PROJECT ARTPOWERMENT

In my final year of high school, I volunteered at a program outside of my school called Project ArtPowerment, a program focused on empowering minority youth through art expression. I was recruited as a youth leader by my former boss who I had worked for as a camp leader at a new-immigrant summer camp. The program involved hosting a weekly event where a different art medium was introduced and used to express the group’s experiences as a minority youth in North Etobicoke. The purpose of the program was to give these kids a voice and let them know they are not alone. It was also a time for them to discuss their goals and dreams and get mentorship on resumes, academics, and future work. Along with being a youth leader I was also responsible for making posts on the groups Facebook page, updating our progress and spreading word about future events. 

The art that the youth and I created throughout the 7 months of programs were collected and exhibited in an Art Show/ Event called Voices in Colour on April 21st, 2017. Hosted at Metro Hall in downtown Toronto, this event consisted of an hour presentation where various speakers, including three of our youth, expressed their experiences as minority youth through spoken word, poems, and stories. I was honored to co-host the event with one of the youth leaders, to an audience of about 50 people. At the end of the event, all the participants in the program were rewarded certificates signed by the Deputy Mayor of Toronto Vincent Crisanti to celebrate our accomplishment. Visitors were allowed to walk around the exhibit, browse the art created, and talk to the youth about their respective art pieces. I found that this was such an important event, as it solidified the purpose of the program, which was to give the youth a voice to be heard. This will always be something I am very proud to have participated in, and am very thankful for the friends I have made.