Youth education company Achieve Potential Inc. and non-profit organization Future Achievers held the 2025 Change Your Future (CYF) Gala to celebrate young professionals in Toronto last month.
On Mar. 29, government representatives, educators and business leaders gathered at the Village Loft at the Bayview Village Shopping Centre in North York to celebrate the career achievements of young professionals in Ontario.
This annual event aims to inspire the community by showcasing the power of opportunities to transform underserved youth into successful professionals and honour their achievements in overcoming obstacles and boosting their careers.
CYF is a program that helps underprivileged Canadian youth to enter the work force by providing mentorships, training, networking and internships that can take their future to the next level.
With support from the Government of Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s grant for the Youth Employment Skills Strategy and other community partners, the program is breaking cycles of career disadvantages, strengthening the local economy and contributing to workforce diversity.
During this year’s gala, York South-Weston MPP Mohamed Firin awarded CYF with an official certificate to recognize the program’s achievements with young professionals and significant impact in the community.
It was a great pleasure to attend the Change Your Future Gala hosted by Achieve Potential. A wonderful evening recognizing the accomplishments of participants and the work being done to empower youth. pic.twitter.com/EODRCvxrNp
— Mohamed Firin (@MohamedFirinYSW) March 30, 2025
The gala featured a graduation ceremony for CYF participants to receive a certificate that celebrates their hard work and dedication, and symbolizes their readiness to a successful career.
Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate, poet and human rights activist, Shahaddah Jack also attended the event and amazed the audience with an emotional performance about empowerment, resilience and identity.
Along with her, CYF 2024-2025 Valedictorian Nathalia Comrie was introduced in the event and celebrated for her success, as she concludes the program with internship prospects at three different organizations, as a tribute to her dedication and proof that underserved youth have the power to thrive when given the opportunity.
The CYF continues to grow for the year ahead, hoping to keep inspiring and uplifting Canadian young professionals, and invites community leaders and employers to support their initiatives to continue creating more opportunities for underserved communities.
