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Trust 15news

A non-profit organization that provides mentorship & support for the youth of the Rexdale Community.

July 2016

A Visit to the Nations Capital

On July 18, 2016, Trust 15 offered the youth of Rexdale an opportunity to visit our country’s capital. The trip was an exhilarating four-day excursion that included many events and historic sightings, such as the opportunity to meet and greet Canadian politicians and dignitaries. Thanks to the generous support from Coach Canada, and our wonderful driver Donald, who made sure Trust 15 arrived at all our destinations safely.

Many of the students have never received the chance to travel to Ottawa, or tour the Parliament building. “It was absolutely refreshing for all of us to be able to step outside of the Rexdale community, and experience a culture and environment that students have not been able to before.”, said Leanne Hoang, a Student Leader at Trust 15. This was a trip of a life time!

When the students arrived from the five-hour long trip, there was plenty of smiles and laughter on the bus. They got a tour around the beautiful University of Ottawa where they stayed for the next four days. The men and ladies were provided breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, including a trip to different restaurants around downtown Ottawa.

During the day the youth participated in different events such as Trust 15’s Annual Tea Party which took place in the Penthouse Event Suite at the Demaris building in the University of Ottawa Campus. They also visited many historical buildings and museums including Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa Art Gallery, the Rideau Centre, and the Canadian Museum of History. By night, the ladies and men bonded with one another while playing games and watching movies. “I felt that this trip allowed me to not only see a new city, but allowed me to really get to know other girls,” said Ashante (Ladies on the Rise member). Before the end of the trip, the students got the chance to stop by Kingston, Ontario to explore Fort Henry, a national historical site.

Stepping out of Rexdale – Best Road Trip Ever!

Ottawa, ON: Marcia Brown, Founder and Executive Director of Trust 15, with Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and some of the amazing Trust 15 future leaders.

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Meeting Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

MP Kirsty Duncan and Senator Anne C. Cools

Senator Anne C. Cools and the Minister of Science, MP Kirtsy Duncan were in attendance as they were both guest speakers for the event. MP Kirsty Duncan has been a huge supporter of Trust 15 & a great friend to Marcia Brown since it first started back in 2011. As Senator Cools presented her speech, she said, “There’s a piece of my heart with you,” referring to Marcia Brown. “I understand the drive, the motivation and the high levels of energy that are required of any human being who is attempting to influence the direction and the course of a young person’s life.” Senator Anne C. Cools shows her deep affection and support to Marcia and towards Trust 15.

“I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to expose the youth of Trust 15 to our Nation’s Capital, Ottawa. To be able to introduce our youth to so many spectacular individuals such as Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Sarah Onyango, it has been a great honour to converse with these women. I am truly grateful by the amount of support that has been extended to Trust 15 from powerful Ottawa residents such as Senator Anne Cools. One of my dreams has always been to elevate the aspirations of our youth by giving them opportunities to interact and socialize with esteemed guests. As the future leaders of our country, our youth have been able to progress and excel in manifesting their leadership skills. And that has been a true blessing that I thank God for. We will forever cherish the precious time we spent in Ottawa with the lovely youth of Trust 15.” - Marcia Brown

Thoughts from Founder and Executive Director Marcia Brown

On July 19, 2016, Trust 15 held their annual Tea Party. An honorable guest appeared at the gathering and that is Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Madame Sophie was one of the guest speakers at the event and spoke wisdom to the students of Trust 15. She revealed compassion, love and support towards the young ladies and men. “There’s a community of people who actually believes in you, and loves you as you are” said Madame Trudeau. A community such as Trust 15 believes in the youth of Rexdale.

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“My experience in Ottawa was nothing short of amazing! This was my second time being in the nation’s capital, but this was a far different occasion. The Ottawa trip with Trust 15 was a perception-shattering journey for me. The fellowship and bonding we all had in the Canada Coach vehicle alone, was enough to merit the trip an unforgettable one. The inside jokes and laughs we shared on our way to our destination will not be forgotten. Through it all, the tea party remains the highlight of the whole event. Being able to be in the same room as the lovely Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and being able to speak about my experiences with Trust 15 and the impacts that this organization has had on my life was truly a blessing. Everything from Madame Trudeau’s speech, to Jason Owusu’s rendition of our poem, or hearing Senator Anne Cools’ inspirational address, will all be branded deep within my memory as a completely awing experience. This whole adventure will not be something that I will forget any time soon, because it strengthened my bond with fellow brothers and sisters in this program, as well as reformed my views on the nation’s capital. There is much more to Canada than just Toronto, although it may be my favorite city and my place of origin, there is still much more that Canada has to offer. This visit in Ottawa will surely not be my last.” I would like to send a special thank you to an amazing lady Marcia Brown for changing my life and letting me see the future in a better light. Joshua Newby

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“Before the tea party began I was feeling a little bit nervous because I knew we would be meeting Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and MP Kirsty Duncan. When the tea party started, I came to realization that I shouldn’t be nervous because I was surrounded by family, who were the Ladies on the Rise and Men of Distinction. One of the most memorable moments of the Tea party was when Marcia Brown came up to the podium and spoke about how much she truly loved all of us and she began to cry. Seeing Mrs. Brown shed tears made me want to cry. She went on and continued to say how long of a journey she’s been on with us and that really touched my heart. Attending the tea party allowed me the opportunity to meet individuals I would have never met and go to places I wouldn’t be able to. I love Trust 15 and I am grateful to be in this program.” – Nancy Fragisna

Visiting Ottawa was a marvelous experience. Sitting down in the same room as the wonderful Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, was an honor. On day one, we woke up that morning with great anticipation. We boarded the coach and away we went.  Despite the 5-hour drive, the time spent bonding with my cohorts made it fly by at exponential rates. The conversations on the coach were edifying and covered a wide array of topics. The highlight of our escapades was undoubtedly, the tea party. It was the best event I've ever experienced; seeing the Men Of Distinction and Ladies on the Rise in formal attire gave me a feeling of pride and joy. Our fantastic MC's for the evening were Austin Martins-Robolino and Astley Stewart. We kicked off the evening with a bang, which was Joshua Newby and Ariana Sayedy’s testimonials which then was followed by an incredible speech by the honorable Kirsty Duncan. We sang Roar by Katy Perry, which was followed by a sublime speech by Senator Anne Cools. The event culminated with Jason Owusu Asare’s rendition of the poem Opportunity, which sent chills down my spine. The tea party was a liberating experience, to see individuals who have been categorized as being 'at risk’ make it to Ottawa to rub shoulders with some of the most elite individuals in Canada.” – Andre Williams

Message from our Young Leaders

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For more information about Trust 15’s youth programs and how to donate,visit us at Trust15.com.

Contact Information – Founder/ Executive Director Marcia Brown: (416) – 427 - 5398Mailing Address: 5230 Finch Ave West, Toronto, ON M9V 0A1Registered Charitable: #81388 5886 RR0001