Time

Session No.

Agenda

Presenter(s)

Description

10:00 – 10:30 AM

S1.01

Call to Order

REST Team

Networking, welcome, materials pick-up, and refreshments served.

10:30 – 10:35 AM

10:35 – 10:40 AM

10:40 – 10:50 AM

10:50 – 11:00 AM

11:00 – 11:15 AM

11:15 – 11:35 AM

11:35 – 11:50 AM

11:50 – 12:10 PM

12:10 – 12:30 PM

12:30 – 12:40 PM

12:40 – 1:30 PM

S1.02

Registration & Morning Snack

MC: Dagma Koyi & Justice Greggory Regis (Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts)

Opens the event and introduces the hosts.

S1.03

S1.04

S1.05

S1.06

S1.07

S1.08

S1.09

S1.10

S1.11

S1.12

Land Acknowledgement

REST Centres

Recognition of Indigenous territories.

Opening Remarks

MC: Dagma Koyi & Justice Greggory Regis (Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts)

Interactive welcome and participant introductions.

Participant Introduction

Dagma Koyi, Executive Director & Founder, REST Centres & Justice Greggory Regis (Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts)

Strategic vision for Black Youth Housing Equity.

Solidarity Message: Government and Community in Partnership

Hon. Graham Mcgregor, Minster of Citizen and Multiculrasm, Government Representative

Highlights cross-sector collaboration in advancing Black youth housing equity.

Keynote Address: A Better Future for Black Youth

Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine (PC, CM), Former MP & Social Justice Advocate

Building a Canada where Black youth thrive; reflections on advocacy, policy change, and leadership.

REST Documentary Screening

Short film capturing lived experiences of Black youth supported by REST.

MC: Dagma Koyi & Justice Greggory Regis

Youth in Action for Housing Equity

Kurgeena: Rep. REST Youth Council & Partner Agency Youth

Youth share lived experiences, distribute campaign cards, and call for action through the joint statement.

Featured Presentation: Black Housing Equity Framework

Dr. Marie Cecile Kotyk, University of Calgary

“A Black Housing Equity Framework to Address Anti-Black Racism in Housing and Homelessness.”

Lunch Break

Justice Greggory Regis (Summit Co-Chair)

Reflections and key takeaways from the morning session.

Opening Session Wrap-Up

All Participants

Catered lunch.

Time

Session No.

Agenda

Presenter(s)

Description

1:30 – 2:30 PM

S2.01

Moderator: Danavan Samuels

Each organization presents disaggregated data, service experiences, and culturally responsive models addressing Black youth homelessness.

2:30 – 2:45 PM

2:45 – 3:50 PM

3:50 – 4:10 PM

4:10 – 4:30 PM

4:30 – 5:00 PM

Panel: Demonstrating Overrepresentation and Innovations to Address Black Youth Homelessness

S2.02

S2.03

S2.04

S2.05

Panel: Equity in Action – Transforming How We Fund Change

Q&A Discussion – Panel 1

All Participants

Moderated Q&A specific to Panel 1, with audience reflections and shared learning.

Moderator: Amanuel Melles, Executive Director, NABC

Q&A Discussion – Panel 2

Explores how agencies and funders can leverage available supports to strengthen Black youth housing interventions, address funding model challenges, and align funding with community-led, culturally responsive solutions.

REST Team

1. Steve Jacques, Commissioner of Human Services, Peel Region

Light refreshments before departure.

Day One Wrap-Up: Reflections & Call to Action

Moderated Q&A specific to Panel 2, with audience reflections and shared learning.

Evening Snack & Departure

Justice Greggory Regis & Dagma Koyi (Executive Director & Founder, REST Centres) Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts

Panelists:

1. Tahirah Simmons, Manager of Community Housing, 360°kids

2. Grace Udodong, Executive Director, Oasis Youth Care Programs

3. David Reycraft, Program Director, Eva’s Initiative

4. REST Centres; Ben Bempah/Lara

Panelists:

2. Adaoma Patterson, Director of Community Service Investments, UWGT

3. Andrea Nemtin, CEO, Social Innovation Canada

4. Alex Tveit, Co-Founder & CEO, Sustainable Impact Foundation

5. Representative, City of Toronto (TBD)

All Participants

A 20-minute wrap-up sharing highlights of the day and energizing participants for Day Two.

