Cornerstone Youth Centre is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to equipping youth with the life skills and support they need to navigate life’s challenges and build successful futures. Since opening its doors in 1994, Cornerstone has focused on prevention by “filling the tool belts” of young people through mentorship, goal-setting, and life skills programming. Youth in the centre’s small cohort work closely with mentors to identify goals, overcome barriers, and celebrate achievements, fostering personal growth and resilience. Cornerstone tailors its approach to meet the unique needs, abilities, and preferences of each participant, inspiring them to thrive beyond the centre’s walls. We connected with Megan Tran, Executive Director of Cornerstone Youth Centre (CYC), to learn more about what they do.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Cornerstone Youth Centre is dedicated to empowering youth in Calgary’s Mayland Heights community by providing free after-school programming inspired by a framework called The 40 Developmental Assets that focuses on life skills, and emotional support. CYC has been serving the Mayland Heights community for over 20 years. CYC focuses on prevention rather than intervention, offering mentorship, and educational support to youth aged 11-15. CYC’s goal is to help youth build strong relationships, foster independence, and overcome barriers in their development. CYC is a smaller organization intentionally focused on prioritizing quality over quantity. By working with a smaller number of youth, CYC can form deeper, more meaningful relationships and ensure each young person receives the time and attention they need to thrive. This approach allows mentors to address challenges and provide support more efficiently, as mentors can identify and respond to individual needs much faster. Instead of being stretched thin by trying to serve over 100 youth, which might dilute the quality of care and support, CYC focuses on creating significant, lasting impacts in the lives of fewer youth. By fostering these close connections, CYC not only helps address immediate concerns but also builds trust and a strong foundation for the youth to grow and achieve their goals. This model reflects our belief that meaningful, personal engagement is essential for truly empowering young people and making a difference in their lives.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We aim to address the lack of accessible, structured, and supportive programs for youth in our community, particularly for those from lower-income or single-parent families. Many youth in our area face food insecurity, challenges in accessing education, and limited opportunities for positive engagement with adults. Prevention also aligns with the organization’s mission to create lasting change by addressing the root causes of social, emotional, and academic struggles. For many youth at CYC, these root causes include socioeconomic disadvantages, lack of adult support, and feelings of isolation or insecurity. By addressing these factors early through mentorship, life skills programs, and a supportive community, CYC helps youth build a toolkit to navigate their lives more effectively.
This approach reduces the need for intervention later, which often occurs after a crisis has developed. While intervention can still be beneficial, it is reactive and often involves addressing significant and complex challenges. Prevention, on the other hand, is proactive, focusing on reducing risks and building strengths before issues arise. By prioritizing prevention, CYC seeks to not only support the youth of today but also invest in the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow.
When did you start/join the charity?
I joined Cornerstone Youth Centre in 2016 as a practicum student. From there, I worked my way up through various roles, starting as a part-time Youth Worker, to full-time Senior Youth Worker and then transitioning to Program Coordinator. Over time, I gained invaluable experience and developed my skills in youth program management, leadership, and community outreach.
With the guidance and mentorship of Bob, the previous Executive Director, who has been an instrumental figure in shaping my professional growth, I learned what it takes to be an Executive Director. His support and encouragement allowed me to build on the foundation of my work at Cornerstone and confidently take on the responsibilities of leading the organization. It has been a rewarding journey, and I remain deeply committed to ensuring the success of Cornerstone and the youth we serve.
What made you want to get involved?
I am passionate about ensuring that every youth has the opportunity to thrive. Seeing how much this program impacts young lives and knowing the unique struggles youth face today inspired me to contribute to this meaningful work. Growing up as a second-generation Canadian in a lower socioeconomic household, I witnessed firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new environment, learning a new language, and navigating school life while facing mental health struggles. Those experiences shaped my understanding of how difficult it can be to find support and a sense of belonging, especially during such formative years. It’s this personal journey that inspired me to dedicate my life to helping youth overcome similar obstacles and thrive in supportive, empowering environments.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I joined, Cornerstone was a drop-in after-school program where it focused on providing youth a safe environment to go to after school ended. Cornerstone was already a beacon of hope in the community. However, I wanted to utilize the space and the growing demand for services highlighted gaps in Mayland Heights. CYC added the 40 Developmental Assets to build on life skills with the youth, emergency support, mental health support, and technology access for education. The newest program I have implemented to CYC is adding strong caring adult relationships and working towards HARD goals – heartfelt, animated, required and difficult. This framework encourages the youth to set meaningful and ambitious goals that align with their passions while teaching them how to overcome obstacles.
