Session 4 – 12-12:50pm: National Collaboration for Youth Mental Health
Alex Emmanuel, Angelique Francis, Guyleigh Johnson, Kyrstin Dumont and Wendy Russell; Introduction by Maxine Awedella
Maxine Awedella –Volunteer Executive Director
The National Collaboration for Youth Mental Health NCYMH has grown and increased its vital mental health services and programming for students, parents, educators and communities under the committed, experienced and compassionate leadership of its Volunteer Executive Director, Maxine Adwella-Awedalla. Maxine is an educator with a Master’s degree in Psychology and an MBA, who travels regularly across Canada to stay connected with youth while developing mental health BIPOC programming which is client-specific and region-specific. Maxine leads a national team across Canada of over 200 staff members and thousands of volunteers.
Alex Emmanuel
Alex is a grade 10 visual arts at Canterbury High School who designed the National Collaboration for Youth Mental Health logo known as the girl with the rainbow tear”. Alex is currently designing the NCYMH BIPOC logo which will be launched on November 20, 2020.
Angelique Francis
Angelique is a celebrated award winning cellist who has travelled the world and has combatted some social challenges as a black female musician. Her talent is unstoppable and had broken systemic racism barriers.
Guyleigh Johnson
Guyleigh is a 23 year old youth mental health worker who is working in the student family advocacy program. Guyleigh’s approach is to share her own struggles which allows students to feel she is a safe and trusted confidante and place they can turn to for support.
Kyrstin Dumont
Kyrstin is a passionate and caring young woman and proud band member of the Algonquins of Kitigan Zibi. She is an awardee for her dedication to the indigenous community, she has taken part in sacred walks to protect the water, spoken on Parliament Hill about climate justice and human rights, created cultural art tutorials during covid for indigenous youth to stay connected to their cultures as well as continuously raised money for the moose moratorium and low income families during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has worked with schools, organizations and churches such as OCDSB, CAS, the child welfare league, UNICEF Canada, the Kitchissippi church as well as the Woodroffe church and while she is currently completing her high school education at Urban Aboriginal she works as a strong role model for other students who have fallen through the cracks of mainstream colonial education systems. She is an advocate, an aspiring future social worker, and a mentor to her family and community alike.
Wendy Russell
Wendy is a proud volunteer writer, mentor and Board Member for the National Collaboration for Youth Mental Health, NCYMH. She is an award-winning TV & Film producer, multi-nominated TV host and creator of HGTV’s “She’s Crafty”. Wendy has been presenting as a keynote speaker teaching students & adults across North American to use their creativity to improve their mental health and reduce stress & anxiety which in turn makes the world a better place. You can also find her making appearances on CityTV’s daily lifestyle TV Show “CityLine” as one of their Guest Experts. Fun fact: as an actor, Wendy was in the movie “Juno” where she played Jennifer Garner’s BFF, but don’t hold your breath. Her big scene got cut out, so she’s only in the movie for like…three seconds.