Generation Chosen
Generation Chosen is a non-profit organization devoted to interrupting intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty in lower-income communities.
Our Pillars
Our program caters to the needs of racialized, marginalized and disenfranchised inner-city youth by focussing on 4 key areas, which we believe, fundamentally catalyze holistic human development.
Mental Health
Suicide is a major cause of death among young people, with 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds being attributed to it. Mental illness and disorders affect a significant proportion of Canadian youth, with an estimated 10-20% being affected. The causes of mental health issues in youth are multifaceted, including factors such as hyper-masculinity, hyper-femininity, poverty, and unresolved childhood trauma. In their program, the authors have successfully provided youth with tools and insights to address anxiety and depression.
E.I. (Emotional Intelligence)
In regards to emotional intelligence (EI), what has been rising in popularity (within the business and sport sectors of our society) is the idea of EQ, which stands for "emotional quotient." EQ looks at the way people function and perform under duress, and EI, complementarily, endeavours to help particular individuals appropriately assess their own emotional states (and the emotional states of others) in varying moments of their lived experience and adequately relate to external stimuli (persons, places, and things) in a way that is most fruitful for themselves and others.
Education
It is well documented that the high level of unemployment amongst youth is comparable to a lack of educational attainment. According to the Sesotho proverb "thato ke lesedi", translated to "education is hope", education acts as a mobilizer of dreams, passions, and inspirations i.e. hope. This is why in our program we focus on connecting youth to work-study programs, continuing education programs, credit upgrading/recovery programs, financial literacy and entrepreneurial workshops, as well as providing them with the opportunity to acquire 21st century skills that can be monetized in the modern world of work. This is all done so as to ensure that our youth have the best chances for success in the fields they seek to work in and create.
Civic Engagement
In order to imagine and work towards the best possible world, one must possess a core set of values that foster novelty and progressive leadership, while being aware of the emotional traits that such leadership requires. A meaningful and intimate connection to history is also necessary to avoid repeating traumas and tragedies of the past. Through their program, Generation Chosen is helping marginalized youth develop the thought patterns and emotional habits required to envision a better world, while also providing practical training and exposure to the political ecosystem in order to develop a generation of advocates and policy makers that can create an inclusive and diverse world.
Our Programs
Navigation
Our Navigation program focusses on equipping youth and young adults with the skills, thought patterns, and understandings necessary to become economically self-sufficient, thrive educationally, and acquire gainful employment. By focussing on Financial Literacy (investing, mechanics of starting a for-profit or non-profit business, home ownership etc.), Credit recovery/Tutoring, and Job preparedness we ensure that youth and young adults are prepared to take their rightful places in the economies of the 21st century.
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Remedy
The mental health issues of youth and young adults are diverse and complex. Often youth and young adults attempt to self-sooth and contend with their adverse mental/emotional states by engaging in activities that only worsen rather than enhance their health. At Generation Chosen we seek to demystify therapy by making it more accessible and free for youth and young adults who are both racialized and from underserved communities. Our Therapists are all certified and trained and can offer a variety of supports free of charge to the registered participant.
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Catharsis
Our Catharsis program is geared towards providing youth and young adults with the necessary soft skills to navigate their way through adverse emotional disturbances and their interpersonal relationships that are fraught with psycho-social tensions. We believe that by helping youth and young adults acquire the necessary language to make sense of and understand their disparate emotional states we can encourage them to become emotionally stable, effective communicators, and intrinsically motivated.
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Gen Fem
Gen Fem is a program that focusses on issues unique to racialized women. Activities, discussions, and excursions are developed around the areas of mental health, emotional intelligence, and financial literacy, and relationships (both with oneself and others).
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Civic Anchor
The Civic Anchor program is strategically designed to foster a a young person's understanding of, and employability within, areas of work pertaining to municipal, provincial, and/or federal politics. Activities, discussions, and excursions are designed to prepare a young person for opportunities that exist at every level of our democracy with a focus on advocating for sustainable and socially equitable futures.
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Our Partners
Our Principles
At Generation Chosen we seek to inculcate five 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.
Humilty
The most successful people often mistakenly believe their accomplishments are solely a result of their own special abilities, leading to arrogance, while in reality, everyone is dependent on external factors for success and should practice humility.
Integrity
Integrity is the unwavering commitment to making resolute choices that are rooted in a deep understanding of the worth and value of one's life and the lives of others, driven by conviction and a steadfast dedication to what is eternal.
Courage
Gaining a proper direction for growth and change, while courageously confronting mistakes and persevering through the confusion and persecuting thoughts associated with failure, is the key to taking responsibility for one's own development.
Boldness
Boldness is the ability to endure the world's attempts to silence one's ideals and values, remaining steadfast in the belief of one's own worth in the face of opposition, and making a powerful statement internally, even without speaking aloud.
Perspective
To gain a healthy self-perspective in a culture full of harmful media messages dictating gender roles, it's important to recognize one's own self-worth and distance oneself from these harmful opinions, making perspective the key to self-worth.