The Friends of CAB group provides peer-led, culturally relevant supports and services for Caribbean, African, and Black (CAB) youth of marginalized genders (women, trans folks, non-binary) living in the GTA. Weekly sessions focus on a pre-determined topic, and are facilitated by a core member, volunteer participant, or external partner. We use a model of collaborative support and education as an alternative/accompaniment to more traditional Western methods. Past session discussion topics include consent, mental health, spirituality, ancestral foods, gender identity, budgeting, housing, etc.

Friends of CAB also offers monthly workshops to help youth develop tangible skills in things like cooking, self-defence, gardening, sewing, and first aid. Participants can also receive additional supports like a monthly food box, transportation stipend, gender-affirming clothing, and menstrual care items (if needed). Friends of CAB focuses on uplifting the youth in our community who would otherwise be left behind.

WEEKLY SESSIONS (Zoom/in-person) 2-3hrs
- these sessions will be focused around a specific topic, and led by core staff or a volunteer
- themed convos (i.e. emotions, astrology, healthy relationships, sexual health)
- themes are participant-led and chosen, facilitated by staff or volunteers
- participants will self-host 1 drop in convo (not formally facilitated)

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS
- Monthly Food Box: Recognizing the importance of food sovereignty, Friends of CAB will provide culturally appropriate food box delivery to all participants (via FoodShare/Fruit & Veg To Go and local Black farms).
- Self-Care: Either a stipend or package for participants to have self-care items. A stipend could go towards professional therapy, transit to visit family, menstrual products, etc. A giftbox would have a variety of items from local Black-owned businesses (candle, puzzle, water bottle, etc.)

“Friends of CAB: Roots to Thrive” enables us to support our participants by providing culturally relevant and identity inclusive skills development that will help them transition from surviving to thriving on their own and within community. Roots to Thrive works to establish and sustain a Queer/Trans, Black youth-serving community culture garden and urban agriculture support program.

Friends of CAB: Fibre Arts focuses on learning practical textile/fibre skills such as knitting, macrame, mending, weaving, sewing, and crochet.

Fibre Arts will support 10-15 participants who are interested in developing skills in fibre arts. Depending on funding secured, our goal is a minimum of 2 workshops for each of 6 types of fibre art (the option to add additional fibre arts or workshops will depend on funding and donations secured).

Each Fibre Art will happen over 2 workshops. The first workshop will be an introductory course where participants receive their supplies, and learn the basics of the skill. The second workshop will help the participants develop and combine their skills.

Our participants will learn from experienced community artists. Our programming costs also include being able to provide each participant with a $100 microgrant to purchase supplies for a “personal project” using the skills from our workshops (i.e. materials and fabric to sew a whole dress, or a pattern and yarn for a knit scarf).