City Partnerships Build Bright Futures for Hamilton's Youth

HAMILTON, ON – Thursday, June 9th, 2016 –   Tonight three initiatives were launched in Hamilton to connect youth to the services they need to achieve long-term, living wage, sustainable employment. Located at Hamilton Public Library (HPL), The Circuit 4.0 by HPL, the Learning Annex by the City of Hamilton’s Neighbourhood Action Strategy and City School by Mohawk College provide a central and welcoming space to connect youth aged 18 to 29 to information on education and employment services aimed at helping youth meet their full potential.

“Tonight’s launch is a great example of what can happen when we work together to do great things for our city”, said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “With the support of the Ontario Government and collaborating with our education and employment partners we can support the success of the youth in our community and prepare them for the momentum happening in Hamilton.” 

The Learning Annex
Through the Local Poverty Reduction Fund, the Government of Ontario is providing up to $572,900 over three years towards the creation of the City of Hamilton’s Learning Annex. The idea of a Learning Annex for Hamilton’s youth was realised through the work of the City of Hamilton’s Neighbourhood Action Strategy (NAS) – an action plan focused on helping neighbourhoods be great places to live, work, play and learn. Responding to the findings from the ‘Code Red’ series by the Hamilton Spectator, which showed huge disparities in lifespans and health outcomes for people living in different parts of the city, the NAS engagement process identified that most neighbourhoods in Hamilton cite educational and skill building opportunities as a priority. The creation of the Learning Annex has been informed by a youth-led Steering Committee. Youth Engagers connect with local youth and share feedback from peer to peer interactions, ensuring that the Learning Annex continues to meet the needs of youth in Hamilton.

The Circuit 4.0 by Hamilton Public Library
The Circuit 4.0 is a collaborative and creative space located on Central Library’s 4th floor featuring a Makerspace, a Digital Media Lab, Recording Studio, performance space as well as individual and group meeting space. It is an adaptable space that can accommodate 400 people for special events or can be divided into smaller components for group meetings and individual study.

City School by Mohawk College at the Circuit
Launched in the fall of 2015, City School by Mohawk brings Hamilton’s college into the community. City School offers tuition-free courses and workshops and serves as a base camp for the journey to post-secondary education. Mohawk College is proud to launch its second City School at Hamilton Public Library with a special focus on youth and media to support the goals of the Learning Annex.

For more information, visit www.hamilton.ca/learningannex