Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice

What Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice does

Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice (YAIJ) is a federally incorporated, Black youth-led nonprofit collective headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, with additional offices in North York, Ontario and Burnaby, British Columbia, and a satellite office coming soon in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The organization serves racialized and neurodiverse youth aged 15-30, with youth who hold intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD) labels positioned at the center of decision-making across the Board, program leadership, and Advisory Council. Its mission is to uplift such youth through peer support, employment exploration, education equity, and intersectional justice programming across Canada.

YAIJ operates a portfolio of community programs including the 6-week PeerSTEP peer supporter training (whose graduates receive a YAIJ Peer Supporter Certification eligible for national certification), the Youth Employment Futures Program (YEFP) and Youth Entrepreneur Incubator Program (YEIP) for employment and entrepreneurship exploration, social-connection offerings such as Summer in the City ($150/person/week), Go Karting Meetups ($20/person), Get in the Game! sports, arts-based self-care workshops, and the annual Healing Arts Exhibit. Educational offerings to schools and educators include Intersectional Justice, Identities and Society, Minds That Matter, We Belong, and the year-round Black Disability Histories presentation, supported by an e-commerce merchandise storefront (Shop YAIJ) and a corporate accessibility-audit consulting service. The underlying technology stack is conventional for a small Canadian nonprofit: a website-driven program-registration and virtual/hybrid workshop delivery platform, PayPal-backed donation processing, Google reCAPTCHA on forms, and Bitly for shared program links, with no disclosed AI/ML components.

Revenue is generated through a mix of donations, merchandise sales, fee-based social programs, and workshop/training fees, with many programs explicitly free or subsidized for youth facing barriers and workshop pricing available only on request. Distribution is community-led, combining direct program registration, school-club nodes (Glendale ON, Rockridge BC), strategic university partnerships (Seneca, York, McMaster, SFU, Adler), and earned media including CTV coverage of co-founders Jantz and Carolyn. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Carolyn as Co-Founder and Chair, Kimberley as Vice-Chair, Muna and Aiden as Directors) with Jantz on the Advisory Council, and operates without disclosed venture, equity, or institutional investment.

Name

Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice

Legal name

Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice

Website

https://yaij.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice is a Black youth-led Canadian nonprofit that runs peer-support training, employment exploration, social-connection, and educator workshop programs for racialized and neurodiverse youth aged 15-30 across Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth peer support
• Intersectional justice education
• Neurodiversity employment programs
• Community arts programming
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a federally incorporated nonprofit, YAIJ depends on generous donations from supporters. Donations fund transportation for youth, central gathering spaces, life skills development, civil rights awareness training, emotional/mental well-being activities, and leadership programs.
2. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales through Shop YAIJ offering accessories, limited edition items created by neurodiverse community members, and YAIJ branded apparel and activist gear.
3. Social Program Fees: Fees for social programs including Summer in the City ($150/person/week) and Go Karting Meetup ($20/person). Some activities are free or subsidized for youth facing barriers.
4. Workshop and Training Fees: Educational workshops for educators and students including What is Intersectional Justice, Identities & Society, Minds That Matter, We Belong series, and PeerSTEP training with pricing available by contacting staff.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YAIJ is a Black youth-led, federally incorporated Canadian nonprofit that delivers peer support training (PeerSTEP, a 6-week certification program), employment and entrepreneurship exploration programs (YEFP, YEIP), arts-based social connection programs (Summer in the City, Arts-Based Self-Care, Get in the Game!, Go Karting Meetups), and educator/student training workshops on intersectional justice, Black Disability Histories, and inclusion strategies. Programs are designed for racialized neurodiverse youth aged 15-30 across Canada and are funded primarily through donations, program fees, and a small merchandise line.

