What is this?
The CMCCF Social Justice Youth Award will be granted to an individual or a group who is making positive change for communities, either local or beyond!
Our award celebrates the remarkable achievements of young people between the ages of 15 and 26 from diverse cultural backgrounds who are leading with bravery, curiosity, intelligence, and empathy.
We wish to recognize those who are making small, incremental, and often invisible changes in areas that matter to them, such as arts, culture, faith, and community, while also creating safe and comfortable spaces within their own cultural communities.
These young leaders are deeply committed to social justice and community building, and are creating more equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging. They are not just creating change in their communities but also within their own families, with their friends and neighbors, and in new cultural communities.
We believe that by recognizing and celebrating these young people, we can inspire others to get involved in creating positive change in their own communities, and to build a better world for all, not through government or institutions, but through the power of families and cultural communities.
Our Peace-First lens for this Youth Social Justice Award:
The Youth Social Justice Award is rooted in CMCCF’s Peace-First lens, an approach that honours those who build peace long before conflict demands it. Rather than waiting for harm to appear, Peace-First leadership cultivates the everyday conditions that allow dignity, justice, and belonging to take root across difference within cultural communities and beyond. This award invites us to recognize that social justice is not only about responding to what is broken, but about nurturing what makes us whole.
Through this lens, peace is understood not as the absence of tension or struggle, but as a living, relational capacity that helps individuals, families, and communities remain grounded and connected under pressure. The Youth Social Justice Award celebrates young people who are already learning to lead from this place, quietly, creatively, and courageously shaping a future where justice and peace can breathe together.
Here are some examples of demonstrating positive peace:
1. They created spaces where people felt safe, heard, and able to stay in relationship across difference.
2. They strengthened trust and belonging within and between communities, helping prevent harm before conflict arose.
3. They responded to tension with calm, care, and steadiness that helped others remain grounded.
4. They focused on repairing relationships and restoring dignity rather than deepening divisions.
5. They built community resilience by encouraging mutual support, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
Have you contributed to Social Justice in your community?
Social justice is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves addressing power imbalances and works towards a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities for all individuals and communities. It is important to understand that social justice is not just about creating equal opportunities, but also about recognizing and addressing the ways in which systems and structures may perpetuate oppression and marginalization.
Though complex and difficult, it is important to acknowledge that everyone has a role to play in working towards social justice. It requires critical self-reflection and a willingness to learn and grow. It also involves being open to hearing and understanding the perspectives of marginalized communities, and acting to make changes in one’s own life and in the broader community.
It’s also important to recognize that social justice is not a one-time event, but a constant work in progress, and it’s ongoing. It’s a process that requires individuals and communities to continuously reflect, learn, and adapt in order to create a more just and equitable society.
When do I need to submit the expression of interest form?
This is a quick nomination process.
Our cut-off date is March 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
The successful nominee will be announced online.
Online forms:
Self-Nomination Form Link:
Nominate Other’s Link:
We thank all who have applied and value your efforts!
Why should I nominate an individual or a group?
This is a great opportunity for youth to be recognized for their contributions in making change within communities which ultimately impact the world! The award recipient will be granted with recognition by cultural communities in Manitoba, a CMCCF podcast interview, and access to a mentor for their further growth and development.
Who can nominate?
We invite you to nominate yourself, or an individual or a group.
The attributes we are looking for are (but not limited to):
1. Must be between the ages of 15-26.
Desire to change local communities/ the world: The individual/group must be motivated to make a positive impact on local communities and the world. They must have a clear vision of how they want to achieve this goal.
Commitment to Social Justice: The individual/group must be dedicated to promoting social justice and advancing the cause of equity, diversity, and
Community Building: The individual/group must be actively engaged in building strong and inclusive communities, and must have a track record of working collaboratively with others towards this goal.
Leadership: The individual/group must demonstrate their ability to take initiative, be an active listener, open to learning, teaching, and involving
How to apply?
We have an online expression of interest form, which will have a number of questions for the nominee to answer. Also, there will be a section for the nominee to provide more information about how they believe that they have met the attributes and answered the question of ‘how have the person nominated contributed to social justice in the community?’
Youth Social Justice Award Selection Committee membership
Bisman Randhawa
Diwan Oulai
Oppy Omotayo
Jasmine Dhalla
Areessa Afzal
Bhavya Arora
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