Note
Research outline presented at the Summit on the Economics of Policing and Community Safety held in Ottawa, 2-4 March, 2015.
Issued also in French under the title: Risque, résilience et mobilisation des collectivités auprès de jeunes Somaliens-Canadiens à Toronto (Ontario) et à Edmonton (Alberta).
Author(s) affiliated with: Ryerson University and University of Alberta, and received assistance from the Toronto and Edmonton Police Services.
Résumé
" This research examines risk and resilience among Somali-Canadian youth and young adults (16-30) in Toronto, Ontario and Edmonton, Alberta. We explore why some young Somali-Canadians in both cities – young people who face significant levels of marginalization and exclusion – may find a ‘place of belonging’ in radical groups (such as al-Shabaab and, more recently, ISIS). Whereas, others become involved in drug, weapon and gang-related crime, and still others remain resilient in the face of such challenges. As a second focus, this research examines the role that police community outreach and engagement may play in creating and/or bolstering resilience among Somali-Canadian youth more generally."