Youth Forum explores Leadership and Empowerment
Over 590 participants took part in the 15th Annual Ripple Effect Youth Forum on July 27, 2022, featuring a hybrid model with virtual components and a return to the first in-person event since the pandemic. Participants logged on from Bangladesh, Barbados, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, while over 350 youth attended in person, including Youth in Policing students from eight different Police Services.
A fundraiser for Durham’s Hearth Place Cancer Centre was held where attendees purchased pizza and raffle tickets to win prizes supplied by community partners which raised a total of $1,047 dollars!
DRPS CAO Stan MacLellan provided opening remarks to kick off the forum. With the Ripple Effect returning in person for its quindecinnial anniversary, he pointed out the change students can start, simply by taking the first step, and being diligent towards their goals.
This year’s event focused on a theme of ‘Defining Diligence’ through consistency, cooperation, and conscientiousness, with a focus on the power of leadership and initiative. Each year, the Ripple Effect Youth Forum continues to serve as a unique opportunity for youth to receive their community volunteer hours in a day of exploring leadership and empowerment.
The forum welcomed keynotes from Library in a Week Founder Sultan Akif, LiveDifferent’s Johnny Henderson, and award-winning speaker Adonis Rosalle. Their impassioned addresses highlighted varying aspects of leadership and social entrepreneurship. A team of Youth in Policing students continued this message through a series of interactive workshops centered around cooperation, which provided attendees a unique opportunity to connect with youth across the province.
With over 15 community partners working to support the event and over a dozen prizes provided to students, the DRPS Youth In Policing Initiative is proud to be hosting events for future leaders. The DRPS YIP program is reaching more youth now than ever before. The YIP program will be hiring for the Winter Initiative starting in August, so check out www.drps.ca/yip or contact youthinpolicing@drps.ca for more information.