Housing
At 360°kids, we take pride in our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA). This year, through the leadership of the IDEA Committee, we celebrated and acknowledged the histories, cultures and contributions of Black, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. We held community gatherings at Home Base for Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day with the Indigenous Action Committee. We also partnered with York Pride through our Queer Agenda Program to run their first Low Sensory Zone to help make Pride more accessible. Along with our events and programming, we have taken significant strides to address systemic issues and create lasting change at 360°kids. Our Black Youth Housing Project – which will open next year – is a pivotal initiative aimed at providing safe, stable and culturally-affirming housing for Black youth.
To ensure our organization is aligned with our IDEA goals, consultant, KOJO Institute, led foundational training on equity and anti-Black racism for staff and Board members. This training is part of our broader Equity Strategic Implementation Plan, which will guide our IDEA initiatives and IDEA Committee over the next five years to build a more inclusive environment. We will also be exploring accountability tools to address systemic oppression, as well as demographic surveys to identify areas for improvement. Over the past year, we moved from using EDI to IDEA to be more intentional with our disability justice work and recognize the barriers that people with disabilities experience. This further emphasizes the importance of ensuring our work is intersectional. While we have taken substantial steps, there is still more work to be done. Your continued support is vital as we strive to ensure that our youth and staff are seen, heard and valued.
Programs & Services at 360°kids
Given the nature of our work, we strive to prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion to ensure that all youth have equal access to opportunities and resources. By promoting a safe and welcoming environment for all youth, regardless of their background, we build trust and foster a sense of community.
Initiatives, such as The Queer Agenda, Black Youth Housing, and inclusive holiday celebrations, exemplify our dedication to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion. Through these efforts we ensure our programs are culturally responsive and relevant to the needs of the youth we serve.
360°kids Staff
We are dedicated to fostering a workplace culture that embraces inclusivity and support. We strive to empower our employees, encouraging them to freely express their thoughts and ideas, and valuing the diversity of perspectives they bring. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and supported, enabling each individual to thrive and contribute their unique talents and experiences.
How You Can Help
Get Involved360°kids works with individuals, corporate, school and community groups to provide both financial and in-kind donations to help support our work to assist at-risk and homeless youth.
In-kind donations from the community such as non-perishable food, clothing and hygiene items help keep our costs down so that more of your donation dollars can go towards direct programming, equipment needs and support to the youth.
Funds raised by 360°kids are invested back into our organization in improving and expanding the supports offered to vulnerable youth so that they can become stable, well-adjusted adults who contribute to the community.
