Health Empowerment & Arts Leverage is a specialized arts-based program to explore youth voice and build resiliency and wellness. Throughout the duration of the program, participants ages 14 to 29 will receive ongoing support and positive mentorship from performing artists and facilitators. Youth are guided through weekly workshops to unpack experiences, difficulties and trauma and create original songs, poems and spoken word pieces as a way to learn and grow towards wellness through creativity.

This program is free and is hosted in a safe space with trained trauma-informed arts facilitators. Youth from all Scarborough communities are welcomed and participants do not need any previous artistic experiences to join the workshops. Activities will occur in a variation of in-person, virtual and hybrid platforms and participants will work on safely exploring self-expression and healing through the form of spoken word, slam poetry, music, and visual arts.

In addition to the program, all participants will receive

- A FREE welcome kit (valued at $40)

- Complementary program materials

- Program refreshments

Registration and consent forms are included in this package. You must complete, sign, and submit this form in order to register for the program. Completed forms are to be digitally submitted to projects@nextgenerationarts.ca or brought in-person. You will receive an e-mail confirmation upon receipt. Welcome kits will be available for pick up for remote participants at Next Generation Arts, 1121 Bellamy Rd N, Unit #10, after March 18th, 2025. 

SCHEDULE

WHEN: Saturdays, March 22nd to May 3rd, 2025 (1-3pm) *see schedule outline below.

WHERE: Activities will occur in-person at Next Generation Arts, 1121 Bellamy Rd N, Unit #10 as well as virtual and hybrid platforms.