Youth Action Now

Youth Action Now Recognizing the power of young people and supporting them through micro-grants, resources and mentorship.

We’re wrapping up not just the year, but 6 years with 731 youth leaders that we supported in the Ottawa/Gatineau area. Y...
12/19/2025

We’re wrapping up not just the year, but 6 years with 731 youth leaders that we supported in the Ottawa/Gatineau area. Youth Action Now has supported 135 initiatives that advocated for a better future through Artistic Expression, Community Building, Learning & Career Connections, Issue-based Advocacy and Health & Policy Wellness.
In six years, we’ve dispersed $170,780 to 135 groups made up of 731 youth leaders! These initiatives have in turn reached over 20,000 people!

This post is meant to appreciate the time, effort, and encouragement that every individual has put into making Youth Act...
12/18/2025

This post is meant to appreciate the time, effort, and encouragement that every individual has put into making Youth Action Now over the 6 years we’ve been active. From the monthly and one-time donors that allowed us to carry on our mission of supporting youth’s grassroots action and collective leadership. To the Grants Committees who take hours of their day to read applications, provide insight, and advice to grantees. To the Comms Committees who have kept us up to date on socials, crafted newsletters, and documented in-person events. To the Outreach Committees who helped put together get-togethers and engaged the community.

We want to appreciate the work of the Steering Committees who have kept us on track in our mission and values and all our volunteers that helped during events, participated in book clubs. To our connectors and of course, our founders. This is a thank you post to everyone who made YAN into a YANmily. Thank you 💛

As we look back on six years of Youth Action Now, this post is our little “yearbook” to honour our 2025 volunteers who m...
12/17/2025

As we look back on six years of Youth Action Now, this post is our little “yearbook” to honour our 2025 volunteers who made every meeting, event, and idea come to life.
To the volunteers who showed up with passion, the committees who brought creativity, analysis, and heart, and the leaders who kept us grounded in our mission, we want to thank you.
To the decorators who turned spaces into community hubs, the grant readers who asked the questions that mattered, the communicators who amplified our work, and the connectors who brought us closer together: your impact is woven into every moment of YAN.
This post celebrates the quirks, talents, and joy each person brought to our shared work. Through every conversation, brainstorm, and gathering, you helped build something bigger than all of us: a community rooted in youth power, care, and collective action.
Here’s to all of you who helped make YAN not just an organization, but a YANmily. 💛✨

“Each one of us is capable of contributing something to make a difference with our family, friends and in our community....
11/25/2025

“Each one of us is capable of contributing something to make a difference with our family, friends and in our community.” — Paul Dewar

Youth Action Now began with Paul’s belief that young people are our most untapped resource for change.

Since 2018, we’ve supported 136 youth-led projects with over $164,000 in grants, collaborated with 300+ volunteers, and helped spark youth-led collaborative grassroots action across Ottawa.

With deep gratitude and reflection, we’re sharing that Youth Action Now will be wrapping up operations at the end of 2025.

This decision comes after thoughtful reflection by our youth-led board, shaped by the realities of funding, capacity, and the challenges young people face today. But this isn’t the end of our impact—it’s a celebration of what we built together.

As this chapter comes to an end, we carry forward the creativity, resilience, and brilliance of the young leaders who shaped Youth Action Now. Thank you for being part of this journey. The spirit of YAN lives on in every campaign, connection, and community sparked by youth.

To every grantee, volunteer, staff member, and supporter: thank you. You believed in youth. You believed in us.

“A better world is possible. I believe in the power of the next generation of change leaders to get us there.” — Paul Dewar

Meet Gwen, one of our incredible Youth Action Now volunteers! 💫 With a strong foundation in social justice and a powerfu...
09/26/2025

Meet Gwen, one of our incredible Youth Action Now volunteers! 💫 With a strong foundation in social justice and a powerful lens for equity, Gwen brings thoughtful insight and passion to everything she does.

As a dedicated member of our grants committee, she plays a vital role in uplifting youth-led initiatives and shaping a more just, empowered Ottawa! Her commitment to working behind the scenes to build the future she wants to see is nothing short of inspiring.

