Innovative Methods in Community Development

How can technology, social media, dance all be used to engage and empower youths across Canada? Unity Charity, in partnership with Blue Print for Life, is creating a new program that uses electronic, phone and physical exchanges with youths to make positive community impact. This program connects young people from hip hop clubs in Toronto to the Arctic dance scenes in Nunavut/Nunavik. Michael Prosserman will share insights about this innovative project.

Margo Charlton of the Toronto Arts Foundation will speak about the SSHRC-funded project examining the impact of arts at a neighbourhood level. Residents in St. James town, Weston/Mount Dennis, and Malvern will be engaged through focus groups and interviews to explore the role art plays in their lives.

Meredith Hayeswill provide a comprehensive overview of the issues that impact the way in which FoodShare is working to ensure Good, Healthy Food for All and what you can do in your communities, workplaces and day-to-day lives to contribute to a healthy, just and delicious future.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Michael Prosserman, aka “Bboy Piecez,” found his passion for break dancing at a very young age. As a teenager, Michael started UNITY Charity when he realized that he wanted to share his positive self-expression with other young people undergoing all kinds of challenges. By the age of eighteen Michael had begun to gain world-wide recognition for his dancing talent. After a life-altering diagnosis of a chronic neck condition that limited his dancing, Michael decided to make UNITY his priority. He continues to dance and is determined to expand UNITY Charity around the world. Michael has received the Vital People award from the Toronto Community Foundation, and was invited to present at TED x Youth Toronto.

Margo Charlton has over three decades of experience in the arts in Canada. She has worked as an artistic director, theater producer and arts administrator. In addition, she has always been concerned about the role of arts in community development. Margo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from the University of Winnipeg and a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University. Her current interest is the development of evaluation approaches for community arts including art-based research methods.

Over the past five years Meredith Hayes has collaborated with over 30 schools in Toronto to establish school food garden projects of various styles, shapes and scopes. Meredith and FoodShare staff have developed strong community partnerships to support these gardens, including working closely with Toronto Public Health, TDSB EcoSchools, school advisory councils, student groups, daycares and dozens of community groups, to develop meaningful, curriculum connected, hands on school garden and food literacy programming.