‘Shift Disturbers’ program helps youth change course

Georgian College launched a new ‘Shift Disturbers’ program for local youth who are facing barriers to post-secondary education, with a focus on restorative justice through restoring a motorcycle.

Seven teens are involved in the pilot program, which was launched as part of the college’s ‘Changing Course’ lab to offer hands-on work experience to local youth who are supported by Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka.

“They have to work cooperatively as a team to decide what it is that they want to do and how they want to change the motorcycle,” said Lisa Harripersad, a lead researcher at Georgian College. “They are wrapping it in different colours, they’re changing the fairing, they’re changing the pedals, they’re changing the lights, those kinds of things.”

The program made possible thanks to nearly $75,000 in funding from Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka and a donated pre-owned motorcycle from Harley Davidson.

The program is also about breaking stigmas for youth who’ve experienced the justice system, systemic poverty or marginalization according to Nicole Norris, Georgian College’s director of social innovation.

“There is a massive stigma attached that follows them through their entire lives,” said Norris. “This program really is about working with Elizabeth Frye, the motorcycle program, and the department of social innovation to explore how we bridge those over for those students to be successful in those ways.”

The ‘Shift Disturbers’ program runs until the end of March.

Georgian College will also be hosting its annual Ride Team Georgian motorcycle event on Sept. 25 and 26, which will be heavily relied upon for funding the ‘Shift Disturbers’ program again in the fall.

“The [motorcycle community] is an amazing community,” said Jenn Martin, manager and chief instructor with Georgian College’s motorcycle training program. “We want to give them a cause and ask them to join our cause in helping support different programs [and] ongoing research for this program.”

Registration for the Ride Team Georgian event opens on Feb. 14.