As For Youth Initiative’s Executive Director since 2008, Olalekan (Lekan) has been leading an organization that is committed to creating healthy communities by increasing life-chances of youth at-risk. He has played a pivotal role in the organization’s direction and development, ensuring the provision of empowering programs and services that are youth-driven, inclusive and accessible.
During this time he has helped moved the organization to the forefront of the youth-led sector. He is always seeking more effective ways of improving program and service delivery.
Lekan’s community work began at a young age where he played an integral role in a youth organization called Youth in Power. Experiencing the benefits and power of putting young people at the centre of community organizing, Lekan decided to complete his education in social work after high school. In 2007, he graduated from the Bachelors of Social Work program at Ryerson University, and in 2008, he went on to become one of the youngest Executive Directors in Toronto. Since then he has gone on to become a graduate of the United Way’s Creative Institute of Toronto’s Young (C.I.T.Y) Leaders and is currently a DiverseCity Fellow.
Lekan will use his Vital People grant to complete his Masters Degree in Social Work with a specialization in Social Service Administration. Through his studies, Lekan will gain critical knowledge around leadership in social service organizations, which coupled with his professional experience, will enable him to continue to support FYI and the youth-led sector writ large in a more significant way.
Lekan's Vital People grant is funded through the Vital Toronto Fund at the Toronto Community Foundation.
