Learn. Earn. Create. Belong.
Impact NOW! is a community-powered program supporting youth in Ottawa’s Caldwell community to earn high school credits, paid work experience, and real-world skills while building businesses, sharing meals, and creating change close to home.
Paid Employment Opportunities
Earn Ontario Highschool Credits
Access to Quality Mentorship
Shared Meal Every Session
WHAT IS IMPACT NOW?
Impact NOW! is a flagship initiative of R.I.S.E. Academy,
an Ontario Ministry–recognized education organization founded in 2020.
Launched at the Caldwell Family Centre, Impact NOW! is a place-based youth empowerment and poverty-reduction program that blends:
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Credit-bearing education
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Paid employment & internships
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Youth-led social enterprises
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Trauma-informed mentorship
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Consistent meals and care
Youth don’t just learn about opportunity — they experience it.
HOW IT WORKS
PROGRAM PATHWAYS
1. Social Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
- Earn Ontario high school credits
- Build products and businesses
- Learn branding, pricing, teamwork, and leadership
- Weekly sessions + shared meal
2. Paid Employment & Leadership
- Paid positions + credits
- Youth-run custom printing business
- Leadership roles mentoring newer participants
3. Paid Internships
- Advanced leadership and coordination roles
- Youth help run Impact NOW! itself
This isn’t busywork. It’s real.
27 Youth Engaged
More than double the expected number of youth consistently participated, showing strong demand and trust from the community.
500+ Meals Served
Shared meals at every session reduced food insecurity and created a reliable space for connection and belonging.
25+ Business Ideas Developed
Youth explored creative ideas through mentorship, workshops, and project-based learning.
100+ Products Sold at Ottawa Markets
Students sold their work directly to the public, building confidence, income, and customer-facing skills.
“This program helped me start my own business. It made me believe I could actually do it.”
Designed For Long-Term Impact—Not Short-Term Fixes.
This is not a one-off program.
It’s a scalable, prevention-focused model that:
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Reduces youth poverty
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Increases graduation pathways
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Strengthens community belonging
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Prevents deeper system involvement
Impact NOW! supports youth ages 14–18, primarily from the Caldwell community and Ottawa’s west end, who face barriers to success in traditional systems but have the creativity, drive, and potential to thrive when given the right support.
We serve students who have struggled to earn or keep up with credits, and young people experiencing food or housing insecurity or limited access to paid work. Many of our participants are navigating multiple systems at once—school, work, family responsibilities—often without consistent adult guidance.
GET INVOLVED!
🤝 Volunteer or Mentor
Share skills in business, food, wellness, design, or leadership.
💛 Donate or Sponsor
Support meals, paid internships, youth wages, and program expansion.
🙌Partner With Us
CONTACT US to collaborate on youth employment, social enterprises, or community events.