Reason #2 to Donate to OJEN’s 15th Birthday!
Officer arm-wrestles youth participant from Youth/Police Dialogues.
OJEN turned 15 this year!
Since 2002, OJEN’s programs and resources have impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people throughout Ontario. And we’re just getting started! Looking ahead to 2018 and beyond, we’re excited about opportunities to expand our justice education initiatives to new youth audiences. We know that providing young people with legal life skills is one important contributing factor towards ensuring greater access to justice.
Between now and the end of 2017, we’ll be posting 15 significant OJEN achievements or initiatives – reasons we think you’ll want to give us an extra-special year-end present!
Reason #2
OJEN offers opportunities for youth and police to build mutual trust.
“For many of the youth that participate, they have never been given an opportunity to interact with police in such a safe environment and it seems to help cultivate a new type of relationship with police that the youth never thought possible. I believe strongly in the work that OJEN does because it not only assists youth in a practical sense, but also gives youth the opportunity to interact with members of the legal system in a positive way.”
Marc Rainford, Retired Police Constable – Toronto Police Services
Youth-Police Dialogues provide a safe space to for youth to share their concerns and experiences with local police officers. With help from justice sector professionals, youth build advocacy skills, learn how to frame their concerns and participate in a facilitated dialogue that explores ways to improve youth-police relations. Youth-Police Dialogues have taken place in Toronto, Ottawa, Sudbury and Thunder Bay and we are seeking funding to expand the program throughout Ontario.
You can help provide opportunities to improve youth/police relationships by supporting OJEN’s justice education programming through a donation to our 15th Birthday Campaign! Donate here!