S2.06

Time

Session No.

Agenda

Presenter(s)

Description

10:00 – 10:15 AM

S2.01

Opening Remarks & Call to Order

REST Team

Registration, materials pick-up, and refreshments.

10:15 – 10:25 AM

10:25 – 10:45 AM

10:45 – 11:05 AM

11:05 – 11:25 AM

11:25 – 11:55 AM

11:55 – 12:45 PM

S2.02

Registration & Morning Snack

Dagma Koyi (CEO, REST Centres) & Justice Greggory Regis – Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts

Welcome, recap of Day One, and setting intentions for Day Two.

S2.03

S2.04

S2.05

S2.06

Bridge of Hope – A Head Leasing Innovation

REST Centres

Overview of adaptable head leasing model, key features, and early outcomes.

RTA and Models of Head Leasing: A Critical Look into Policy Implications

Kizito Musabimana, Rwanda Healing Centre

African-Canadian Village Housing and adapting Solutions Lab for Black youth equity.

From Head Leasing to Village Building

Margaret Flynn, Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

Analysis of policy and practice dimensions of head leasing.

Breakout Discussions: Examining the Head Leasing Framework

Facilitators: Bright Okenwa (confirmed), Efia Takyi Annan (TBD)

Small group discussions on:

• Legal & regulatory considerations

• Landlord engagement strategies

• Community partnerships.

Lunch Break

Catered lunch.

All Participants

Time

Session No.

Agenda

Presenter(s)

Description

12:45 – 1:35 PM

S2.07

Family and Natural Supports: Strengthening Upstream Interventions for Black Youth

Moderator: Jacqui Hery, REST Centres; REST Youth Council & Partner Youth

Youth share lived experiences, visions for change, and collaboratively draft a 2-page Youth Policy Brief.

1:35 – 2:05 PM

2:05 – 2:15 PM

2:15 – 2:45 PM

2:45 – 2:55 PM

3:05 – 4:20 PM

S2.08

By the Fireside – Youth Voices for Housing Equity

Moderator (Proposed): Nation Cheong. Presenters:

S2.09

S2.11

1. Prof. Steve Gaetz (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness),

Explores how family and community networks can prevent youth homelessness. Includes presentation and moderated discussion.

Slot for Dr. Prentiss Team

All Participants

Audience questions and reflections specific to the FNS session.

Q&A & Discussion: Family and Natural Supports

Dr. Prentiss Dantzler, University of Toronto – Housing Justice Lab

Q&A & Discussion: Housing Market Discrimination

All Participants (moderated by Prof. Steve Gaetz)

Afternoon Snack Break

Light refreshments.

Audience questions and reflections specific to Dr. Dantzler’s presentation.

2. Ranece Gordon (FIRM Lead), Marjaan McDonald (RISE Lead, REST Centres)

2:55 – 3:05 PM

Workshop: Building Resilience – Trauma-Informed Practice for Black Youth

Nene Kwasi Kafele, Tabono Institute

Extended workshop offering practical, culturally grounded tools for strength-based service delivery and staff capacity-building. (Duration preserved at ~75 minutes.)

4:20 – 4:40 PM

S2.10

Summit Wrap-Up & Way Forward

Dagma Koyi (CEO, REST Centres) & Justice Greggory Regis – Summit Co-Chairs & Hosts

Recap of summit insights, next steps, and post-summit action strategy.

4:40 – 4:50 PM

S2.12

Thanks & Recognition

REST Team

Acknowledgments to youth, partners, speakers, and attendees.

4:50 – 5:00 PM

Evening Snack & Departure

Closing refreshments.