A deep love for community
TCHC tenant, employee, and community leader, Trevaun Douglas, is breaking barriers
Trevaun Douglas trains for his multi-hour walks, which raise money for grassroots programs supporting the Lawrence Heights community.
In the heart of Lawrence Heights, Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) tenant and community leader, Trevaun Douglas is a beacon of hope and strength.
Trevaun explains, “Growing up in Lawrence Heights, we didn't have the many resources that we have now. A lot of my peers started going down the wrong path.”
Trevaun chose a different path for himself. At just 11 years old, Trevaun started volunteering as a landscaper in Lawrence Heights and the Neptune community, planting flowers and gardening. By middle school, his involvement in the community deepened when a TCHC Manager offered Trevaun a volunteer role as a community engagement worker. Since then, Trevaun has been employed full-time by TCHC as a custodian and maintenance worker. This summer, he started a new role as a Community Engagement Coordinator with YouthWorx, a TCHC summer employment program for tenant youth.
Mind on Strength
Trevaun’s love for his community extends far beyond his day job. In 2019, he started his own grass-roots organization called Mind on Strength which provides support to at-risk youth across his community. Mind on Strength offers mental health workshops and runs a basketball program.
To boost literacy and critical thinking skills, Trevaun launched a weekly summer book club called “Reading in The Heights.” He finds that self-help and philosophy books are popular with youth now. However, the cost of buying these books and finding a place to meet has been challenging.
Taking the initiative
In May 2024, Trevaun walked more than 100,000 steps in 21 hours from Yorkdale Mall in Toronto to Hamilton wearing a 55 lb. weighted vest. His impressive walk raised over $2,600 to fund a spa day event for 10 mothers from the Lawrence Heights community for Mother's Day. Raised and always inspired by his single mom, he wanted to “try and make life a little easier and better for the hard-working moms in the community.”
“To change the dynamic and turn the name ‘Lawrence Heights’ into something positive, I knew I had to do something crazy for people to notice.”
The videos that Trevaun took documenting his walk went viral on social media and he used the attention to raise funds and awareness for other projects in the community. Encouraged by the success of the walk, Trevaun began training for a back-to-school fundraiser. In August, Trevaun walked from Toronto to Niagara Falls (crossing the border to the U.S. side) completing the 134-kilometer trek in over 46 hours. He raised over $46,000 and wasted no time putting these funds back into his community.
A graphic promoting Trevaun’s latest Back-to-School fundraiser walk on GoFundMe.
Through several events, including the annual Lawrence Heights Summer Festival and his own back-to-school community party, Trevaun distributed over 230 backpacks filled with school supplies and personal hygiene products to youth.
Additionally, he gifted over 170 pairs of Nike shoes to the community and personally brought 30 kids to SVPSports so they could pick out a new pair of shoes. Dozens of youths also returned to school looking extra stylish thanks to free haircuts and braid-ups offered at Trevaun’s Hoops & Harmony basketball tournament.
Trevaun plans to use the extra funds raised to create different supports for Lawrence Heights, one of them being access to free mental health support and therapists for community residents impacted by trauma and violence.
For Trevaun, these fundraisers and events are a catalyst for change.
“When people hear Lawrence Heights, they’re going to point to something good happening. I’m trying to change the narrative around community housing. I just want to make it better and push positivity.”
Trevaun also hopes that his work will strengthen the connection between residents during the revitalization process and inspire youth, demonstrating that it’s possible to do anything you set your mind to.
Being a role model
Through his Mind on Strength programs and his role at TCHC, Trevaun tries to mentor youth he encounters, knowing first-hand the impact a positive role model can have on kids. He aspires to be someone that young people can look up to and ask advice from, especially at times when they feel defeated by the lack of resources and opportunities around them.
Lawrence Heights resident and community advocate, Khairiya, agrees and says that Trevaun is making an impact in the community. She describes him as, “someone who always puts 100 per cent effort into anything he's involved in.” She adds “Trevaun is a role model, a hard worker, dedicated, and is someone you can always rely on to come through when you need him. He’s the first to volunteer his time and effort for community projects.”
Trevaun demonstrates that with dedication, empathy, and passion, meaningful change is not just achievable but also sustainable. He hopes that in 10 years, organizations like Mind on Strength will exist in communities across the city. Trevaun is proof that individuals can play a vital role in shaping a better outcome for current residents and future generations.
To learn more, connect with Trevaun on Linkedin or follow Mind On Strength on Instagram.
Trevaun recently received the 2024 Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) Young Changemaker Award for his dedication to his community, and for making a significant impact creating safe spaces for youth and driving social change.
