Build Skills to Change the World

We’re training students to change the world while learning and practicing job-relevant skills. Our online and in-person programs teach students how to shape their ideas into real-world solutions. Let’s build and invest in tomorrow’s leaders together!

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Our Programs

SHSM Programs

SHSM Programs

Our SHSM Sector-Partnered Experience (Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship) workshops give students an opportunity to apply problem-solving and collaboration skills to solve challenges shared by industry sector community partners.

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Problem-Based Learning and Design Thinking Programs

Problem-Based Learning and Design Thinking Programs

Our customizable programs cover problem solving, innovation, analysis, public speaking and much more to give students a rich hands-on learning experience.

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Some of Our Partners

Our Pillars
for Success

Every student is encouraged to build a solution that solves a meaningful problem. Our sessions alternate between concept & examples and work time, in order to keep students engaged as they move their ideas ahead. And when community partners are part of the experience, students have the chance to be mentored by industry professionals and entrepreneurs.

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Mentorship

Mentorship

Creativity

Creativity

Leadership

Leadership

Creativity

Creativity

Leadership

Leadership

Teamwork

Teamwork

Educator <br> Review

Educator
Review

Dwayne Samuel, an educator at the York Catholic District School Board

“[The students] loved the interaction and the opportunity to be part of a hands-on problem-solving project. Some said traditionally, they are sitting and getting information presented to them which they find boring – even if it is specific to business (e.g., workshops, symposiums, etc.), but this was one thing that they felt they really learned THROUGH the process.”

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Educator <br> Review

Educator
Review

Dianne Solon (Teacher, York Catholic District School Board)

“Working with approx. 300 students, 14 teachers in two sessions, Lucas led our grade 9’s through designing problem thinking and innovative solutions. We were able to plan and implement Lucas’ work into our existing CPT quite smoothly. Listening to the students work together and engage in the large groups and smaller breakout groups showed their interest in their work and their excitability in being able to work in a group. Online and distance learning is still a challenge for many of our students, but with Lucas, we were able to create something the students really enjoyed and appreciated.”

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Student <br> Review

Student
Review

Co-op student, Markham

“After Tuesday’s ICE Challenge and learning about the design thinking process, I was able to use this to my advantage by tapping into my creative side to come up with enough relevant content to post for the next two months. This process also helped me create a social media plan for the online community which I found very enjoyable…. I am confident that my social media content and engagement plan will be very useful for my employer which will improve our community engagement and grow our online presence in the future.”

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Keep Up with Us

y2labs

We create real-world & hands-on learning opportunities for students from grades 6-12 to build their entrepreneurship & problem solving skills.

Started the day with some business challenges. End

Started the day with some business challenges. Ended it with some dancing. That’s how we roll with @creativegeniusacademy @bgirlshade @sylviachanart when we do #SHSM #ICE #Breaking @unionville_highschool

We’re ramping up our programs this January, and

We’re ramping up our programs this January, and next week we’re back in full swing! Another highlight this month is a personal one for Lucas.

His daughter Leah is turning 17, and looking forward to her stage debut as part of her school's musical theater production of "We Will Rock You". Last January she saw her school's show and she was hooked - since then she's immersed herself in musical theater and Lucas is really looking forward to seeing her onstage!

Encouraging our kids to immerse themselves in what they’re passionate about is so important. It’s not just the job of teachers and educators--as parents, we have a huge role to play in encouraging and uplifting our kids when they bravely take steps to explore the things that capture their interest.

Break a leg, Leah!

Wishing you all a safe, happy and peaceful 2024! L

Wishing you all a safe, happy and peaceful 2024! Looking forward to all the things we have going on this year.

2023 was a big year for us. We held our 10th annua

2023 was a big year for us. We held our 10th annual Y2X conference in March, which brought together students, entrepreneurs, volunteers and educators from all over the GTA to learn and apply the foundations of design thinking to solve real-world problems.

We also helped YCDSB's Pathways team kick off their entrepreneurship program at @senecapoly HELIX incubator, hosted workshops all over the GTA and southern Ontario, and piloted a new program for student entrepreneurs.

There’s a lot still to come in 2024, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build on the foundations we laid last year. Thank you to everyone who made 2023 such a great year!

