Chapters
The Starts With Youth Chapters Program strives to empower young adults on university and college campuses to foster more trauma-informed communities.
With support and guidance from our team, Starts With Youth Chapters work to cultivate safe spaces on campus for survivors of childhood trauma and allies. Our Chapters also strive to raise awareness in their communities about the effects of enduring trauma and different roads to healing.
The stories I’ve heard, the resilience I’ve witnessed, and the communities I’ve helped build have taught me lessons no textbook ever could.
Joining Starts With Youth as a member of the Queen’s University Chapter was one of the most transformative decisions of my undergraduate experience. What began as a desire to contribute to youth abuse awareness quickly evolved into a deep personal and professional commitment to advocacy, education, and healing. Today, as the Director of Chapters overseeing our teams at Ottawa, Queen’s, Guelph, and Brock, I’m proud to help lead an organization that empowers young people to speak out, support one another, and drive meaningful change.
My involvement with Starts With Youth profoundly shaped my journey to medical school. The stories I’ve heard, the resilience I’ve witnessed, and the communities I’ve helped build have taught me lessons no textbook ever could. It’s given me a deeper understanding of trauma-informed care, the importance of early intervention, and the power of empathy in clinical practice. More than anything, it’s reinforced my belief that healing is not just a medical process - it’s a human one.
Being part of this organization has not only made me a better leader, but a more compassionate physician. I carry the mission of Starts With Youth with me into every patient interaction, knowing that awareness and support can be just as life-saving as any prescription.
Punit, Director of Chapters
Our Chapters
“Being a part of Queen’s Starts With Youth has taught me that healing begins with community. It has been a privilege to work with a team of dedicated and compassionate people, turning small acts of kindness into meaningful change.”
Rylie, Queen’s University Chapter President
“When I joined Starts With Youth as an executive in my first year, I never imagined I’d still be here, in my fourth year, as President. The feeling of making an impact on campus has been so rewarding and meaningful that I’ve had to keep coming back. Today, I’m proud to say we’ve grown into a team of over 60 members at the University of Guelph.
The need for safe spaces and a supportive community for childhood trauma survivors is overwhelming, and it shows: this semester alone, we have fifteen events planned to keep up with the demand for access to social, healing, and awareness-building spaces.
I can’t wait to watch our Chapter continue to grow and to keep supporting as many students as we can this year.”
Jessie, University of Guelph Chapter President
