KEM (Knowledge Exchange Meetup) for YOUNG LEADERS running grassroots youth-led initiatives

KEM (Knowledge Exchange Meetup) provides an interactive and participatory learning opportunity for young leaders and allies who are interested in building knowledge of organizational development and managerial skills.

Are you a grassroots youth-led initiative? Interested in learning about incorporation?

This KEM is suitable for both emerging and experienced youth-led initiatives. Through this KEM young leaders will be able to expand their knowledge, ask questions and learn how to imagine sustainability within their initiatives through exploring the benefits and pitfalls of incorporation. This KEM is an opportunity to explore incorporation as an option for your group, consider how this may affect your operations, as well as learn about what it has looked liked for other youth-led initiatives.

Join the conversation as we share ideas and insights around strengthening and sustaining youth-led initiatives!

August 30th, 2016 from 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Pros & Cons of Incorporation for Grassroots Youth-led Initiatives

Through this KEM, you will:

1. Better understand the pros and cons of incorporation

2. Hear about incorporation from a legal perspective

3. Learn helpful tips from an incorporated youth-led initative

*This KEM is part of Youth Opportunities Fund, Capacity Building Initiative project learning series

Facilitators

Saron Gebresellassi, Lawyer at Gebresellassi Law

Saron Gebresellassi is a young lawyer, entrepreneur and nationally-renowned advocate earning her place in Chatelaine Magazine’s “Top 80 Amazing Canadian Women to Watch”. Saron is of Eritrean-Canadian heritage having arrived to Ontario with her family at the height of a civil war in the region. Raised in Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s high-rise located at Keele and Eglinton- it became abundantly clear at an early age, that education would be the key to exiting TCHC doors. Having excelled academically early on, Saron went on to earn three university degrees from the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa, entirely financed through private scholarships and was called to the Bar in 2014. The day after the ceremony, Saron immediately opened and launched her own private litigation firm headquartered in the same neighbourhood that raised her- Weston Mount Dennis. Saron quickly established a reputation in the industry as a distinguished advocate and has successfully ran numerous high profile cases.

Guest Speaker: Michael Prosserman, Executive Director and Founder of UNITY Charity

Michael Prosserman is the Founder and Executive Director of UNITY Charity, an organization that empowers youth to be role models and leaders in their communities through after school programs in break dancing, graffiti art, spoken word poetry and beat boxing. UNITY has now reached over 100,000 young people across Canada over the past 12 years, but started out as just a high school project! Learn how 30 year old Michael Prosserman (aka Mikey aka Bboy Piecez) has built an organization from scratch around an alliance of community-minded urban artists. Recognizing youth in priority communities needed better ways to express their anger and stress. Come hear him share his personal journey, why he decided to register and incorporate UNITY Charity, and other important tips such as; “things he now knows, that he wished he knew back then when he was starting out”.