental health empowerment.