Our Mission
More than ever, making positive changes in today's political climate requires all the right ingredients. We want to place highly motivated, passionate and hard-working young people on a fast-track to success, building the next generation of Muslim and Black public servants.
A non-partisan program, the Youth Fellowship provides politically motivated students the opportunity to complement their academic studies with hands-on experience working with an elected government representative.
Furthermore, placing staff with deep roots in Toronto’s Muslim and Black communities in decision-making spaces will help ensure that the substance, shape and details of what Toronto’s government decides better reflects community experiences.
Our Impact
In 2017, the Muslim Youth Fellowship (MYF) was created with approval from Toronto City Council. Since its inception, MYF has graduated 28 fellows. 7 former fellows currently work with City Councillors, 5 work for provincial or federal elected officials, 5 work for the municipal or provincial public service, and 4 work in community or corporate organizations whose work directly ties into municipal government.
In April 2019, Toronto City Council directed staff to create a Black Youth Fellowship in collaboration with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. The Black Youth Fellowship will open applications for its inaugural cohort in September 2020.
"The Muslim Youth Fellowship program taught me important life skills that I can carry throughout my career. During my time at City Hall I learned how to craft policy, work with constituents, and understand municipal politics in general. We learned from preeminent leaders within the political field during our training workshops.
MYF made me feel comfortable with who I was in the political world. I was mentored by some of the kindest and most hard working Muslims who have given me the skills and confidence to navigate my political future."
— Haseeb Hassaan, 2017-2018 Fellow