INSPIRING YOUTH
Jane-Finch.com a tool to battle stigma surrounding area, creator says
Founder wins award for using his website to showcase the positive side of the Jane and Finch neighbourhood,
Paul Nguyen credits Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood for the opportunities he’s had in life.
If it wasn’t for the area, the 38-year-old might not have the “extra drive to get up and try and do something” like create the hyperlocal website, JaneFinch.com.
“Lots of people feel they’re discriminated against and maybe not just on skin colour but they come from a stigmatized area,” he said. “You can go out and people ask where you’re from and you’re like, ‘Jane and Finch,’ that’s like a big-time conversation killer. People are struggling to try and say something nice about it.”
Recently, Nguyen was one of several Canadians who won an award during the 2018 edition of Canada’s Volunteer Awards.
He represented Ontario in the community leader category and won for his website, which he created to fight the negative reputation of his neighbourhood, which has been historically plagued by crime, low employment and poverty.
In 2004, Jane-Finch.com was started as a way to promote local artists.
With its roots in hip-hop, eventually the website grew and Nguyen was told he had a platform and should use it to promote social issues in the area. Today, Jane-Finch.com features videos, interviews and articles.
“In the decades past, the media has always been telling the story for us, which is usually there’s a shooting here, a shooting there or there’s some sort of tragedy,” he said. “We took it to the next level to try and counter the mainstream dialogue and show there’s a lot of stuff happening in Jane and Finch. We have a lot of cool things and cool people there and we try and showcase the positive side.”
Like Nguyen, Jamal Campbell grew up in Jane and Finch.
Now an offensive lineman with the Toronto Argonauts, Campbell said he’s happy to see Nguyen, who he’s known since he was a kid, be recognized for his community work.
“When you live in Jane and Finch, there are certain stigmas that are associated with the people who live there,” he said. “Jane-Finch.com gives a platform to express ourselves as community members, to show the positive about the community, the different cultures and how music influences so many young people.”
When it comes to breaking down the stigma, Nguyen said it starts by “showing life, real life.”
“We’re not just a propaganda showing all things positive, we do cover some serious stuff whether it’s a victim of crime and we interview the families,” he said.
“We don’t shy away from real stuff and I think it’s important to have the full spectrum of life in the community.”
Nguyen added he hopes his win inspires youth in Jane and Finch.
“Jane and Finch can produce (talented) young people,” he said.
“There are a lot of hard-working people who care about their community and I hope it serves as an example so other people can follow in those footsteps and say, ‘Hey, I’m from Jane and Finch and I can do the same thing this guy does.’ ”