“In partnership with the City of Toronto – Community Crisis Response Program, Next Generation Arts presents H.E.A.L. (Health Empowerment & Arts Leverage), a specialized initiative for youth ages 12 to 29 in Scarborough, specifically the Woburn community who have been impacted by violence, trauma or grief. As part of the Community Violence, Wellbeing and Recovery Pilot, H.E.A.L. aims to enhance and streamline access to recovery supports for individuals impacted by community violence. Participants in this specialized program will have the unique opportunity of using the arts as a vehicle to heal towards health and wellness through musical and painting expressions. Each workshop will include trauma debriefing as well as artistic workshops in either painting or music, with music workshops concluding in a recording session at Phase One Studios.

This specialized program is free and is hosted in a safe space with trained trauma-informed arts facilitators. Though the program prioritizes youth from the Woburn, Scarborough community, youth from all communities are welcomed. All program materials are provided. Participants do not need any previous artistic experiences to join the workshops. At this time, all workshops are online. Music cohorts will conclude with a recording at a professional recording studio.”

For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.nextgenerationarts.ca/happening-now

-from Next Generation Arts