Next in our profile of the LEVEL community is Dacious Richardson. Dacious is a student currently pursuing a degree in sports science and coaching at Douglas College. He is actively involved in community, co-leading the Surrey Refugee Youth Team, sitting on the Surrey LIP Immigrant Advisory Roundtable, the Canadian Council for Refugees Youth Network, and of course volunteering with the LEVEL advisory committee as well. Dacious’ great love for sports has led him to organize an annual soccer tournament for at-risk youth in Surrey to engage and connect them to the community through sport. Through the Yo Bro | Yo Girl initiative, Dacious also works as an outreach youth worker, a wrestling coach and mentor in public schools across Surrey and Delta. Dacious was also recently nominated for a BC Multiculturalism Award for his ongoing commitment to bettering community.
Why did you decide to volunteer as a LEVEL advisor?
I decided to volunteer to be the voice that advocates for change in society for racialized migrant, refugee and Indigenous youth.
What assets and experiences do you bring to the LEVEL advisory committee?
I bring my knowledge and experience in planning, facilitating, decision making and policy work; from advocacy to promoting diversity and multiculturalism across Canada.
What systemic changes do you hope to see in the world?
I want to see people of colour, especially youth of colour, attaining leadership positions in the non-profit sector, and be given an opportunity to showcase their brilliant abilities.
What do you hope LEVEL will be able to do?
I hope LEVEL will be able to give opportunity to racialized migrant, refugee, and Indigenous youth to learn to rise up to systemic barriers, shake them down and fight for lasting systemic change.
What role should young people have in creating systemic changes?
Young people should be given the same opportunities that others get because their voices matter and ought to be heard by the larger society. For example, we need more youth on committees and boards where they can speak on behalf of, and represent youth issues and matters.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a young person wanting to see change, what would you say?
As young men or woman, refugee, migrant, Indigenous or racialized youth, be the change that you want to see take place in the world; fight for change rightfully with all the energy that you have in yourself. Know that you’re not alone because you have impacted your peers to join in the fight for change.