Product overview

YAIJ is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth-centered community programs and services. The core offerings include PeerSTEP (a 6-week peer supporter certification program), Youth Employment Futures Program (YEFP) and Youth Entrepreneur Incubator Program (YEIP) for employment exploration, and various social programs like Summer in the City, Arts-Based Self-Care workshops, Get in the Game! sports initiative, and Go Karting Meetups. Educational offerings include workshops on Intersectional Justice, Identities & Society, Minds That Matter, and Black Disability Histories. Additional programs include the Artist in Residence (AiR) program, Healing Arts Exhibit, YAIJ School Clubs, and a merchandise shop. These programs work together to support racialized neurodiverse youth through peer support, employment assistance, education, social connection, and artistic expression.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PeerSTEP: YAIJ's Peer Support Training Program - a 6 week training session for people who would like to be a supportive resource to their peers, resulting in YAIJ Peer Supporter Certification.
• YEIP (Youth Entrepreneur Incubator Program)
• YEFP (Youth Employment Futures Program)
• Get in the Game!

Products and services

• PeerSTEP (Peer Support Training Program) A 6-week training program that certifies participants as YAIJ Peer Supporters, with certification eligible for national certification. Instruction is offered in online or hybrid formats and trains participants to be supportive resources for their peers.
• Youth Entrepreneur Incubator Program (YEIP) A low-pressure, flexible employment and entrepreneur exploration program for youth aged 15-30 facing racial and disability barriers to employment. Participants can earn a living wage while gaining industry mentorship.
• Youth Employment Futures Program (YEFP) A paid work exploration program offering job and life coaching, certification opportunities, employment skills, and industry mentorship for neurodiverse youth aged 15-30. Activities and outings are free or subsidized.
• Summer in the City A flexible and supported social program offering planned trips and activities exploring the city, Caribbean and African culture, sports, and art. Priced at $150 per person per week and run in Vancouver, Surrey, Toronto, Hamilton, and Halifax starting the first week of July.
• Arts-Based Self-Care Programs Year-round arts-based workshops including Poetry in Motion, Healing Arts (visual and performance art), YAIJ at the Ballet, and The Techno Self (arts-based technology). These programs are supported through multiple community partner sponsorships.
• Get in the Game! A YAIJ initiative focused on self-advocacy and friendships through organized sport for youth aged 15-30. Activities and outings are free or subsidized.
• Go Karting Meetup A safe, indoor go karting social meetup for youth to meet new friends, priced at $20 per person. Other indoor/outdoor activities include car crawls, horseback riding, roller skating, and gardening (free or subsidized).
• Healthy Relationships Workshop A collaborative workshop addressing cultural enrichment, disability communication, LGBTQ2+ youth community, and dating for neurodiverse youth and families.
• Tea & Talk (Justice Ed.) A collaborative learning circle discussing human rights, positive school experiences, and self-advocacy stories, featuring special guests including lawyers and health professionals.
• Intersectional Justice Workshop A workshop exploring race, neurodiversity, and self-advocacy from young people with lived experiences. Designed for educators, students, and supporters; pricing available by contacting YAIJ staff.
• Identities & Society Workshop A 2-part youth-integrated series investigating the impacts of disability identity labels on students and the designated labels used in Special Education. Targeted at educators and students.
• Minds That Matter Workshop A 3-part interactive online workshop series exploring self-care, mental and emotional health of neurodiverse students, and trauma-informed teaching practices in special education.
• We Belong: Strategies to Support Inclusion at School An advanced 3-part session for teachers and students who have completed the introduction to intersectional justice or identities and society workshops, focused on supporting inclusion at school.
• Black Disability Histories (BDH) Presentation A youth-led presentation about Black disability activists and envisioning Black and racialized neurodiverse education futures, available for booking year-round by schools, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations.
• YAIJ School Clubs A program for schools to start student-led clubs offering opportunities to build authentic friendships, share interests, and learn about everyday justice and allyship. Currently active at Glendale (ON) and Rockridge (BC).
• Artist in Residence (AiR) Program A program featuring Black and racialized autistic and neurodiverse artists sharing their narratives through visual art, spoken word, dance, and music. Featured artists include Ali (ProXima CENTAURI) and Kieshawn.
• Healing Arts Exhibit An annual art exhibit where Black and racialized autistic youth curate their own art, sharing narratives through visual art, spoken word, and dance. Featured in news coverage and tied to the broader arts programming.
• Neurodiversity & Belonging at Work Consulting Consulting services including accessibility audits for organizations to attract and retain diverse workforces and ensure neurodiverse employees experience belonging in the workplace.
• Shop YAIJ (Merchandise) Online store featuring YAIJ accessories, limited edition items created by neurodiverse community members, and YAIJ-themed activist gear including tees.

