Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education (YAAACE) has been essential in Toronto. Annually, they change the lives of well over 1,000 children and families by developing skills and providing academic, athletic, and emotional support. This summer, YAAACE’s Summer Institute will kick-off a brand new seven-week long program. Its goal is to ensure that students experience affirming Black identities and a sense of belonging, which cultivates academic success for approximately 300 students in grades 3-12.
Since its start in 2007, the Summer Institute has combined literacy and math instruction with culturally responsive learning methods. YAAACE combines arts-based programming with robotics, youth mentorship and athletics. This strategy fosters a joyful, warm, and rigorous environment for Black students academically, socially, emotionally, and culturally. Taught by Ontario-certified teachers, the program provides the very best instruction and guidance. It’s staffed primarily by a devoted Black staff trained in trauma-informed care, addressing the multifaceted challenges that often plague Black youth.
Most importantly, Black students are consistently stacked against in an education system that systemically disadvantages Black students, through disproportionate discipline and funneling them through non-academic tracks. YAAACE’s approach is a great antidote to all of this — it creates a positive cycle of empowerment. So often do the students come back as peer leaders and mentors themselves to others who have gone through the program. This effort not only builds participants’ confidence, but equips them with skills they need to succeed. These skills will prepare them to lead in the 21st century!
A Comprehensive Approach to Learning
The Summer Institute has an intensive, holistic curriculum that addresses students’ academic and personal growth. Students complete an intensive, math-rich curriculum to receive high school credit for rising grade 9 students. This course is an essential launchpad for students. It provides the help that some need to make sure their transition into high school is successful.
YAAACE’s program centers Africentricity and Black excellence, and offers a culturally responsive space that nurtures and affirms Black identities. YAAACE gathers disaggregated race-based data. This, in turn, enables them to measure outcomes and determine what works to improve educational results for their students. This data-driven approach allows the organization to adapt its offerings based on the specific needs of the community it serves.
“Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System” – Ontario Human Rights Commission
The consequences of these systemic barriers are still deeply felt by Black students today. That’s what makes programs like YAAACE’s Summer Institute so critical right now. A vast majority of Black families have encountered implementation barriers preventing them from accessing culturally relevant summer opportunities that affirm their identities and lived experiences.
Supporting Holistic Development
YAAACE goes beyond just ensuring academic achievement as they develop the whole child and people. In addition to organizing advocacy campaigns, the organization offers mentorship opportunities that develop leadership skills among students. These peer-led initiatives encourage youth to engage with their communities positively while reinforcing the values learned throughout their time at YAAACE.
The program’s athletics component, which promotes teamwork and discipline, are important skills that students carry far beyond the classroom. Through fostering an inclusive environment where students feel comfortable being their true selves, YAAACE plays a huge role in protecting their emotional health.
“Centre empowering examples of Black identity and culture” – https://parentsofblackchildren.org/educator-resource/parents-of-black-children-booklist/
Through YAAACE’s programs, Black youth develop their leadership abilities and self-confidence. They address community violence and intergenerational trauma that so many of these youth experience. The organization works hard to tear down these barriers by offering safe and supportive environments where youth can learn and grow.
The mix of academic rigor, emotional support, and cultural affirmation produces a powerful educational alchemy. This customized, targeted approach is exactly what the Black students of Toronto need. Together, this model is a significant counter-narrative to the anti-Black racism perpetuated within our school systems.
Community Impact and Future Directions
Whether it’s working on policy recommendations or hosting pop-up community consultations, YAAACE’s work is deeply committed to engaging with families and their communities. It motivates parents and caregivers to take a more hands-on approach to their children’s learning opportunities. Simultaneously, it advocates for bold reforms in the K-12 public education system.
Most importantly, a powerful network of support has grown around YAAACE’s work. In qualitative interviews, families described feeling more confident in their children’s academic skills and a sense of restored hope for their children’s futures. Many parents view the Summer Institute as a lifeline during the summer months when access to educational resources can be limited.
The dedication to cultural responsiveness is a bedrock principle of YAAACE’s programming. By centering Black voices and experiences in its curriculum, the organization fosters an environment that not only educates but empowers.