A big THANK YOU to Gwen for showing up, engaging, and always teaching us something along the way! 💛

#613

As heat waves hit record highs, Ottawa tenants are forced to live in unsafe, sweltering homes without AC. 🏡🌡️ Tenants ar...
09/24/2025

As heat waves hit record highs, Ottawa tenants are forced to live in unsafe, sweltering homes without AC. 🏡🌡️ Tenants are calling for stronger protections against extreme heat because safe housing is more than just a roof!

#613

🍂✨ Grant Applications for Fall 2025 are OPEN! ✨🍂We’re now accepting grant applications! 📝✅ Deadline to apply for a grant...
09/15/2025

🍂✨ Grant Applications for Fall 2025 are OPEN! ✨🍂
We’re now accepting grant applications! 📝

✅ Deadline to apply for a grant this year: Oct 24

Don’t wait — get your application in today!

Meet Diana, one of our amazing Youth Action Now volunteers! 🌟 With her bubbly personality and knack for knowing the late...
08/21/2025

Meet Diana, one of our amazing Youth Action Now volunteers! 🌟 With her bubbly personality and knack for knowing the latest trends from Reels to Sound Bites, Diana keeps our content fresh, fun, and full of life.

Her quick wit and great sense of humour bring an extra sparkle ✨ to everything she touches, and her creative ideas always take our posts to the next level. Whether she’s brainstorming, editing, or diving into a new challenge, Diana is the definition of a team player 🙌

We’re so lucky to have you in our YANmily, Diana, thank you for bringing your magic to the team every single time! 💛

#613

Grantee Spotlight: ✨🎭This March, University of Ottawa’s Unity for Action lit up the Alumni Auditorium with their origin...
08/20/2025

Grantee Spotlight: ✨🎭

This March, University of Ottawa’s Unity for Action lit up the Alumni Auditorium with their original jukebox musical A Mid-Semester Fever Dream it was a magical tale of friendship, wellness, and caring for our planet. 🌱💛

With a cast, crew, and exec team of over 45 passionate students, they raised over $5,000 for the Youth Services Bureau, helping fund youth mental health, housing, and crisis support.

We’re proud to have supported this incredible project through our 2025 Momentum Grant!

🌈 Join us in celebrating Pride in Ottawa! 🎉✨Capital Pride is the National Capital Region’s annual celebration of 2SLGBTQ...
08/14/2025

🌈 Join us in celebrating Pride in Ottawa! 🎉✨
Capital Pride is the National Capital Region’s annual celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ communities 🏳️‍🌈💖. It’s a 9-day celebration held in August filled with parades, parties, performances, and powerful conversations ✨.

📅 Swipe to see some events happening for Capital Pride 2025 this year and 🖊️ mark your calendar!

Happy International Youth Day! ✨🌍At Youth Action Now, we believe in a simple truth: youth aren’t just the leaders of tom...
08/12/2025

Happy International Youth Day! ✨🌍

At Youth Action Now, we believe in a simple truth: youth aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow, we’re driving change today.

This month, we’re celebrating YOU , our volunteers, our grantees, and every young changemaker making a difference. 🙌 Keep an eye on our socials as we spotlight the incredible projects you’re leading and the impact you’re making.

And mark your calendars, YAN’s next grant cycle opens September 2025! Let’s keep building youth-powered solutions, together.

💛 Here’s to the passion, innovation, and resilience of youth everywhere. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we keep going.

#613

Volunteer Highlight: Taya 🌟Taya has been an incredible part of the Youth Action Now team! Always on time, always reliabl...
08/11/2025

Volunteer Highlight: Taya 🌟

Taya has been an incredible part of the Youth Action Now team! Always on time, always reliable, and always bringing great vibes to every meeting and project

Whether it's helping out with comms tasks or jumping in wherever support is needed, Taya shows up with enthusiasm and a team-first attitude. Her energy and commitment make her a true asset to our YANmily 💛

We're so grateful to have you on the team, Taya! #613

Address

Ottawa, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16132204556

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Youth Action Now posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Youth Action Now:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category