Empowering 2SLGBTQ+ and Newcomer Youth Through Financial Literacy 

For many newcomer and trans youth in Montreal, navigating Canada’s financial systems can feel overwhelming. From language barriers to systemic discrimination, too many young people face economic exclusion simply because financial education isn’t designed for them. 

The Community Capacity Building Initiative (CCBI) is changing that through an inclusive, multilingual, and trauma-informed approach to financial literacy. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, CCBI is expanding its programming to help 2SLGBTQ+ youth, especially those who are newcomers, refugees, or not in education, employment, or training (NEET), build the confidence and knowledge to take control of their financial futures. 

Learning That Starts with Trust 

Delivered in partnership with AGIR Montréal and Jeunesse Lambda, CCBI’s program offers multilingual workshops on consumer, digital, and fiscal literacy, co-designed with community members. Building on the success of its Empower Tomorrow pilot, the project helps youth learn practical skills like budgeting, credit, and taxes in a culturally rooted, trauma-informed environment that reflects their lived realities.  

“This grant for economic literacy enables us to implement multi-tiered services that, in conjunction with our mentorship and one-on-one support models, create comprehensive pathways for deeper, long-term impact in our communities.” says the CCBI team. “Economic literacy programming addresses critical disparities for underrepresented 2SLGBTQ+ youth, particularly migrant and refugee youth.” 

Closing the Economic Inclusion Gap 

Newcomer and trans youth often face layered barriers to financial independence. Many arrive without credit history or documentation, making it difficult to access housing, open bank accounts, or file taxes. In the communities CCBI serve, close to 30 percent experience housing instability. Food insecurity rates are six times higher than the national average, and discrimination continues to shape financial well-being. 

By centering safety, representation, and collaboration, CCBI’s model helps youth gain tangible financial skills while addressing the trauma and mistrust that often prevent participation. Each session is designed to build confidence and agency, helping participants see financial literacy as a tool for independence and empowerment. 

Strengthening Economic Equity with support from the RHF 

Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative is helping CCBI scale its community-powered model and expand its reach. Catapult funding strengthens organizational capacity while connecting CCBI to a national network of youth-serving organizations committed to inclusion, learning, and leadership. 

By investing in initiatives like CCBI’s multilingual financial literacy program, the Rideau Hall Foundation is helping ensure all youth have the tools and confidence to build a secure and self-determined future.