Nia Centre's October 2015 Newsletter

be. belong. become.

October Newsletter The air of change is upon us. This month is about preparation and celebration. What are you thankful for? Nia Centre is grateful for you, supporters and can't wait to share all of our programming and events with you, including the mural for Nahome Berhane and the start of our fourth Art of Facilitation.

be. belong.

View this email in your browser

become.

Thank you Giving Day Supporters It is with a warm heart that Nia Centre would like to thank everyone who bought a ticket for our Giving Day Campaign and went to HBC September 17th. It was a lovely event to shop and support local grassroots organizing. Special thanks for DJ Afroditee for adding to the atmosphere with her sonic mixes.

Remembering Nahom Mural Unveiling

Access Alliance and community members came together last spring to establish the Nahom Berhane Scholarship for Leadership and Inclusion. September 18th, 2015, marked the launch of the Scholarship. Nahom was a genuine, compassionate community leader who worked at the Access Alliance Multicultural Health Centre. Friday night was an emotional yet powerful evening, filled with Nahom's family, friends and former colleagues.

To commemorate his legacy, Nia Centre for the Arts worked with local artists Quentin Vercetty and Adrian Hayles and unveiled a mural of Nahom. The mural is located on the second floor of Access Alliance at 3079 Danforth Avenue.

The fundraising campaign launches today to mark the one year anniversary of Nahom’s death, and will officially run for 60 days. The goal of the campaign is to raise $100,000. To date, $21,000 has already been raised, thanks to the generosity of Access Alliance, Beck Taxi, and BMO Financial Group. The general public can make a donation to the establishment of the Nahom Berhane Scholarship Fund online, at www.nahom.org.

Special thanks to the Berhane family and to Andrew "Jaydahmann" Cox for contributing to a meaningful event.

OpenStreets TO AlumNia Event

Early in September, Nia Centre for the Arts took to the streets, OpenStreets TO that it, for a Sunday afternoon festival. Alumnia members displayed their art work and Nia staff shared information about our programming to passer-

byers at Christie Pits Park.

Photographers, art designers, poets and emcees spend the morning and early afternoon talking to community members. From interactive writing to origami art, people too the liberty to decorate the park through art. And it was a perfect day for it too!

Special thanks to Andrew "Jaydahmann" Cox and Whitney French for supporting Nia Alumi during the OpenStreets TO Festival. If you are an alumni member and are looking for opportunities to display your work at a festival, connect with Nia Centre at: info@niacentre.org.

Art of Facilitation Nia Centre Programming

The fourth instalment of our award winning Art of Facilitation Program started last Saturday at the Art of Gallery of Ontario. This year's cohort hosts 30 youth artists from across the city who are making changes within their various communities.

The first session covered topics of our personal values, and checking our intentions and personal baggages when facilitating for youths. There were lots of personal stories shared from the participants when they were given the time to get to to know each other.

In addition we had the very talented Keana Brown who visually doodled the entire session. Looking forward to the rest of the sessions with this amazing group!

Nia Picks Nia Centre in 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.

Our first Nia Picks business owner is Horace Wilson, proud owner of Seg'z Restaurant. He's a visionary with a bright personality, strong work ethic and a taste for fine foods. Located right at the corner of Vaughan and Oakwood, (503 Oakwood Avenue), Seg'z services Caribbean food, but with a twist. Click below for the full interview!

Read here

Mother Daughter Conference Nia Centre Feature Event Power to Girls Foundation presents Healing Together: A Mother Daughter Conference.

Helping to Strengthen the bonds between mothers and daughters.

October 17th 2015 KPMG Building 333 Bay Street East Suite 4600 10:00am to 5:00pm

Join Power to Girls Foundation and hear from women who have successfully navigated the journey from discord to peace and brought healing to their relationships and to their families. Learn simple and fun strategies to keep a good relationship strong or to strengthen one that is weak. The large and small group discussions will cover ideas that work and some that don’t on how to successfully handle conflict, improve communication and foster respect and growth.

This is a free event but registration is required. Register online at www.powertogirls.com or 416-993-5534

Register Today!

Civic Action netWORKS AlumNia in the News

Nia Centre for the Arts was happy to provide professional photography services on behalf of Civic Action for their netWORKS launch event. Congratulations to Ebti Nabag for making the cover of the Yonge Street Media article covering this event.

Events OCT 8 ARTREACH 2015 YOUTH ARTS PITCH CONTEST

Finalists will Pitch to our panel of judges for a chance at cash prizes of up to $5000. 6:30pm to 9:00pm at The Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke. FREE

OCT 8 - 11 PIECE OF MINE FESTIVAL

Piece of Mine Festival presents four plays in development by playwrights Sedina Fiati, Sasky Louison, Natasha Adiyana Morris and Chantel McDonald. 918 Bathurst Street, $15 per play or $35 for season pass

OCT 9 - 11 ONTARIO CRAFT SHOW

The Craft Show takes place as a yearly event offering the best of fine contemporary craft. Artscape Wychwood Bards, 601 Christie Street, 12:00pm to 5:00pm, $5.

OCT 15 LAUNCH OF WATAH 2015-2016 SEASON: KENTE

The 2nd season of The Watah Theatre features an incredible storytelling journey of 32 artists-inresidence, 73 public engagements, one mainstage production, 2 mainstage workshop presentations, 9 Watah Lectures, 9 book launches, 9 film screenings, 3 art exhibits and 3 festivals featuring unapologetically courageous new theatre. Watah School, 9 Trinity Street #317, 6:00pm - 10:00pm.

OCT 17 MOTHER DAUGHTER CONFERENCE

Helping to strengthen the bonds between mothers and daughters. 10+. KPMG Building, 333 Bay Street East, Suite 4600, 10:00am to 5:00pm, FREE with registration

OCT 21 - NOV 7

ADVENTURES OF A BLACK GIRL IN SERACH OF GOD

Created by Governor General's Literary Awardwinning playwright Djanet Sears, Adventures is a potent and profoundly emotional story of living, dying and the power of forgiveness, National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin Street, Ottawa, 7:30pm

OCT 30 CUE ARTS PROJECTS GRANT

Cue Arts Project Grants is opening up microgrants for a new generation of artists living and working on the margins for up to $1000. Deadline Oct 30, 2015

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

Copyright Š 2015 Nia Centre for the Arts, All rights reserved.