Quantifiable outcome

• PeerSTEP program graduates receive YAIJ Peer Supporter Certification eligible for national certification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seneca CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeneca College prioritizes equity, collaboration, and community service to make YAIJ programming possible. Partnership supports educational initiatives for neurodiverse students.
• York UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork University partnership creates space for exploration, upward economic stability, and supports youth-centered initiatives.
• McMaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation in servitude - McMaster honors what YAIJ envisions to create solutions that build authentic, long lasting partnerships. Multiple YAIJ staff and volunteers are McMaster students.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquity is action, not just buzzword at SFU. From research to reclamation, SFU collaborations are based on mutual respect and recognition of inequitable structures. SFU Board Chair Muna completed Ph.D. in Gender Studies there.
• Adler UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdler University is in the process of reconfiguring school-wide equity and justice strategies. Small but mighty partnership supporting YAIJ's mission.
• Community Partners (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple unnamed community partners sponsor YAIJ arts-based programs including Poetry in Motion, Healing Arts, YAIJ at the Ballet, and The Techno Self workshops. Also supports through donations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Autism Canada: Canadian national autism advocacy and resource organization. Comparable to YAIJ in serving neurodiverse youth across Canada, but as a larger established advocacy body rather than a youth-led service-delivery collective.
• Right to Play: Canadian-founded international nonprofit using sport and play for youth development. Comparable to YAIJ in combining sports programming (YAIJ's Get in the Game!) with youth empowerment, though much larger and globally focused.
• Autism Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN): North American autistic self-advocacy nonprofit. Comparable to YAIJ in centering autistic/neurodiverse voices and addressing intersectional disability issues, but operates at much larger scale and does not specifically focus on Black/racialized youth in Canada.
• March of Dimes Canada: Canadian disability nonprofit providing employment, accessibility, and inclusion services. Comparable to YAIJ in disability employment programs and accessibility consulting, but operates at much larger national scale with broader scope beyond race-specific intersectionality.
• Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN): Ontario-based network advancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Comparable to YAIJ's employment-focused YEIP/YEFP programming and employer accessibility audits, though operates as a network rather than direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Black Youth Helpline (BYH): Canadian helpline and youth-serving organization focused on Black youth. Directly comparable to YAIJ in targeting Black youth across Canada, though centered on helpline/crisis services rather than intersectional disability programming.
• PEERS Canada: Canadian peer support and employment services for people with disabilities. Directly comparable to YAIJ's PeerSTEP training and YEIP/YEFP employment programs targeting neurodiverse youth, though serves a broader demographic without YAIJ's race-specific intersectional framing.

Regional players

• Citizens for Public Justice: Canadian social justice nonprofit advocating for equity and human rights. Comparable to YAIJ in its Canadian base and intersectional justice orientation, though focuses more on policy advocacy than direct youth programming.
• Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK): Ontario-based children's mental health and autism services provider. Comparable to YAIJ in serving neurodiverse youth with peer-support and mental-health-adjacent programming in the Ontario region, though without YAIJ's race-specific intersectional framing.

Emerging players

• Black Disabled Lives Matter: Advocacy initiative centering Black disabled people. Comparable to YAIJ's intersectional justice framing combining race and disability, though primarily a US-based advocacy network rather than a service-delivery nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice