Chapters for Change

Chapters for Change’s mission is a youth-led initiative that creates short, accessible mini books on complex scientific and medical topics written by undergraduate and MD/PhD candidates. We aim to reduce barriers to health literacy by making trusted information that is clear, culturally sensitive and engaging. Our initiative activates public spaces in Toronto by transforming libraries and community centers into a place to facilitate meaningful conversations and learning. Our team plans to host informational booths in these public spaces to distribute our mini books, answer questions from individuals who have concerns about their health and share valuable resources. We hope to enhance civic engagement by facilitating connections between students, academic health experts and community members to co-create a mini-book that addresses local health challenges most prevalent in the community. This collaborative process involves productive dialogue, empowers individuals in the community with relevant knowledge and encourages people to take action around health equity. Our organization also aims to foster social inclusion by designing our mini books for marginalized groups keeping in mind barriers in language, culture and socioeconomic factors. By addressing these barriers within our resources, we are providing opportunities for everyone to engage and benefit from scientific and medical knowledge.