Forty years ago, a small program started in Sarnia to equip youth involved in the judicial system with skills to help turn their lives around.
Forty years ago, a small program started in Sarnia to equip youth involved in the judicial system with skills to help turn their lives around.
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Modeled after a life skills program for adults in the US, modified by officials at Lambton College for youth, Rebound started in a room in the former St. Clair secondary school and struggled at first with funding challenges, said former board member Don Cook.
With no initial government support, local Chemical Valley companies’ donations kept the program going, he said.
“It was an exciting time,” he said.
Fast forward to today and Rebound, amid unwavering community support, now offers 21 programs and has helped more than 40,000 youth, said executive director Michelle Holbrook.
As those programs have grown, so has Rebound’s focus, she said.
“We are steadfast in everything we do for our policing partners and our (extrajudicial measures), but we are for all youth,” she said, noting the agency is fighting a stigma of being “for bad kids all the time.
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“I don’t know any bad kids,” she said. “I know kids who sometimes make poor decisions.”
Rebound, with 35 staff, still offers programs for youth involved in the judicial system, she said.
But other programs include theater, Dungeons and Dragons, outfitting youth in need with formal wear for special occasions, helping forming rock bands, consent and relationship education, the hub drop-in space, and resiliency and coping education, she said.
“Every single youth between the ages of eight and 24 is welcome in these doors,” she said, noting nearly 2,500 used Rebound programs in 2023.
The agency, which has won a slew of Donner Canadian Foundation Awards and sold its programming to about a dozen agencies in Ontario and as far afield as Ontario, welcomed people to its Sarnia offices Saturday to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
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“This milestone isn’t just a number though,” Holbrook said. “It represents four decades of dedication, passion and commitment to making a difference in our community.”
The open house included a photo booth, performances by Rebound Rocks, and rooms dedicated to Rebound’s history and current efforts, Holbrook said.
“We have no plans to slow down,” said board president Meghan Reale Smith.
“For the last 40 years Rebound has advocated and exemplified the belief that young people are equal partners in our community,” she said.
“We are intentional in our engagement with youth. We want to hear their voices. . . we want them to be valued and we want them to be impactful.”
Also at the anniversary event, Rebound unveiled a commissioned commemorative art piece, created by Lambton’s Rae Lillie, 17.
Holbrook said she approached Lillie after he participated in a Youth Makers Expo Rebound this year.
In a description of the work, Lillie called it playful and fun, in honor of Rebound’s playful nature.
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