Next Gen Photography Social Enterprise was Launched
PRESS RELEASE
Kitchener, ONTARIO (September 18, 2024) – Our journey through the Advanced Entrepreneurship Program that was launched in July 2023 was truly remarkable. Over the course of our 12-week workshop series, we observed the youth participants' growing enthusiasm and excitement for each upcoming class. It was evident that as the program progressed, the youth became increasingly invested in their learning journey. “With support through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund, Hope for Community Development provided critical tools, opportunities, and services to Black young leaders and entrepreneurs in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.” The research, development, launch and operations of the enterprise are coordinated and led by youth from the Chandler-Mowat community. On November 4, 2023, Next Gen Photography was launched with the vision to elevate the youth of today through the art of photography. We are in the first season of piloting the enterprise under the direction of BIPOC youth.
This project was funded by the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery
Fund. The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time $400-million investment from the federal government to support charities and non-profits as they recover from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This fund was administered by the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada.
Additionally, we’d like to thank Waterloo Region Community Foundation and United Way Waterloo Region for their work in the Community Services Recovery Fund and their continued support for Hope for Community Development. Their collaboration at the local level has helped make this program possible!
“They’ve learned and developed their photography skills and customer service, and they are now employed by our organization to offer professional photography services throughout Waterloo Region,” said Francess Dunhann, Executive Director “Youth support each other on-site and learn on the job, advancing their photography skills through experience and sharing knowledge.”
“The program so far has been an amazing journey for me. With that, I was able to become more brave and confident. It has been a 10/10 experience since I was able to learn new things and meet new people. I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while now, so for that I am thankful. I would love to work for Next Gen Photography due to my love for photography and because I do see myself launching a mini social enterprise.” — Youth participant
“My experience in the program so far has been a positive and insightful journey. The program has taught me things and given me resources a school classroom is unable to give. I appreciated the contacts and relationships formed. I liked that everyone including myself was pushed out of our comfort zones to grow and put ourselves out there.” — Youth participant
“One key learning I will take away from this program is that even the biggest ideas or dreams can seem achievable when you break it down to simply weekly steps, just like how we demonstrated in this class. I see myself participating in our photography social enterprise because I am curious to see it to the end.” — Youth participant
To deliver the program, Hope for Community Development leaned on resources provided by The Community Company, a Certified B Corporation that works with non-profits to create sustainable enterprises. Representatives from Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF), LiftOff, and the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre also lent expertise.
Hope for Community Development introduced Next Gen Photography to the community by organizing a free community celebration where high profile community leaders and government officials were in attendance. Guest Speakers included: Karen Redman, Regional Chair of the Waterloo Region, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of the City of Kitchener, Fauzia Baig, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Region of Waterloo, Blessing Akpan, Director, Community Impact Waterloo Region Community Foundation and Trevor Charles, Executive Director, LiftOff by CCAWR. It was a recognition ceremony of our Chandler Mowat youth who participated in the 12-week Advanced Entrepreneurship Program over the summer of 2023. The evening was concluded with the official unveiling of Next Gen Photography, a youth empowerment project created by Hope for Community Development with the support of our community's youth.
For inquiries
Francess Dunhann
Executive Director
Ralph Dagoseh
Founder
About Hope for Community Development
Hope for Community Development is a youth-focused not-for profit organization that works to empower newcomer and marginalized families and youth with programming and support, we aim to break the cycle of poverty that BIPOC and newcomer families face in Waterloo Region. Our programming takes direct action to empower marginalized, newcomer, and refugee children, youth, women and single-parent families by providing a launch pad of services and supports that set them up for success. We create opportunities for people experiencing marginalization irrespective of their past experiences, family’s financial situation, or barriers faced, such as institutionalized racism. We believe in creating opportunities to allow youth to thrive and strive for their greatest potential through school-related programming, fostering interest in entrepreneurship and supporting the navigation of post-secondary options.
A crucial pillar of our work is connecting youth and young people with inspiring pathways to career actualization through our social enterprise, NextGen Photography. The research, development, launch and operations of the enterprise are coordinated and led by youth from the Chandler-Mowat community. We launched this enterprise in the fall of 2023 and are in the first season of piloting the enterprise under the direction of BIPOC youth.
For more information on Hope for Community Development, visit www.hope4cd.org
For more details about Next Gen Photography, or to book services, visit www.nextgenphotos.org
About Community Services Recovery Fund
The Community Services Recovery Fund was a one-time $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery.
To learn more about the Community Services Recovery Fund, go to www.wrcf.ca/recovery-fund
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