AGM November 2021
If you follow our story, you will know that BTS has been through a lot over the past two years. Like everyone else. It's been challenging to find funds, deliver programs and adapt to the "new normal".
The last time we held our AGM was the summer of 2019. This was not a feel-good meeting full of optimism. On the contrary, most board members left the meeting with a sense of uncertainty. BTS was at a crossroads and our current situation challenging.
The funny thing is, we teach low-income youth how to deal with all the challenges life throws at them. So the two options were to close up shop or practice what we preach.
We choose to practice what we preach, and that's why we are here today. With confidence, resilience and a growth mindset, we redesigned, reimagined and implemented best practices and evidence-based approaches to find our voice and footing during the pandemic.
BTS now offers four unique and fun programs, and we have delivered them all with excellent feedback and outcomes. We have successfully fundraised for grants to deliver these new programs. We have implemented efficient and effective processes and systems to deliver quality programs.
We had served youth at a time when so many of them were feeling disconnected, discouraged and hopeless, just like we once were. Our new programs combined sports, mentoring and social-emotional learning. These new programmes allowed us to connect with our participants and teach them strategies and tools to navigate the pandemic constructively and successfully transition to adulthood and realize their full potential.
With all the success and changes we have seen in our youth, it was very exciting to finally hold our AGM meeting after two years and share that since 2019, BTS:
delivered two summer jobs programs providing more than 4,860 hours of work experience, workshops, tutorials and mentoring to 22 low-income youth;
delivered You Grow Girl to 18 low-income girls, providing 40+ hours of fitness activities and workshops;
delivered Level Up in two schools to 40 low-income youth and improved their resilience and confidence, and filmed and produced 16 Level Up workout videos;
delivered Wrestle 4 Fun to more than 2,700 low-income children in the Toronto District School Board;
developed a social-emotional learning curriculum for Wrestle 4 Fun for ages 6-12 (30+ games & activities);
developed a social-emotional learning curriculum for Level Up & You Grow Girl;
started the second season of Wrestle 4 Fun and will serve another 700 children before the end of the year;
started two more Level Up programs for 40 youth; and
started You Grow Girl program for 30 girls.
A big thank you to (from left to right, row by row) our board and staff for attending and supporting the work of BTS:
Neal Ewers
Jessica Marasovic
Sue Hopcroft
Sang Kim
David Gordon
Scott Prokosch
Nick Xiang
Mick Quinn
John Park
John Ewing
Guy Zink
