Youth Program

To walk alongside those impacted by violence, providing the resources, mentorship, and community support necessary to transform lived experience into a foundation for peace and leadership.

Our team focus is on the critical pathway of those youth who are simultaneously most likely to be victims or perpetrators of violence.

Using a Public Health Methodology implemented through a Community Violence Intervention Model, we detect, reduce and interrupt cycles of violence through both individual and group network engagement and resourcing. Built off trust in communities, our Community Violence Intervention model delivers therapeutic interventions in non clinical, accessible spaces for those who have experienced barriers to accessing traditional clinical models of support.


  • The Leadership & Legacy Initiative is a specialized, high-engagement program designed for young adults navigating the complex realities of systemic violence and street involvement. We do not believe in "fixing" people; we believe in walking alongside them as they reclaim their narrative. By integrating intensive mentorship with holistic resources, we help participants bridge the gap between surviving their environment and leading their community.



  • We support those at the center of violence through their criminal justice matters from start to finish. We support release planning, in custody mental health opportunities and obtaining legal representation.


  • Creating peaceful pathways requires a foundation of stability, procedural justice, and culturally appropriate service. We support clients from a strengths based, trauma informed "wraparound" support system that addresses the immediate barriers to well-being, including:

    • System Navigation: Advocacy and support to build community support networks of service

    • Wellness & Healing: Low-barrier access to mental health support through clinical and peer led pathways to build on existing healthy assets.

  • Our 24/7 model ensures that the "moment of crisis" becomes a "moment of opportunity." By providing immediate, low-barrier access to mental health support and emergency resources, we break the cycle of reactive survival and replace it with a proactive, self-directed path toward stability and leadership.

  • We move beyond the traditional caseworker model. Our mentors provide consistent, non-judgmental accompaniment for those who have been excluded from other services due to legal complexities or high-intensity social backgrounds. We meet our participants where they are—geographically, emotionally, and socially. We navigate social ecosystems which explore interpersonal dynamics and build healthy, supportive communities outside of high-pressure street environments.


    • Data Equity: through equitable data collection and external evaluations, The HUB team works to lead a data informed, evidence based program.

    • Contributing to Research: Noting gaps in literature regarding gun and gang violence, The HUB supports contributions to academic communities alike.

    • Advocating for Policy Change: Providing knowledge translation from the frontlines through peer led initiatives, we advocate for policy change rooted in evidence informed practice

“Violence is a sticky problem, To solve a sticky problem, you need a sticky solution or a number of sticky solutions” - Thomas Abt, Founder of VRC

The Hub is committed to bridging the gap between the academic and frontline space through trauma-informed data collection, partnerships with academic institutions, and contributions to violence prevention literature from the Canadian context.

Youth Engagement Report 2024

Client Referral Form

Please fill out the form below to refer a client to our youth programming, or email us directly at referrals@thehamiltonhub.org.