A Message from our Founder

Pathways to Education is a program that was developed in 2001 by the Regent Park Community Health Centre - a leader in community health and social supports. Regent Park is a community that lies at the centre of downtown Toronto and remains one of the poorest communities in the province; it has no streets, few stores, and members of the community struggle to provide for their children and families.

Many of the residents of Regent Park do not speak English and those who do often struggle to find opportunities amidst a long line of social, cultural and educational barriers. The Regent Park Community Health Centre knows that the two most important social determinants of health are education and income. After years of surveying the social landscape in Regent Park, the Health Centre, its staff and Board of Directors became inspired by the idea of community succession; an idea that the children of Regent Park will achieve their potential by becoming the doctors, nurses, administrators, lawyers and civil servants - ultimately returning to their community and supporting its ongoing development.

In an effort to address poverty and other barriers that exist within the community of Regent Park, a focus was placed on youth and breaking the cycle of poverty through the creation of the Pathways to Education Program. The Program has built working relationships with funders, schools, the community, the health centre and parents. In working together towards a common goal, the Pathways to Education Program has been key in not only transforming the community but building brighter futures for youth at-risk.

The Program is structured with four pillars of support; academic, social, financial, and advocacy. Taken together, this approach increases the chances for youth to move on to post-secondary education. The Program also develops a relationship with parents to help ensure they play an active role in the education of their child, especially where language and cultural barriers are an issue.

If you ask residents about their community, they'll tell you that things are changing in Regent Park. They'll tell you the steps we're taking today are having a direct result in creating a brighter, more stable future for their community. And they'll tell you part of the reason is the Pathways to Education Program. Pathways works with at-risk youth to help lay the foundation for a successful future.

Six years later we have gathered critical evidence that shows the impact we have had on one community. In the case of Regent Park - Pathways' flagship program, we have reduced the drop out rate from 56% to 10%. With this tremendous and ongoing success we will undoubtedly continue to increase the life chances of youth at risk.

In reflecting upon these last six years, we have come to believe that it is our social obligation to take this good news story and share it with similar communities across Canada. In June 2005 Pathways Canada was incorporated and we are poised to begin replication of this model program. This is a program that works and can be adapted to other similar communities across the country.

We are grateful to both the Counselling Foundation of Canada and The Ontario Trillium Foundation for providing us with the initial seed funding. Both of these Foundations have remained committed to our vision over the past six years.

Carolyn Acker
Founder, Pathways Canada