Students at the University of Ottawa needed to conduct a fundraising benefit event for their studies in Education. They reached out to ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ and asked what community-engaged arts initiatives worked with at-risk children and youth in the Ottawa area to be a recipient of the event. ArtBridges/ToileDesArts directed the lead student to four initiatives and shared fundraising event planning information with her. The benefit raised over $1,000.

RaY, a street-level agency working with homeless youth in Winnipeg, asked ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ who to talk with for advice about setting up an arts-based pre-employment program for street-involved youth. We led them to: The Murphy Centre for Community Youth Arts in St. John’s, Street Culture Kidz Project in Regina and ArtHeart in Toronto –- all agencies that had experience in providing this kind of service.

ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ has connected us with Aboriginal Organizations and other connections to art stores, etc. Cora-Rae connected us with Michael Cywink, who attended and created a mural with the youth at our showcase. ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ also connected us with ArtsCan Circle who lended [sic] 20 paintings to showcase at our event. ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ has even offered to continue posting about SYiM on a monthly basis and update on the work that our youth are doing. We could not be happier with our relationship with ArtBridges/ToileDesArts’ [they] have really gone above and beyond to support our campaign and especially support our youth in the north.  Miigwetch.” – Lauren Akbar, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win: North-South Partnership for Children