Talking Youth Safety at the ACCPA Conference

Yaw Baayim, Project Coordinator

Our recent presence at the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA) conference was a meaningful one. Youth and gang-related activities have been a major topic of interest in Alberta, which is part of the reason why the Intersections of Identity project means so much to us at JHC. Navigating complex systems while maintaining the safe mental health space required to grow is a significant challenge for young people. Youth aging out of care, dealing with substance use, and navigating the legal system are fundamental issues affecting many Albertan youths. This is why it was so relevant for us to be a part of this conference and to connect with like-minded individuals who have these issues at heart. From government to non-government sectors, this space allowed us to engage with an audience consisting primarily of professionals in policing-related fields.

We are pleased to share that our resources were well received by attendees. The cards on policing and victims' rights were popular, as were the cards providing guidance on what to do during police encounters. Our Intersections Youth Report and Resource Guide also garnered positive attention and sparked many conversations around rural youth engagement and how JHC has made an impact in those spaces. Fortunately, we had our rural youth resources on hand to demonstrate that we are there for all youth, irrespective of where they are located.

Engagement levels were notably stronger on the first day, during which we interacted with about 28 people at our table. However, on the second day, engagement dropped to approximately 10 people. Consequently, we chose to maximize our time by attending a few conference sessions instead. We made several valuable connections with key professionals; a representative from the RCMP and members of the ACCPA team, among others, expressed their interest in a follow-up, and an officer from a Reserve Police service was incredibly grateful for the resources provided.

Ultimately, while we maximized our time by completing other tasks and attending sessions on the final day, we were also able to connect more with other participants and exhibitors who were showcasing their own organizational resources. Overall, this experience provided important insight into a new audience and established foundational connections within the policing community. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to be present, represent JHC, and get involved in a topic that deeply affects the youth in our community.