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School of Child and Youth Care

From Crown to Collective Care: CYC Student Lauren Pederson Launches Inspire Initiative to Uplift Youth

October 23, 2025

Three photo collage of Lauren Pederson, wearing a UVic Child and Youth Care hoodie, alternatively sitting on a bench and standing in front of a row of trees.
Photos by Timothy Westcom

Lauren Pederson, a fourth-year student in the Child and Youth Care (CYC) program at the University of Victoria, is leveraging her public visibility to advance youth wellbeing and systemic equity. Through the Inspire Initiative, a not-for-profit she founded, Pederson is working alongside communities to address gaps in mental health, movement-based regulation, and resource access for young people.

Her advocacy was inspired at a youth drop-in centre after witnessing a young person using gym equipment to self-regulate before entering detox treatment. Recognizing the healing potential of movement, Pederson reached out to local gyms to request a discounted membership. Her calls went unanswered.

“I knew this could be a pivotal support for their wellbeing,” Pederson recalls. “But it wasn’t until I created the Inspire Initiative that people began to listen. It should not take a title or a platform for youth needs to be heard!”

The Inspire Initiative emerged from this moment—not as a saviour narrative, but as a response to the systemic barriers that youth-serving organizations often face. The not-for-profit seeks to redistribute resources, amplify youth voices, and challenge the structural barriers that limit access to care.

Pederson’s commitment is shaped by her own experiences navigating neurodivergence and the support she received from caregivers. “They showed up for me when it mattered most,” she says. “Now I want to be part of a wider movement that uplifts others, not just as individuals, but as communities.”

The CYC program at UVic has deepened her understanding of relational practice, social justice, and the importance of disrupting dominant norms. “It’s not just about techniques, it’s about challenging systems and standing in solidarity,” Pederson explains. “The CYC program has helped me find my voice in collective resistance and I feel more confident in standing up for injustice.”

While Pederson’s Miss BC title has drawn public attention, she reframes pageantry as a tool—not a goal. “Pageantry has roots in philanthropy, but it is also entangled with colonial ideals of worth and visibility,” she reflects. “I want to use it differently—to open doors, not to center myself.”

As the Inspire Initiative grows, Pederson remains grounded in community accountability and youth-led change. Her work is a reminder that transformation begins not with crowns, but with connection and community.

This story was originally featured in the Fall 2025 issue of our newsletter. View the full newsletter here. Subscribe to receive future issues of the newsletter here.