R Clay introduced Tony:
Tony Posthumus is the Executive Director of Northumberland Youth Unlimited and the Team Chaplain and Director of Player Wellness of the Cobourg Cougars Jr. A Hockey Club. Tony is passionate about supporting young people and building strong relationships in the community. Prior to working with Youth Unlimited, Tony worked in a youth correctional facility where he worked with high -risk male youth and helped lead a team of twenty -one youth workers. Outside of his work, you can find Tony enjoying the outdoors with his wife and four boys or playing guitar in a country -rock band. Ensuring that people are heard, valued, equipped and empowered is among Tony's top priorities.
Tony explained that the Brighton Beacon is part of Youth Unlimited which he has been Executive Director of since 2015. His focus in on young people.
Tony has four boys at home and it is not a quiet place.
Youth Unlimited is the local chapter of Youth For Christ International. They are in 130 countries. Locally they have 5 staff and a lot of volunteers.
They have a creative arts program after school, during March break and summer programs. A successful program is 'stop motion animation' with lego and plasticine. A two minute video can take several thousand still shots. The students are very quiet and focused when doing this activity.
He provided an overview of his role and the support he brings to the young men of the Cobourg Cougars hockey team. He has learned the 'hockey culture'. He meets with the captains group every two weeks. He tries to walk with them and not tell them what to do. He works to build relationships and gets them talking to recognize their own successes and challenges. He asks them what his Chapel topics should be regularly. He provides one on one meetings, usually during a walk as he finds they have too much energy to sit often.
They formed a 'Cheer Crew' of youth who wouldn't normally get to play hockey or even go to a game. The rules are to be encouraging and no booing. Just cheer for the Cougars, even when they loose.
The Beacon in Brighton is starting to get back to pre-pandemic activities. They got creative during pandemic and Mike would meet students in the park with donuts. They were able to work with the local health unit and get 'essential' service status.
People fear the virus and that has held many back. It has reduced volunteers and donations.
Tony introduced Dalia who came to Canada last year as a refugee from Syria via Lebanon. She has experience and started working on staff with the Beacon last October.
The Beacon is open three evenings a week and two lunch hours. Numbers are down, but partly due to Brighton Public will not allow senior students to leave the grounds during lunch hour.
As a charity, they rely almost soley on donations. 83% of their budget comes from donations. The Beacon's 2023 budget is $92,000. They are seeing big increases in food, rent, insurance and transportation. They want to look after their staff and volunteers with training and supports.
Community partnerships are very important to them.
For marginalized kids, maybe all kids, they have three important questions:
1. Where do I belong?
2. Who am I?
3. What difference do I make?
At Beacon they typically work with kids from grade 6 to 12. In evenings generally high school kids. They are getting 5 to 10 up to 26 now. Pre-pandemic they would see up to 50.