What was the initiative?
The First Gen Initiative is programming designed to support first-generation South Sudanese youth in Canada through mentorship, workshops, and community spaces that help young people step into adulthood with confidence.
During the year, the Homecoming Collective emerged from the initiative. It is a digital archive for South Sudanese Diaspora, bridging home to home. It centers on reconnecting to roots, creating spaces of belonging, and honoring the in-between realities we carry as we hold our people and our stories while building something new.
What was the community connection?
The South Sudanese community is Jenn’s family, her friends, and her home. As the daughter of refugees, Jenn watched her community navigate life on Turtle Island with resilience, supporting loved ones here and back home. They gathered in homes and halls, sharing both celebration and hardship.
Along the way, they built community as youth, learning what it means to be first-generation.
How was it innovative?
Jenn’s Fellowship was innovative in that she shifted from delivering a fixed program to building the systems and infrastructure needed for long-term sustainability within SSYC. She also introduced photography as a tool for community storytelling and engagement, combining the arts.
What is Jenn doing now?
Jenn is continuing to lead SSYC, employing youth from within the community, and running the First Gen Initiative and the Homecoming Collective.