Youth share their vision for the future

What does a thriving and supportive community look, sound, or feel like to you? We invited tenant youth to answer this question through an art contest, as part of our work to develop our Strategic Plan for 2025-2029. 

Last summer, we engaged with tenants, our staff, community partners, and other stakeholders for their feedback and insights to help shape the plan. The plan is our roadmap, setting out our priorities for supporting tenants, helping the City of Toronto achieve its goals, and planning for the future so we can grow sustainably. As we looked forward to TCHC’s future, we also invited tenant youth to help imagine the future for their communities.  

The entries showcased incredible artistic talent. After careful consideration, the Strategic Planning team chose three winners, as well as three honourable mentions. We invite you to take a look at their artwork and artist statements below. Their artwork also appears in our Strategic Plan bringing to life their experiences, reflections, and ideas.

Meet the artists

Ashfi

“I aimed to capture a thriving and supportive community through the lens of the everyday life of an individual.  

I show this through the point-of-view of a girl looking out the window of a TTC bus, seeing a scenery committed to reducing carbon emissions. As well as “Bike Share Toronto” offering free bikes, it promotes accessibility and eco-friendly transport. I envision donation boxes throughout the area, encouraging residents to support those in need, while volunteers actively nurture our ecosystem by planting trees. Recreation centres spread out, where everyone can find joy and connection. The central point of this strategic plan is a wheelchair-accessible park designed for children using mobility devices, so no child misses out on play.  

Ultimately, what truly defines this community is its people. Supportive neighbours foster relationships that make everyone feel valued and included. This blend of sustainability, inclusivity, and connection embodies the spirit of a vibrant, thriving community where everyone can flourish together—a community is not based on the place, but rather the people.”

Janessa

"Community, to me, feels like laughter and warmth all around. It smells like food being shared, fresh grass, and summer air. It looks like people coming together—playing music, painting faces, and enjoying each other's company. It’s where you feel at home, connected, and a part of something bigger."

Ezaam 

“As someone in a challenging situation, a thriving and supportive community is one where people actively uplift each other. It’s a place with vibrant, well-maintained public spaces and accessible resources like community centres and libraries. You hear conversations filled with encouragement and support, with neighbours sharing opportunities and celebrating each other’s successes. The atmosphere is warm and inclusive, with a strong sense of belonging and trust. People feel comfortable asking for help, knowing their contributions are valued. Challenges are met with collective problem-solving and optimism, creating a place where everyone, even those facing difficulties, can find opportunities to thrive and feel valued.” 

Desirae

“My artwork is called My Vision. Those words describe how I view the current community that I live in.                                                    

Clean: I chose this word because where I live the residents try to keep our community clean and liveable.     

Happiness: The residents in my community always have celebrations that includes everyone in the community. 

Care: It takes a community to grow a child, this is what parents in my community do. 

Love: The community that I live in has inclusive celebrations and welcomes all with love. 

Share: ‘Each one, teach one’ equals a healthy community. This is my vision of a thriving and supportive community.” 

Reezy Nuako

“In my portrait, I like to capture the beauty in pop culture creativity and environments in Toronto. Growing up in the Jane & Finch neighbourhood, I was exposed to diverse religions, ethnicities and cultures. It helped me see a different perspective on everyone’s empowerment regarding the community’s safety, health and social environment.  

Where I lived, I have seen a lot of conflicts involving gun violence, issues with the police, and health complications. These issues are ever-present and have a huge effect on the people in the community, especially young people. The area is known as “Connections” because all the buildings are attached. Their name symbolizes the attachment of each building to be together as it was structured but deeply it symbolizes the connections between the individuals who live on even after they passed away, which makes us stick together and help each other grow.”

Nisreen Abdrabo

“I made an artwork of our community. It shows our community to be a safe, respectful, and multicultural community space. The recycling bin shows our community’s dedication and respect for our environment. The boy playing in the park shows how safe and enjoyable our community is. The CN Tower lets everyone know this is Toronto, the best city in the world, showing how beautifully designed it is and the amazing community it holds.”