Urban Arts / Extraordinary People

Recently I shared a story on Brandon Owusu, “The Positive Rebel” and the amazing work he is doing in the community; as an example of extraordinary people who are doing extraordinary things while making a difference in the lives of others. This time around I would like to make special mention to the incubator of extraordinary people, a place that is the true definition of community, a place that when I immigrated to Canada, just like most of us searched for but could not find, a place that is making a colossal impact on the lives of young people and community on a whole, a place known as Urban Arts.

#UrbanArts is a non-profit Community Arts Council focused on enhancing neighbourhoods by engaging youth in community development through the arts. UrbanArts initiates arts activities that bring people together in central-west Toronto and city wide located at 5 Bartonville Avenue East (Weston Rd. & Ray Ave.) Toronto (Mount Dennis) M6M 2B1.  UrbanArts is an incubator for local arts, with a range of programs led by professional artists in visual art, theatre, dance and music. Their mandate is to promote, engage and facilitate cultural and community development opportunities between artists, arts organizations, community members and community organizations. UrbanArts is led by a team of Extraordinary People such as Marlene Mckintosh - Executive Director, Ify Chiwetelu – Arts Program Manager, Joan Lillian Wilson – Communications Coordinator, Freeway Freddy – Beats.Mind.Movement Coordinator, Alva Paul-Larbi – Dancer’s Boot Camp Facilitator, Ervin Bempong – Young Men of Honour Program Facilitator and also Brandon “Bizzy” Owusu – Tun Up Tuesday facilitator.

UrbanArts team is doing a phenomenal job in providing a platform for the community to grow by empowering young people, enabling talents to be realized, mentoring future leaders, creating role models, appreciating and encouraging each other and changing lives. UrbanArts and other programs like it is relevant and should be supported. Hats off to all who made it possible (Partners) I encourage everyone to drop in and check out what is happening at UrbanArts and to encourage as well as support the movement…………………Looking forward to my next visit.

TB.