How has it changed since?
Cornerstone Youth Centre has undergone meaningful changes under my leadership, with a stronger focus on intentional and impactful programming. CYC introduced initiatives like Mentorship Matters, which emphasizes life skills and financial independence, and Nourishing Greatness, addressing food security for youth and their families. These programs ensure that our youth not only have their immediate needs met but are also empowered to work towards long-term personal and professional goals. With the generous support of donors, CYC expanded the opportunities CYC provides, including memorable experiences like field trips, hockey games, and emergency assistance for families in need. These moments not only enrich the lives of the youth but also strengthen the sense of community within CYC.
At the core of our transformation are our constellation words: engaged, consistent, supportive, flexible, and appreciative. Recently, CYC intentionally added intentional to highlight the importance of purposefulness in everything we do, particularly as the youth work on their HARD Goals. This shift reflects our commitment to equipping youth with the tools to achieve meaningful and heartfelt outcomes in their lives.
Through these changes, Cornerstone Youth Centre continues to grow as a space where youth feel valued, supported, and empowered to create brighter futures.
What more needs to be done?
One of our key priorities is to grow Cornerstone Youth Centre’s awareness about its mission and the impact it has on the youth in the community. As a smaller non-profit, raising visibility helps showcase the meaningful work being done and fosters stronger connections with community partners and supporters. Highlighting successes, sharing stories, and engaging the community are essential to ensuring that more people understand the value of Cornerstone’s programs and the difference they make in young lives. As a smaller organization, Cornerstone Youth Centre has the unique ability to create deep, meaningful impacts that often go unnoticed. Our focused approach allows us to build genuine connections, provide personalized support, and foster life-changing opportunities for the youth we serve. I am passionate about showing the world—and our community partners—the incredible work we’re doing. Every success story at Cornerstone reflects the profound difference we make, and I believe it’s time for these powerful moments to be seen and celebrated. Together, we can shine a light on the incredible potential of the youth in our community.
Another critical focus is securing long-term funding to ensure the sustainability and growth of our programs. Reliable funding allows us to provide consistent support, introduce new initiatives, and adapt to the evolving needs of the youth and their families. With stable resources, we can continue addressing food security, offering life-changing experiences, and empowering youth to work towards their HARD Goals with purpose and intention. By achieving these goals, CYC can deepen our impact, ensuring that every young person who comes through our doors has the tools, resources, and relationships they need to succeed.
How can our readers help?
There are many ways you can make a lasting impact in the lives of youth at Cornerstone Youth Centre:
- Donate: Your contributions are more than just financial support—they are an investment in the long-term sustainability of our programs and the futures of the youth we serve. Donations allow us to provide consistent, ongoing support to youth, ensuring they have access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities to achieve their goals. Through programs like Mentorship Matters, youth also learn the value of hard work and responsibility by earning monetary rewards, teaching them critical life skills such as financial independence and goal setting. Your support ensures these transformative experiences can continue to shape their lives.
- Volunteer: By becoming a volunteer, you can help build the meaningful, personal relationships that are at the heart of our work. Guide youth as they navigate challenges, work towards their HARD Goals, and grow into confident, capable individuals.
- Spread the word: Share our mission with your network, whether it’s through social media, community events, or word-of-mouth. Raising awareness helps us connect with others who share our passion for empowering youth.
Every donation, hour of your time, or message shared brings us closer to creating a brighter future for the youth in our community. Together, we can provide the consistent, supportive foundation they need to thrive.
Do you have any events coming up?
Currently, we don’t have any events planned, but we’d love to keep you in the loop! If you’re interested in hearing about our future fundraisers and events, be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website.
By subscribing, you’ll receive updates, news, and stories about the incredible things we’re doing with our youth, as well as information about opportunities to support and engage with our work. Don’t miss out—sign up today and stay connected with all the ways we’re making a difference together!
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PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
At The Nina Project, their mission is to ensure that every youth feels unconditionally seen, heard, and loved. They are dedicated to enhancing mental health awareness and improving access to treatment and services for young individuals struggling with mental illness. One of the most impactful ways we support youth is through our first care kits, which provide essential resources for those who self-harm.
