The Civic Literacy Youth Network (CLYN) is an online network and pan-Canadian community for youth and young adults (16-25 years old, inclusive), moderated by educators and researchers.

Background:

The CLYN started because young people we talked with in different parts of the country were concerned about increasing levels of racial and religious discrimination. They were looking for places to discuss these issues.

In response, the CLYN offers a space for youth and young adults across Canada to discuss related issues by incorporating a full spectrum of religious, spiritual and non-religious viewpoints. By the end of the project, participants gain experience and analytical skills in structured dialogue and engagement with their peers, and have an understanding of civic religious literacy.

In our first two years, participants included 14-21 year old young adults from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. They were from a various religious and non-religious, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation backgrounds, and rural, suburban, and urban settings.

Funding goal:

Our past two cohorts were funded by Canadian Heritage as a pilot project.

Now, we are seeking funds and support to continue this project long term.

Funding would support:

1) Our team of incredible CCRL facilitators who support young people throughout the program

2) The honoraria of our fantastic guest speakers

3) CCRL team members and Montreal Jewish-Christian Dialogue partners who will mentor participants to bring this opportunity beyond CLYN (online or in person) to their local communities.

Speakers included:

- Rizwan Mohammad (National Council of Canadian Muslims)

- Dr. Dilmurat Mahmut (International Support for Uyghurs)

- Jasmine Kwong (Creation Care Director, Overseas Mission Fellowship)

- Brenda Ikuta (Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, Member of the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta)

- Dr. David Major (Retired Scientist, Member of the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta)

- John Longhurst (Winnipeg Free Press)

- Dr. Sivane Hirsch (Laval University)

- Dan Panneton (Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Education)

- Dr. Willow Anderson (Social Fabric Institute)

- Maureen Bulbrook (Indigenous Counsel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer; Humanist Canada)

- Christina Ninham (Family law and child protection lawyer; Humanist Canada)

- 4 grandmothers from the Intercultural Grandmothers Uniting group in Regina, SK

- imam El-Farouk Khaki (Unity Mosque)

- Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes (Rainbow Faith & Freedom) 

- Dr. Shauna Van Praagh (Professor of Law, McGill University / President of the Law Commission of Canada)

Testimonials:

The most important thing I learned from participating in the CLYN is:

Look past the preconceptions I have in my mind. - Participant, 2024

That people who belong to a group don't necessarily do everything that group does, they're still individuals - Participant, 2024

Thinking from both sides of an interaction. Being able to recognize what another person is thinking or feeling as well as what I am thinking or feeling, and how this can contribute to having a more meaningful discussion. - Participant, 2023

How to be an active, engaged, and thoughtful listener! - Participant, 2023