Every year, the OCH Foundation and Youth Futures team brings together Youth Futures’ alumni for an evening of reconnection, reflection and celebration. The annual Youth Futures Alumni Event is an opportunity for former participants to catch up with one another, build connections across past cohorts, reconnect with mentors and staff, and reflect on how far they’ve come since completing the program.
As the Youth Futures community continues to grow, this event has also become a chance to take stock of the program’s long-term impact. Alumni who once joined Youth Futures looking for guidance and support now return as university and college students, graduates, professionals and mentors. Their journeys are a reminder of what’s possible when young people are given the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
This year’s event featured an activity that invited alumni to leave behind advice for future participants. There was one message that seemed to capture the spirit of Youth Futures perfectly: “Remember, just be yourself, no matter what. Don’t be shy, just ask questions, make connections, and make memories because time goes by so fast. Don’t stress about the future. Just live in the present and enjoy it.”
Some encouraged future participants to “make connections.” Others reminded them to “SPEAK UP”, and to “keep an open mind about everything you do & everyone you meet.” Together, they formed more than a collection of inspiring quotes. They reflected years of growth and learning.
For many alumni, Youth Futures was where they first explored their career goals, built confidence, developed new skills, gained work experience and discovered new opportunities for themselves. While every story is unique, they all share something in common: each represents a young person who was given the encouragement, support, and opportunities to believe in their potential. That is the heart of Youth Futures.
Evenings like these are a reminder that Youth Futures doesn’t end when the program does. The relationships built and the lessons learned continue to shape lives long after participants complete the program. Seeing alumni continue to stay engaged with the program is one of the clearest signs of the community Youth Futures has become.
To the alumni who joined us, thank you for sharing your stories and your time. We are incredibly proud of everything you have accomplished, and we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes you. We are also incredibly grateful to our program co-partners City of Ottawa and BGC Ottawa for their continued support in delivering the Youth Futures program.
