Recently I had an opportunity to visit the Headquarters of the Canadian Youth Project - A dream planted and being nurtured by someone dear to me, Coach Grant. Many people have had desires in their heart to help "At Risk" Youth, especially in most recent years with media focus on bullying and it's effects. Coach Grant has had this Dream for many many years and after much prayer has finally been put in a position to make it a reality. He has come full circle returning to the Alexander Park Projects where he had grown up after 30 years removed from living in the city of Toronto. Full Circle! Where he is now working diligently, “Giving youth the skills to take control of their lives and help ensure a positive and productive future.” Their message!
It pleases me to be in a position to watch his dream become a reality. You see, this awesome man is my Uncle. One of my mother's 13 siblings. He served in the Canadian Military for 10 yrs and used his extensive background in the military, martial arts, unarmed combat, physical fitness, leadership and boxing to coach boxing following his release. He once opened and operated Grant's Boxing Academy many years ago in Windsor Ontario where many champions got their start. The CYP website includes a heartwarming testimonial, among those of others, by Andrew Singh Kooner, a Canadian Bantamweight Champion that Coach Grant took under his wing at a crucial time in Andrew's life - the age of 13!. As Andrew noted in his testimonial, Coach Grant was not only his boxing coach, but his life coach. As a result, Andrew did not fall through the cracks. In fact, he took the skills he was taught by Coach Grant and went on to become an awesome person and a great Canadian Champion. I've even had the honor of watching a few of his matches. With tremendous hard work, he had the opportunity to fight in the Olympics with Coach Grant by his side. From an "At Risk" youth to an Olympian....I'm sure he never imagined!!
“His primary goal in life is to not only be an exceptional role model to these youth at risk, but to show them life skills that worked for him, and give them desperately needed alternatives.”
This is what Coach Grant has been doing for many years already and is what Coach Grant wants to continue to do but in a bigger forum so he can reach more youth. His areas of focus are the Mind, Body and Spirit. Love it!!! I think that covers everything. On my recent visit to the CYP Office, it was awesome to see Coach Grant's passion as he showed us his facility and shared a bit about his dream with us. He can't do it alone though. This much is evident. To serve more youth he needs more but definitely not more passion. He needs a circle of people he can trust and count on, people that mimic his passion and whose focus is not on themselves and their own agendas but on the youth that need to be served. The youth that are desperate for mentors and positive role models who will teach them discipline, helping them with their self esteem and, well - the Canadian Youth Project. The Canadian Youth Project represents an innovative approach to dealing with aggressive behaviour by fostering a higher level of health and wellness while raising the level of self esteem of our clients. Prayers are always welcomed along with everyone's support. Please check out their website for more information on how they plan to offset the trend of violence that today's youth are embracing. You can contact Coach Grant via the CYP Website or even through CYP - Facebook. See poster below. Share the news about the Canadian Youth Project with others so that they can tell two friends, and they can tell two friends....you know how it goes. You will be hearing more about them, the CYP and the youth whose lives have been impacted by what the CYP is bringing to them...because they are only getting started!!
If you happen to read this blog dear Uncle, please know how much I love you and what you are doing. Very inspiring. "For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37
Love this Mural outside the Canadian Youth Project headquarters. "The value of life is not measured by the length of days but by how you make use of them". So true and great words for the youth of the projects where this mural is painted to remember.
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