Create Your Future Program

What is the Create Your Future Program?

The CYF Program helps racialized students to progress through school, and overcome the challenges they face in the education system. The program is a run by a CYF counsellor who provides support on a day-to-day basis in their secondary school. 

The program works because it helps to build meaningful relationships and provide young people with the time, attention and counselling that they might need to develop the skills necessary for contributing meaningfully to society. 

Interventions in each program are tailored for each student's individual needs, and include such things as:   

• Counselling
• ​Community involvement and field trips
• Monthly group and regular one-on-one meetings
• Career guidance and planning
• Help with resumes and finding a job
• Tutoring

The CYF program helps students to set goals, ​achieve personal growth, ​realize their full potential, identify appropriate career options, ​achieve academic growth and develop job search and interview skills.

Natalie Browning-Morgan: Graduation Coach for Black Students

Natalie Browning-Morgan is a Windsor-born woman of African, Chippewa, Wyandot and Italian descent, and believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion strengthen and enrich our schools and communities, especially when all people are afforded the opportunity to reach their highest potential. 

As a secondary teacher and the Graduation Coach for Black Students, Natalie works from a holistic approach and framework, to provide intensive and culturally responsive support and advocacy to Black, African and Caribbean students’ and their families.  The goal of the program is to develop approaches to empower students and see students through graduation, while developing purposeful transition strategies to support their desired post-secondary programs/pathways. 

In her current role, Natalie also helps coordinate and facilitate the GECDSB’s Create Your Future (CYF) Program, and the Black, African and Caribbean (B.A.C.) Tutoring Program. Two innovative educational support programs designed to better serve racialized, marginalized, and in-risk students. 

At her core, Natalie is a social justice activist, both locally and globally, with a focus on civil rights, human rights, women's rights, and dismantling anti-Black racism. Natalie is a co-founder of the GECDSB’s Black Staff Equity Alliance (BSEA), which is an organization that works to dismantle anti-Black racism in education.  

Create Your Future Advisor Profiles

Emily Ackle: Westview Freedom Academy

Emily Ackle is a child and youth care worker. She is trilingual fluent in English, Arabic, and French. She has experience working with Big Brothers Big sisters Windsor leading and creating programs targeted at marginalized and racialized youth. She created therapeutic programs, planned weekly sessions, and managed and coordinated groups. As a support worker at community living, Emily provided physical, emotional and social support to the individual she supported. As a Create Your Future Advisor, Emily works to create a safe space for her students that empowers them to excel in their studies, realize their full potential, build positive connections and foster meaningful relationships.”

Francisco (Xavier) Urbina Ruiz: Leamington District SS

Francisco is the new Create your Future Advisor at Leamington District Secondary School. In the past he has held the position of Child and Youth Worker with the GECDSB. As the former Chair for the Canadian Council for Refugees Youth Network he has been involved with many other newcomer, refugee and minorities organizations. Xavier has a passion for helping students and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

Olivia Michael: Walkerville Collegiate Institute

Olivia has an Honors B.A. from the University of Toronto. She has over 4 years of experience working in the non-profit sector helping young people to better realign their livelihoods. This includes directing community programs targeted at marginalized youth, assisting with community partnership relationships and developing programs and workshops focused on language skills, employment, and education. As an employment counsellor she facilitated programs that helped youth navigate the workplace after graduation. She has an open door policy and is more than happy to help students.

Ronald Jeffries: W.F. Herman Academy

Ronald is a Herman graduate and former participant in the CYF program. His involvement in the CYF program contributed to his success. Ronald attended St. Clair College for the child and youth work program and has worked in many positions assisting youth with reintegration, behavioral needs, and employment. His goal with the CYF program is to help students be as successful as possible and to recognize their potential. He will encourage students to set employment and educational goals and teaching strategies on how to achieve their goals through self-esteem building, positive conflict resolution and goal setting, while creating a safe space for students to feel welcomed and understood.

Black, African and Caribbean Tutoring Program

The B.A.C Tutoring program has five tutors who provide academic support to grade 7-12 students in a wide array of subject areas. This program currently runs virtually. Students that join are entitled to 20 hours of tutoring support. Our B.A.C. tutors are:

Students who may benefit from the B.A.C Tutoring Program can be referred by contacting Natalie Browning-Morgan at [email protected].