We help raise BIPOC youth out of housing insecurity in Peel Region.
Enough is enough: Youth homelessness by the numbers
Our Impact
We empower youth to live healthier and happier lives, with support and opportunities to contribute to a better society.
Our mission calls for societal understanding that youth homelessness has many root causes and complexities. Lack of affordable housing for example contributes to hidden homelessness, for youth who turn to couch surfing and don’t show up in the numbers. With increased understanding, we can mobilize community resources to help them transcend instability and achieve independence.
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192 Youth supported
We supported 192 youth with over $80,000 through the Bare Necessities Program in 2021.
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180% increase in need
Our Bridge of Hope program saw a staggering 180% increase in Youth need in 2021
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59 Future Leaders
We supported 59 Future Leaders with training opportunities through the L.I.F.E. skills program in 2021.
Housing is a human right.
Imagine a life where basic needs are a daily struggle.
Poverty and despair shape lives with addiction, crime, poor health and compromised choices that look nothing like the ones we all deserve. We take a housing-first approach because we believe stability is the first step to preventing the many social ills of youth homelessness.
Meet the team behind the mission.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Irving Lendor, Chair // Irving Lendor is no stranger to the struggles and hardships at-risk youth face in our community. Growing up in the GTA with a hard-working single mother, Irving experienced his share of challenges. But with the right support systems and his faith, he became an active and productive member of his community. Irving has always had a keen interest in giving back to youth-serving organizations, so that other at-risk youth can know that there is hope for a brighter future, regardless of their circumstances. Irving's background is in telecommunications network and systems administration. Among his recent volunteer experiences, he served as a leader on the Board of Directors of a prominent Scarborough church where he helped lead strategic planning, financial, operational and fundraising initiatives.
Glenda Wilson, Secretary // Glenda Wilson is a human resources leader with extensive experience in the field. She is currently the HR Lead at a not-for-profit community health and services agency in the GTA. As a member of the BIPOC community in Peel Region, she is passionate about supporting causes that disproportionately impact marginalized people - including youth homelessness. Glenda has a desire to help people and is proud of the extraordinary work REST has been doing for the youth in the community. She is honored to invest her time and skill to support REST by serving as a member of the board of directors.
Steve Goldby, Board of Directors // Steve is a marketer that has been focused on connecting brands with culture partners in the community for fifteen years. As CEO of route/cause, an agency focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and Cause Partnerships, Steve has a strong passion for creating partnerships of social impact between for-profit and non-profit organizations. As an entrepreneur for eight years and climbing the corporate ladder prior to that, Steve has harnessed experience with both brand & agency, and feels marketers can be gatekeepers to social impact.
Dami Okunade B.Comm (McGill), CFA, CPA, CA, LPA, Treasurer // Dami is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a Licensed Public Accountant (LPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). She offers a wide range of services to her growing list of diverse client’s base. Her services include accounting, assurance, taxation and business advisory services. Dami obtained her Bachelor of Commerce Degree with Distinctions from McGill University with a major in Accounting and a concentration in Finance. She subsequently received her chartered accounting training (CPA)from a Big 4 accounting firm and a Medium Size chartered accounting firm. For over 10 years, Dami has worked extensively with various startups, small and medium businesses as well as non for-profit/charitable organizations.
Romaine Redman (Youth Advisory Council Chair) // Romaine Redman is a talk show host, youth advocate, and a student at the University of Toronto. As a strong believer in the empowerment of youth and community building, He prides himself on being a part of the upward mobility of his community. Romaine has over ten years of experience working with youth. His work has seen him ascend to many roles such as former Executive Director of The St. Thomas Advocates for Positive Change and Development, host of “The Youth Turnt Up Show”, and the Outdoor Events Coordinator at GBKM FM/TV. As a Board of Director at R.E.S.T Romaine also chairs the Youth Advisory council.
Emmanuel Bonney, Board of Directors // A motivated Trainer/Mentor with over 10 years of experience working with local and international diverse groups and communities. After 5 years of serving as the fitness Director of the Scarborough basketball association Emmanuel Founded All in Athletic Training; a training company responsible for training and coaching young athletes into becoming pro athletes. Emmanuel is very passionate about youth development and helping young people to realize their full potential. Other than sports training all stars also provide mentorship programs for young people.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Karly Anna O’Brien, Board of Advisors // Karly-Anna O’Brien is part of REST’s Board of Advisors, where she volunteers her time to provide strategic advice to the board and executive director, while also operationalizing committees to expand REST’s administrative bandwidth and capacity. She is a consultant with KPMG in the Supply Chain practice who specializes in transformational procurement initiatives, strategic sourcing and category and vendor management. Her background prior to joining KPMG includes enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives for a major retailer across eight different work streams, amounting to savings that exceed $100M.
Charmaine Lane, Board of Advisors // Charmaine Lane is a registered psychotherapist and has been involved with R.E.S.T from its inception. She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and a BA in Psychology. Currently a part-time Professor at Humber College where she is a part of the Faculty of Community and Social Services and a part of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies at Durham College teaching dual credit courses; Conflict, Colonization and Courage: First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Canada. She is also a sessional Equity Trainer for The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies where she trains Province wide on Equity in Child Welfare as it pertains to anti-black racism.
Dr. Marylyn Morris, Board of Advisors // A trained and qualified Development Policy and Planning Specialist, Community Engagement Specialist, Legislative Reviewer and Drafter and an Educator. Over twenty years expertise working with various Governments in her fields of technical expertise and largely in public policy development and analysis; advising governments and strengthening public sector institutions throughout the Caribbean and Guyana, South America.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Dagma Koyi, Founder & Executive Director // Dagma is a humanitarian and visionary social entrepreneur, speaker, educator, leader, life coach and author. Her 10+ years’ experience includes both front line and managerial experience in the nonprofit sector, with post-secondary certifications in Social Work and Non-profit Leadership. Dagma’s passion and drive to help homeless and at-risk youth began as a new Canadian herself, when she struggled to secure housing, employment and access public services. In 2015, Dagma founded REST Centres, to fulfill a promise she’d made to herself many years earlier and follow the purposeful work that was calling to her.
Dr. Ben Bempah, Operations Director // Dr. Ben Bempah is a public administration and development planning expert. He has over fifteen years of experience in health system strengthening, community development, and poverty reduction program design and implementation. He is currently a professor at the Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, School of Marketing. Ben has a strong commitment to being a conspirator to end youth homelessness and will continue to provide unrelenting support to rally to achieve the vision of REST. Specialties: Proficient in program monitoring and evaluation, public financial management, statistical analysis, and sustainable development project planning and management.
Calling community members, businesses and youth allies:
Help us change lives and put and end to youth homelessness in Peel Region.
If humanity is measured by how we treat our most vulnerable citizens, then youth homelessness is a wake-up call. If you share our belief that their values, ideas and voices are the ones shaping our future, join us in our mission to make a future where youth homelessness is a thing of the past.