BBI News – BIJ PARTNER SHOWCASE
The MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning If one happens to miss the blue and purple building situated on Queen Street in Downtown Dartmouth, their senses will quickly alert them of where they are by the sounds of laughter and music that echo through the walls of the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning - not to mention the smell of fresh baked goods offered as a snack in programs.
the volunteers at the Take Action Society in Dartmouth North. One partnership that is continuously celebrated lies in MacPhee’s work with Business is Jammin’ (BIJ).
Most recently, the Centre partnered with BIJ to host a Community Youth Art Project where Black and African Nova Scotian youth worked with a team of local artists to conceptualize and design an art piece that was brought to realization through a community mural at the Akoma Community Garden. One of the youth participants, Abena, shared what it meant to be part of the project: “I love being part of this project because it is something I am good at and being around art is really exciting. I also get to be around people I can relate to.” MacPhee, along with BIJ centers on the importance of education and personal development in their programs and through this project supported the empowerment of Black and African Nova Scotian youth in using art to express themselves and take action in their communities.
Founded in 2009 as a non-profit training centre for youth who were not finding success in the traditional learning environment and were at risk of dropping out, the MacPhee Centre offered youth-led programs to ensure youth in the community graduated from high school. Since then, the organization has evolved to offer free creative learning programming to youth between the ages of 12-19, Monday through Friday at the centre, online, and in the community. With the help of local artists, community volunteers, and a staff team that is dedicated to putting the needs and voices of youth first, the MacPhee Centre ensures that youth are at the heart of each decision made.
The partnership between MacPhee and BIJ is ongoing and exciting opportunities for collaborative programming and community development are endless. For more information about the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, you can email katie@macpheecentre.ca, call (902) 469-2851, or visit our website at www.macpheecentre.ca or MacPhee Centre on social media.
A glance into the windows showcases a multitude of creative projects ranging from painting to comic illustration, to creative writing, to mobile photography, and even the formation of a band. One can find inspiration in the surrounding art, the conversations that are held, and how the youth show up day-today to build a world filled with acceptance, love, and understanding. What first began as a space to engage with creativity, has become an intersectional space that works to support the entire youth using creativity as a vehicle. It is a place where youth can be any version of themselves and explore what it means to be a leader in their community. This sense of community exceeds the walls of 50 Queen Street and is held in partnership with the IWK, HRCE, and over 50 community organizations including the YMCA, Demetreous Lane Community Centre, and BLACK to BUSINESS
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Winter 2021
