Brendan Penfound's Colleagues at YouthSpeak Performance Charity
Brendan Penfound's Contact Details
St Catharines, Ontario, Canada
YouthSpeak Performance Charity
Brendan Penfound's Company Details
Personal stories are shared in assemblies by youth employed to voice a strong message of respect, hope and tolerance and to lead workshops that help build character, self-esteem and resilience. We also provide parent and teacher groups and Keynotes for conferences.YouthSpeak was founded in 2003 by Una Wright and inspired by personal experience within her own family. Una has lost two children – Gavin who died on his nineteenth birthday in a weather-related car accident. He was one of the first youth speakers for YouthSpeak. Ten years later, Kyle who struggled with bipolar for many years took his own life at age 31. The most recent loss of her second son has been a very raw and real reminder about the importance of the work of YouthSpeak.Everyone knows someone who has dealt with a mental health issue at some point in their lives – giving that person hope can actually save a life. YouthSpeak has reached over 130,000 students, parents, teachers and has become the go-to youth voice related to mental health, addiction and bullying. Our roster of youth speakers is strong, committed and passionate about making a difference. YouthSpeak is well-supported by community through our Board of Directors and sustainable partnerships with the school boards, local police service, public health and many community organizations.As a responsive, innovative charity, YouthSpeak has been proven to increase empathy within the school environment, increase the number of students asking for help and give parents knowledge and hope for their youth.Our vision is to become the pre-eminent youth voice in Canada that encourages positive choice related to mental health, bullying and addiction and to create a safe space for youth to reach out so that none live alone in their own silence.Youth experience. Youth voice. Youth empowered.