Sign up for our newsletter & stay in the loop Our W.A.V.E. Empowering Youth Day, now in its 3rd year, is the Good Works portion of our charitable organization and a celebration as we honour youth, who have ‘Made a Difference’ in their schools and communities, with a Louise Russo Youth or Leadership Award. These individuals took the initiative to organize direct outreach and networking activities that focused on the 3R’s – Respect, Responsibility and the Role of leadership, to create a safer place to live, learn and play.
REGISTRATION FORM
2012 Youth Empowering Day Flyer with registration form
Find out more about the awards and application process
ABOUT THE DAY
The day provides a platform for past and present Louise Russo Youth Award recipients to share their stories, how their initiative is making a difference and as an award recipient, how they are able to encourage other youth (their peers) to believe that one-by-one we can all make a difference.
The day also involves exceptional motivational guest speakers and performers who share their personal stories about a life altering incident that helped them to take charge of their lives by the choices and actions they took. These speakers and performers, with their strong and impressionable messages, become role models in the eyes of our youth.
Our 2011 speaker/performer roster has exceeded all our expectations. They include:
- The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- our returning emcee, Rick Campanelli, Global’s co-host ET Canada
- Diane Dupuy, President & Founder Famous PEOPLE Players
- LaToya Rodney, former gang member, councellor, rap artist and mother
- Mixed Company Theatre, engages students in active problem solving, through socially relevant and interactive drama
- Mark DeMontis, who overcame his challenges when he was declared legally blind at age 17
- Danny Fernandes, Canada’s next true superstar, is an MMVA winner and JUNO Award nomineed who with non-stop hit singles including: “Take Me Away,” “Automatic,” “Private Dancer,” “Addicted” and “Fantasy,” is busy promoting current album Automatic Luv and new single “Feel It” a duet with his brother Shawn Desman.
The day’s activities culminate with some exceptional young people receiving five (5) Louise Russo Youth Awards (individuals or teams) and three (3) Leadership Awards, attended by their peers, teachers and corporate sponsors. To date we have recognized (32) Youth and Leadership Awards in the form of a bursary towards the student’s education or program initiative.
In the words of one of last year’s award winners, Lageishon Mohanadas;
“I would like to thank you very much for providing me with this wonderful experience and allowing for my story to be heard. The youth day was an amazing time and the speakers really opened my eyes, quite inspirational. I feel so honoured to be receiving an award from such an amazing organization. Your story allows for others to believe you can make a difference no matter your situation. We have to continue this movement to end violence in this city.”
Congratulations to all our winners! You do make a difference.
A special Thank You to all schools, dignitaries, sponsors, individuals, parents, community members and volunteers who made this such a special day by coming out and supporting the W.A.V.E. Empowering Youth Day. This day is about making positive choices. It is with your support that our charitable organization continues to have a voice.
“You have the freedom to make choices. Believe in yourself, take the role of leadership, be respectful, be responsible and you will make a difference,” says Russo. “One-by-one we all can make a difference.”
