Gen_Chos3n - Generation Chosen

Generation Chosen is a non-profit organization devoted to enhancing the emotional intelligence of young adults, from marginalized communities. Through openly confronting mental health obstacles; dealing compassionately with harmful emotional tendencies and creating opportunities for educational matriculation, job recruitment, and recreational catharsis, we aim to holistically support the development of those most vulnerable in our society.

Why We Do What We Do
The primary facilitators and organizers of Generation Chosen (Joseph Smith, Dwayne Brown, Kimarie Smith, Nadia Dowie, and Rhianne Campbell) all possess unique backgrounds that both inform and motivate their work today. The common thread that unites them, is their acknowledgement of the dramatic impact that psycho-social tensions and unresolved emotional issues can have on educational, vocational and life outcomes.

This is why at Generation Chosen we take such pride in cultivating and enriching the inter/intrapersonal relationships that each of our participants have, given that the very success of their future endeavours (in their relationships and work life) is predicated upon the quality of the relationships they currently hold – both with themselves and others. In marginalized and low-income communities like the one we serve (Jane and Finch), what we believe hinders youth ages 15-19 from educational matriculation (both at the secondary and post-secondary levels), and precludes their access to tertiary and quaternary industry jobs, is not so much their willingness, capacities and acumen, but rather, the way in which institutional and systemic barriers, structures, and biases coalesce to condition our participants and condition the individuals who function as their first points of contact with mainstream society (parents, teachers, employers etc.).

These institutional interfaces (family, school, work etc.) are often plagued with harmful power structures that favour those with privilege, and sideline those without. It is because we believe that these types of (mis)relationships suppress the psycho-social development of our participants, the inter/intrapersonal relationships they seek to establish and by extension, their life prospects, that we seek to demystify, and make less taboo, engaging in meaningful educative discussions, activities, and programming around mental health and emotional intelligence.

Our program caters to the needs of racialized, marginalized and disenfranchised inner-city youth by focussing on 5 key areas, which we believe, fundamentally catalyze holistic human development.

Mental Health

Mental Health is the Ability to Resolve Contradictions

E.I. (Emotional Intelligence)

Experiences are Composites of Our Emotions

Education

Understanding the World Demands that we First Understand Ourselves

Jobs

The Secret to Success: Make your Vocation your Vacation

Recreation

The Therapy of Motion

At Generation Chosen, we emphasize and seek to inculcate in our youth, six key virtues, that we think, overwhelmingly contribute to the emotional and mental health of any subject. These virtues are made manifest in all of our programming, and constitute the very matrix of our organization.

PERSPECTIVE

Perspective is the activity of self-worth.

COURAGE

Courage is taking responsibility for dealing with change and error.

HUMILITY

Humility is recognizing that everyone is in need of someone or something for their success.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is the ability to stay committed to what is eternal.

BOLDNESS

Boldness is a loud and powerful statement, made, internally.

VISION

Vision illuminates the world within.

Our Anchor, Dwayne Brown, has written a fabulous article for www.conversationcanada.com regarding our work with Generation Chosen, and how it relates to the personal tragedies he has had to contend with in his life. Take A Look! https://theconversation.com/emotional-intelligence-is-life-and-death-where-im-from-93413

Emotional Intelligence is Life and Death where I'm From

Thanks to OperationBlackVote, we have been privileged to be spotlighted by pressednews.com . Check out the amazing article they wrote about our program and its members. https://pressednews.com/impressed/joseph-smith/