Nia Centre's November 2015 Newsletter

be. belong. become.

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November Newsletter As we transition into colder weather, Nia Centre too is transitioning. We are continuing huge development on our 524 Oakwood space, we're wrapping up our fourth annual Art of Facilitation program, we're offering opportunities for our AlumNia plus we're keeping active in community. Read on to see all Nia Centre has to offer in the month of November.

be. belong. become.

Just a tad beyond blue skying Want a sneak peek into what we are building? With design thinking by AlumNia Olayide G. Mamdiola these hot desks are designed to be collaborative, yet focused workspaces to incubate emerging artists and organizations.

AlumNia Seed Funding Nia Alumni Opportunities

Nia Centre for the Arts is proud to offer our alumni up-to $1000 in seed funding to deliver community arts workshop(s) to children and/or youth in the GTA. The AlumNia Seed Fund supports artists in the development, implementation and/or documentation of their workshop(s).

Criteria This seed fund is for artists who: •

have completed one or more Nia Centre programs

•

are between the age of 14-29

•

are able to deliver an original arts based workshop(s) created by the applicant for children or youth in the GTA

•

are able to deliver the workshop(s) throughout January and/or March 2016

•

submit their application by Friday, November 13, 2015, 5PM EST

More Info

Art of Facilitation 2015 Nia Centre Programs

The fourth annual Art of Facilitation workshop series wrapped up this month. Over the past 6 weeks these individuals have been learning about the best practices in creating safe and inclusive spaces for disengaged youth.

As a result, we are now welcoming 25 new Alumni into the Nia family. In the upcoming weeks please look out for our Emerging Facilitators directory that will list all of the Nia Centre trained workshop facilitators in art and community practices that you can bring into your school, community or organization.

Lunch 'N' Learn w Jalani Morgan Nia Centre Programs

Our Lunch 'N' Learn Series kicked off this past Saturday, October 31st at Harlem Restaurant with none other than artist and photographer Jalani Morgan. An established documentarian and portrait photographer, he describes himself as a photographic cultural anthropologist - studying, documenting and expressing our culture through photography.

Hosted monthly, the Lunch 'N' Learn it is an informal talk-back session between an established artist living off their craft and 15 early-mid career artists, Lunch 'N' Learns provide early stage artists the opportunity to connect, network and learn from a mentoring artist over lunch.

Look out for details our next Lunch 'N' Learn session on our social media outlets and on our website!

Nia Picks

Nia Centre in Community

The second edition of Nia Picks features the lively and conscious duo Chozen & Natty B of Trea-Jah-Isle. These two proud business owners are the faces behind the one of Eglington's longest standing record shops. Rooted in local history and reggae legacy, Trea-Jah-Isle is gem within the community.

Nia Picks is a community engagement initiative to connect with local business in the Oakwood-Vaughan neighbour. Nia Centre hand "picks" business owners to showcase their services, highlight their feature products and share their story of how they started out. Each month we feature a new business owner in the community. Reach out to Whitney French at wfrench@niacentre.org for more information

Read Here!

B-Girl Bootcamp Nia Centre Feature Event

Looking for something new, challenging and fun?

B-Girl Bootcamp with Judi "JuLo" Lopez and AlumNia member introduces beginner learners to the international Hip Hop dance, Breaking aka Breakdancing.

This is not a dance class but a fitness class using the foundations of the style to test your endurance, strength and speed all while building confidence, creativity and expression.

This is a beginner level camp.

Open to all ages.

No dance experience necessary.

Sign up today! keeprockinyou@gmail.com

EMERGENCE: Arts & Equity Nia Centre Event

Emergence Symposium : Arts & Equity : Leading Social Change will convene 200 artists, cultural workers, community leaders, academics, youth and policy makers to answer some of these important questions surrounding equity, diversity and inclusiveness in a facilitated three day conference experience that will create space for critical dialogue, leadership development, creative self-reflection, mentorship and cross sectoral collaborations.

