THIS MONTH I had an opportunity to get an update from a community organization called PACT, which stands for participation, acknowledgement, commitment, and transformation.
PACT was launched almost eight years ago, primarily as an organization diverting youth from the criminal justice system. Rather than sending first-time offenders or those convicted of minor offences to detention centres, PACT sits everyone down — offender and victim alike — to discuss what happened, why and what should be done.
PACT also provides coaching, mentoring and a variety of life skills programs. One of their core programs is a cooking school started by Marjorie Agnew, owner of the Main Course on Avenue Road. PACT also offers programs, from film training to magic lessons, all designed to give youth practical skills and a source of creativity.
It didn’t take the people at PACT long to realize that they could make an even bigger impact if they could help prevent youth crime. This year, they partnered with staff from Sir Sandford Fleming High School and established the Urban Food Initiative.
Through this program, youth grow organic produce right in the schoolyard and then distribute it to local food banks. In addition to supplying thousands of pounds of produce, youth are learning about eco-friendly food production and, soon, how to market their work. Deemed a huge success, PACT is looking to roll out the Urban Food Initiative to 12 more schools.
Having positively intervened in the lives of almost 4,000 at-risk youth, PACT is a tremendous organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth crime and violence and giving at-risk youth real options for the future. Visit www.pactprogram.ca for details.