At the Saint John Newcomers Centre, youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are already shaping community life today. Over the past months, the Elevate Program’s Youth Community Day, delivered in partnership with Saint John High School and coordinated by Anastasiia Kaminska, has turned the SJNC Community Hub into a regular gathering place for learning, leadership, and belonging.
Held twice each month in smaller groups, Youth Community Day has offered high school students a structured space to build practical life skills, community connections, and confidence as they think about life after graduation. Instead of traditional “sit-and-listen” presentations, each session has blended short workshops with open conversation, ensuring that youth are active participants—asking questions, sharing their stories, and practicing new skills in real time.
Across the year, sessions have circled through six core learning areas that reflect the realities newcomer and immigrant‑background youth are navigating. Employment readiness has helped students explore careers, understand workplace expectations, and recognize their transferable skills. Settlement and community navigation topics have introduced local services, civic engagement opportunities, and newcomer supports, making it easier to know where to go for help.
At the same time, workshops on networking and relationship building, public speaking, and confidence have given participants a chance to practice introductions, talk with mentors, and try out leadership roles in a low‑pressure setting. Sessions focused on wellness and well‑being have opened space for honest conversations about mental health, stress, and self‑care. Cultural competence activities have encouraged youth to celebrate their identities while learning how to work across differences with respect and curiosity.
Throughout, SJNC staff and community partners have used experiential approaches—role plays, scenarios, small‑group problem‑solving, and peer exchange—to turn concepts like “professionalism” or “networking” into concrete, usable skills. The Community Hub itself has been part of the experience: flexible rooms for breakout groups, games like ping pong and chess, and time set aside to share snacks have helped students feel that this is their space, not just another classroom.
Staff have noticed a clear shift over the course of each visit: youth who arrive quietly often leave with new friends, new questions, and a clearer sense of what is possible for them. The relationships, knowledge, and confidence they build—often called social capital—are resources they will carry into post‑secondary education, employment, and community life.
The Elevate partnership between Saint John High School, SJNC, and Anastasiia Kaminska has already had a tangible impact, helping young people feel more prepared for work, more rooted in their community, and more confident in who they are. Each Youth Community Day stands as a reminder of what can happen when youth are given the space, support, and tools to truly elevate their potential.
