Tallawah Youth Conference: Know Yourself, Reimagine your Future.

Tallawah Youth Conference is a youth-centered gathering designed to empower Black and racialized youth to imagine, shape, and lead their futures. Rooted in Africentric, decolonial, and trauma-informed values, the conference creates a brave and affirming space for youth to engage in dialogue, learning, and creative exploration.

The conference brings together youth, mentors, educators, and community leaders to explore themes such as identity, leadership, wellness, education, employment pathways, and social justice. Through interactive workshops, panels, storytelling, and artistic expression, participants are encouraged to reflect on their lived experiences, build critical skills, and develop a sense of agency and collective responsibility.

At its core, the Tallawah Youth Conference centers youth voice, resilience, and possibility—supporting young people to move from uncertainty toward confidence, connection, and purpose, while strengthening community ties and intergenerational mentorship.

This year’s conference pillars:

Through the conference pillars: Knowledge of Self, Knowledge of Systems, and Knowledge of Possibilities, youth are supported to build confidence and improving relational and emotional skills, understand the systems that shape their lives, and envision new pathways forward.

Key Topics:

• Financial Management 101.
• Visioning for your future.
• Expressing yourself through art.
• Perserving through obstacles, and so much more.

Young people across Canada are navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty around their futures. Economic instability, systemic inequities, and rising mental health needs have created conditions in which youth—especially Black and racialized youth—are struggling to find direction, stability, and hope. The Tallawah Youth Conference is a critical intervention designed to address these realities by equipping youth with knowledge of self, knowledge of systems, and knowledge of possibilities.

Launched in 2025 with over 120 youth participants across Durham Region and the GTA, the Tallawah Youth Conference created a culturally grounded, supportive, and transformative space for youth leadership, learning, and community building. In 2026, Tallawah expands its vision. Tallawah is more than a conference—it is a catalyst for sustainable youth development, community empowerment, and systemic change.

Why is this youth conference needed:

1. Rising Youth Unemployment and Economic Instability:
   Youth unemployment in Canada remains significantly higher than the general population at approximately 14%, with Black youth unemployment nearly double at 22–24%, reflecting systemic barriers and reduced access to opportunities (Statistics Canada, 2023; Employment and Social Development Canada, 2024). These inequities leave youth unsure if they possess the skills, supports, or networks required to secure meaningful employment.
2. Barriers to Housing and Increased Homelessness Risk:
   Canadian youth face lower homeownership rates, higher reliance on renting, and increased vulnerability to homelessness compared to adults. Black youth are disproportionately represented among young people at risk of homelessness (CMHC, 2023; Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, 2022). Economic precarity undermines young people’s ability to plan for their futures and impacts mental well-being.
3. Growing Mental Health Concerns
   The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports increasing rates of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and identity struggles among youth (2022). Many young people express uncertainty about their purpose, difficulty maintaining friendships, and increasing dependence on technology or substances as coping mechanisms (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022; CTF, 2023).
4. Impact of Anti-Black Racism and Systemic Oppression
   Black and racialized youth continue to experience disproportionate disciplinary practices in schools, employment discrimination, and systemic harms that erode identity and belonging (OHRC, 2020; Statistics Canada, 2023). These experiences compound emotional distress and shape how youth see themselves and their place within society.

Sponsor this event & Participate

This is a must -attend event for youth and allies. Participate in the event as a sponsor or participant. Preview our sponsorship package:

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