The Emergence symposium invites you to join us in creating an inspirational 3-day gathering to celebrate, nurture and participate in unique leadership development opportunities using community engaged arts as the spring board to explore these important work and issues together.

Day 1 - Thursday : Pecha Kucha Cabaret (6:30pm) Day 2 - Friday : Emergence Symposium : Panels, Workshops & more (9:30am - 5:30pm) Day 3 - Saturday : Leaders Lab (9:30am - 5:30pm) Nia Centre's very own community animator and AlumNia member Whitney French will be facilitating her unique workshop series #WritingWhileBlack at the Emergence conference on Nov 14th so come out and support.

Wanted: Visual Artists Community Opportunities

Members of UNIA-ACL are looking for a visual artist who can draw and create images based on a design concept of African superheroes. If interested, contact Ras X at gadreel_elion@hotmail.com or 647-858-9079.

Events NOV 4 ZAKI IBRAHIM + LAL

The Main Ingredient presents Zaki Ibrahim & LAL. Live preview of unheard + unreleased music! TATTOO (567 Dundas Street West) $10-25, 7pm

NOV 5 SPOKEN WORD SERIES

Sheniz Janmohamed and Whitney French bring their poetic talents and unstoppable energy to the Museum. Witness the magic that happens when poets are accompanied by world class musicians. Open Mic for all art forms. Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive, $20, 8pm

NOV 8, 15, 22 B-GIRL BOOTCAMP

B-Girl Bootcamp with Judi "JuLo" Lopez introduces beginner learners to the international Hip Hop dance, Breaking aka Break-dancing. 6pm - 7pm. $25-140

NOV 12 - 14 2015 EMERGENCE SYMPOSIUM | ARTS & EQUITY

Leading Social Change will convene 200 artists, cultural workers, community leaders, academics, youth and policy makers to answer some of these important questions surrounding equity, diversity and inclusiveness in a facilitated three day conference experience that will create space for critical dialogue, leadership development, creative self-reflection, mentorship and cross sectoral collaborations. Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave (Nov 12-13) Toronto Centre for Arts, 5040 Yonge St (Nov 14). $60-$100

NOV 14 DANGEROUS IDEAS: REIMAGINING THE COMMONS

Dangerous Ideas is a festival combining music, art, and critical conversation which challenges our underlying assumptions and invites us to shift our thinking so we can shift our world. This year, we will talk about place and property, and explore the relationship between the Commons and the State. Daniel Spectrum 585 Dundas Street East. $25

NOV 16 FROM THE ROOT ZINE CALL OUT Call out for writing and visual arts form women of colour all across the country on the theme of the MIND. Electronic submissions only.

NOV 20 STAND UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE: YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Come out and learn about projects that are encouraging people to talk about factors influencing youth mental health.

This is an opportunity to expand your network, get inspired to speak up and make a difference. Ryerson Student Centre / Oakham House – 63 Gould Street, Toronto. 9:30am-1:00pm. FREE

NOV 21 KOSAP: BLACK WOMXN ARTS NETWORK MIXER

A free arts networking mixer open to young black womxn (trans/cis inclusive). Connect with local visual artists, writers, performers, actors, musicians, designers, photographers, dancers, theater artists, community organizers, storytellers, make up artists, journalists and beyond.Centre of Social Innovation Regent Park 7pm to 10pm. FREE

NOV 25 OYA BOOK LAUNCH

The book launch of the 3rd collection of writings by d'bi.young anitafrika. d'bi. will be celebrating with her new band 'dbi333' at Lula Lounge. Watah Theatre, 1585 Dundas Street West, $15 - 30.

NOV 28

IF I RULED T.O.

If I Ruled T.O. is a one-day conference for youth 14 – 29 to share ideas about issues that impact friends, family, community and the city as a whole. Allstream Centre, 105 Princes’ Blvd. 11am -5:30pm. FREE

Feel free to contact us to add your event to our newsletter listings: info@niacentre.org

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