Youth Work Program 10th Anniversary

Tony Alfonso, GrDip 16, is the outreach coordinator at AMI Quebec. He has a Graduate Diploma in Youth Work and has worked with at-risk youth in various capacities for over two decades. With his work at AMI, he focuses on getting as many people talking about mental health as possible through presentations, workshops and conversations to reduce stigma and bring attention to caregivers and their own mental health challenges.

Crystal Harrison, GrDip 20, is a youth worker and sex educator who has been facilitating groups and workshops in community for a decade. Since graduating from Concordia's Youth Work program in 2020, she has worked as president of Rock Camp Montreal, for the YMCA's Pivot Program, and for the Outreach Schools Network. She is currently the education for Prevention Coordinator at AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM). ACCM offers innovative programs rooted in harm reduction that aim to decrease the transmission of HIV and other STBBIs. Crystal leads educational sexual health workshops and kiosks in schools and community organizations across the city.

Lina Heid, GrDip 22, is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and wellness. Graduating from Concordia University with a Bachelor's in Human Relations and a Graduate Diploma in Youth Work, she found her calling. Currently serving as Program Coordinator and Supervisor at Camp LIFT, where she interned during her studies in the Youth Work Program, she now thrives in her role through sculpting futures and fostering growth. Grateful for the opportunities bestowed by the Youth Work Program, she cherishes every moment guiding young minds towards healthy habits and mindfulness. With a heart dedicated to nurturing the next generation, Lina epitomizes resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of mentorship.

Tamara Medford-Williams, GrDip 21, is a community advocate of Caribbean descent. She is the Director of Black Community Initiatives at the Disabled Women’s Network of Canada. Other professional roles span from Clinical Educator and Family Caseworker to author and radio co-host. Her work, rooted in advocacy, education, research, and policy reform, includes contributions to the Relational Child and Youth Care Practice Journal (RCYCP), reports to the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (UN ICERD), open letters to Federal Ministers concerning ending poverty in Canada, advocacy in Parliament for marginalized groups, and leading a National Feminist Disability Coalition, aiming for transformational change. She holds a BA in Human Relations, a certificate in Family Life Education, a Graduate Diploma in Youth Work, and is completing her Masters of Social Work. Tamara aims to offer anti-oppressive, intersectional, and culturally responsive services to individuals and communities.

Lorne Ferguson, GrDip 19, has worked and volunteered with youth in various capacities over the past 20 years, and in youth protection for the last 12. In recent years he has worked closely with Concordia's Department of Applied Human Sciences to place students in stage placements with youth in residential care. He is currently interim manager in the Client Security Continuum in Programme Jeunesse, at the West Island Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre. 

Patti Ranahan is a professor in the Graduate Diploma in Youth Work and Human Relations program in Applied Human Sciences. Dr. Ranahan has over two decades of practice experience working as a child and youth care professional in a variety of settings including residential care, crisis shelters, school-based practice, mental health outpatient services, and community-based foster parent support. She has facilitated suicide intervention education programs, and currently acts as a clinical supervisor of Connect — an attachment and trauma-informed group for parents and caregivers. Her practice experience informs her research and teaching activities. Her program of research draws upon qualitative methods such as grounded theory, discourse analysis, and focused ethnography to investigate suicide prevention education, mental health literacy, youth work pedagogy, and enhancing parent-youth relationships through parenting interventions. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and Editor-in-Chief of Child & Youth Services.