Have a safe and happy holiday, from all of us at Y

Have a safe and happy holiday, from all of us at Y2!
#happyholidays #educatorsofinstagram #designthinkingprocess #designthinking

Have a safe and happy holiday, from all of us at Y

Have a safe and happy holiday, from all of us at Y2!

Are you an entrepreneur in the GTA? Is it one of y

Are you an entrepreneur in the GTA? Is it one of your goals for the new year to find ways to give back to your community?

Our volunteers and community partners are an integral part of our programming. They help things to run smoothly, and provide valuable networking and real-life problem-solving opportunities to our students.

If you’d like to know how to get involved, click the link in our bio to learn more! #designthinking #designthinkingeducation #educationalconsulting #volunteertoronto

At the age of 8, Mikey Wren started Mikey’s Munc

At the age of 8, Mikey Wren started Mikey’s Munchies Vending, a collection of vending machines in St. Louis, Missouri. Now 13, Mikey volunteers his time to teach financial literacy and has written two books about business plans and marketing strategies.

Mikey is an example of what can happen when we take kids seriously, listen to their ideas, and set them up with the tools and resources to make those ideas happen! #youngentrepreneurs #munchiesvending #designthinking

We stand for in-person learning and face-to-face i

We stand for in-person learning and face-to-face interactions. There’s value in networking, in collaborating with peers, in hands-on learning that allows young people to make friends and bond in real life over shared passions and interests. Screen time is the way of the world, but we love being able to offer a space where young people can connect in person.

To learn more about our programs, click the link in our bio!

We’re proud of the way that our programs seamles

We’re proud of the way that our programs seamlessly integrate into your curriculum. Our intent is to bring an element of design thinking into the classroom, so that students can apply what you’re teaching them to real-world settings and challenges. To learn more, go to https://y2labs.co/

We believe that youth possess creative and impactf

We believe that youth possess creative and impactful ideas to solve problems they're passionate about. Our role is to help them crystallize and articulate their ideas.

In every class we teach, we are grateful to have opportunities to work with youth. Our learning experiences are designed from their perspective to be engaging, interesting and relevant.

To learn more about our values and what we strive to foster in our workshops, click the link in our bio!

If you know a young person with a good idea and a

If you know a young person with a good idea and a lot of passion, it’s never too early to help them get started. Some of the most impressive entrepreneurs are the ones who started out when they were just kids, like Kamaria Warren of @browngirlsstationery.

At age seven, Kamaria and her mom—graphic designer Shaunice Sasser—went shopping for birthday invitations for her upcoming party. What they found was no product that represented Brown and Black girls. That necessity hatched an invention and Brown Girls Stationery was born.

That set the McDonough, Georgia, native on the route to creating party and school supplies, stationery, vegan purses, and accessories for girls. Most products bear a cheery illustration of a Black or Brown girl, and Warren also sells dolls.

“Because of our unique images and offerings, we are able to make money while having an impact,” Warren, now 13, says of the business, which has five employees and five volunteers. She sells her products on Shopify, Faire Marketplace, wholesale, and at local events. On average, Warren sells some 10,000 notebooks, 2,500 notepads, 1,500 backpacks each year.

Young people know what they want. It’s not uncommon for us to dismiss their ideas as being a passing phase, but the reality is that sometimes those phases grow into incredible things when given the chance. At Y2, we take young people and their ideas seriously. Maybe you or one of yours will be the next Kamaria Warren! #youngentrepreneurs #designthinking #torontoeducation #inspirationalstories

Are you an educator? Do you want to learn how you

Are you an educator? Do you want to learn how you can make design thinking a part of your teaching style, and integrate it into your lessons?

We teach design thinking to educators, too! Go to https://y2labs.co/ to learn how you can learn from us, and future-proof your classroom. #designthinking #torontoeducation #teachertraining

Throwback to the Y2X conference earlier this year!

Throwback to the Y2X conference earlier this year! It was great to see so many people come out to explore their ideas, connect with community leaders and innovators, and make new friends. Looking forward to everything we have planned for 2024! #designthinking #torontoentrepreneurs #youngentrepreneurs #torontoafterschoolprogram

Design thinking is becoming more widely adapted in

Design thinking is becoming more widely adapted in both the business and non-profit spheres, and many large companies are actively looking for employees who have design thinking skills.

Teaching our kids how to use design thinking is invaluable, and it makes them invaluable to future employers. To learn more about our design thinking programs for both students and educators, click the link in our bio!

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