Judy Chau
Judy Chau is a Registered Social Worker who studied at the University of Toronto, specializing in children and families. Judy is deeply passionate about social justice, children’s mental health, and children’s rights. Judy has been actively involved in spaces dedicated to health equity, mental health advocacy, and education justice. She has led peer health promotion initiatives at the University of Toronto, coordinated wellness programs to support student mental health, and worked extensively with children in educational settings, including as a School Social Worker for the Toronto District School Board and currently, as a Child Family Therapist at Boost Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. As the Executive Director of Starts With One, Judy has spearheaded programs that provide educational support to underserved youth, advocating for equitable access to quality tutoring and fostering supportive learning environments. Outside of her academic and professional life, Judy is a dedicated fan of Taylor Swift, an enthusiast of anime, and a passionate gamer. She finds joy and creativity in these interests, using them to unwind and connect with others, adding a personal touch to her broader work in advocacy and mental health support.
Starts With One: Summer Learning at the ROM ☀️
Starts With One is a federally registered, youth-led nonprofit advancing education equity for low-income, newcomer, and marginalized students across Toronto through free tutoring, mentorship, and community support. Building on this work, Summer Learning at the ROM offers a fully subsidized educational experience for students who often face financial barriers to summer enrichment. By covering admission, transportation, and meals, the project creates accessible opportunities for learning, connection, and belonging while helping address inequities in access to educational opportunities.
https://www.swocanada.org/About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
From March to August 2026, Starts With One will organize and deliver a fully subsidized summer learning experience at the Royal Ontario Museum. The project includes outreach, registration, volunteer coordination, transportation support, educational programming, and a shared meal, bringing 45 students, tutors, and youth leaders together for community-based learning.
Project Impact
Starts With One: Summer Learning at the ROM will reduce barriers to educational enrichment by providing low-income, newcomer, and marginalized youth with free access to a meaningful summer learning experience. The project will foster belonging, strengthen connections across the Starts With One community, and build youth leadership capacity through shared learning, mentorship, and community participation.
Project Mission
Starts With One: Summer Learning at the ROM aims to advance education equity by ensuring underserved youth can access meaningful summer learning opportunities. Its goals are to remove financial barriers, foster belonging and community connection, and strengthen youth leadership through a shared educational experience involving students, volunteer tutors, and Executive Team members.
Project Team
Starts With One executive team members coordinate outreach, logistics, communications, finance, and participant support.
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