Travelling Metis
Samantha Loney, Barrie
Project Description & Goals
Travelling Metis is a podcast project made by Metis youth for Metis youth. The podcast hopes to spread knowledge of Metis culture in a fun engaging way. A hybrid of fictional and interview based podcasting, Travelling Metis travels around Ontario to teach and share stories of what it means to be Metis.
Highlights, Successes, Challenges & Impacts
One of the project highlights was being asked to speak at the Ontario Native Women’s Association She is Wise conference. Samantha could speak to her podcast and be a conduit for her community to share their stories.
The podcast was a success after its release in March. The changemaker received funding to produce a third season, in which she can share more stories from Metis people across Turtle Island.
A challenge for the podcast has been Samantha’s mental health and the mental health of guests. With the current political discourse in Ontario among Metis and First Nations, Samantha had a few guests who were unsure about sharing their stories. Some shared, and she recorded one episode but did not release it because the guest felt uncomfortable.
The goal for Travelling Metis was to complete nine episodes. Eight episodes were completed. As mentioned, one episode was not released due to the guest’s wishes. “I am currently working with the guest to possibly release the episode with edits and rerecord it so they feel comfortable and safe with what is released,” she says.
Samantha interviewed nine community members across the province, from Thunder Bay to Niagara Falls. When she attends community events, people come up to her to tell her how the podcast has helped them connect to the community.
I got a journalism job covering Metis content; a Metis journalist listened to my podcast and recommended me. Doing this project has reminded me how important it is for people to feel seen and heard. It has inspired me to continue to tell these stories and find more ways to give back to my community.
While reflecting on her project, Samantha shares a million things she would do differently after listening to the podcast. “Every day, I gain more knowledge about my community and wish I could include it in past episodes, but it only inspires me to keep going and share our stories.”
The best part of being a changemaker is connecting with the other changemakers and being inspired by their love of community. Knowing we were all in this together learning from each other’s struggles and successes were special.
About Samantha
Samantha Loney is a Metis filmmaker and podcaster from Barrie, Ontario. She was a supervising producer on the third season of the Indigenous 150+ podcast series as well as producer of the fictional podcast Herstory the Podcast Series, which was recently featured at the Victoria Arts Council’s Levelling up, Breaking Down Women’s Day exhibit in March of 2023. Samantha is currently in post-production of the Travelling Metis podcast, a hybrid fictional/interview-based podcast series that teaches about Metis culture. Samantha hopes to continue to pass down her podcasting knowledge to Metis youth in her community.
Link: Travelling Metis | Podcast on Spotify
Socials: Travelling Metis | Facebook
Metis and Me (@metisandmeprogram) • Instagram photos and video
#socialinclusion #metis
Teens/Youth Connects
Aizenose Eromon, North York
Project Description & Goals
The project’s primary goal is to offer skill development, community service, and recreational activities while activating public space, enhancing civic engagement and promoting social inclusion through social events. The Teen Connect Program will include community clean-up days, free workshops and training on gardening, art installation, and community building. This program allows teens from diverse backgrounds to intermingle while coming together to nurture their talents and skills.
Highlights, Successes, Challenges & Impacts
Aizenose has accomplished a lot throughout the year of implementing her project. Some of the highlights of her work include:
- Skill Development Workshops:
- Community Building Sessions: Held sessions focused on leadership, teamwork, and equipping participants with essential life skills.
- Collaborative Projects: Partnered with local organizations for various service projects, enhancing community ties and resource-sharing.
- Recreational Activities: Social Events: Hosted social gatherings and recreational activities that promoted social inclusion and allowed teens from diverse backgrounds to build friendships and networks.
- High Participation and Engagement: There has been consistently high turnout for events and workshops, indicating strong community interest and engagement. Positive feedback from participants and parents highlights the program’s impact on teens’ personal growth and community involvement. Skill Development and Empowerment: Many participants reported increased confidence and new skills acquired through workshops and activities.
“We have been able to attract more funding from the city of Toronto to keep our project running,” shares Aizenose.
The project has encountered some challenges, such as logistical issues related to coordinating events and activities in different locations, which presented logistical challenges, including transportation and scheduling conflicts. Ensuring adequate resources and materials for workshops sometimes proved difficult, requiring last-minute adjustments.
Despite high overall participation, reaching the most marginalized and hard-to-engage teens remained challenging.
Continued efforts are needed to develop targeted outreach strategies and build trust within these communities.
The Teen Connect project successfully met its goals by providing skill development workshops, organizing community clean-up days, and offering recreational activities that promoted social inclusion.
Teens gained valuable skills in gardening and community building. High participation rates, positive feedback from participants, and visible community improvements attest to the project’s success. Teens also took on leadership roles, further demonstrating the program’s impact on personal and community development.
The Teen Connect project significantly impacted the community by fostering civic engagement, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing public spaces.
Community members interacted with approximately 70 community members, including teens, parents, and local residents.
Relevant Data:
Events and Activities:
- 4 Workshops and Training Sessions on skills such as community building, CPR, first aid, and digital skills (20 participants each)
- 4 Social Events (40 participants each)
- 3 Pop-Up Activities in public spaces
- Total Number of Events:5
- Meetings: Regular planning and coordination meetings with a core team of 3 volunteers.
- Additional Impact:
- Improved skills in various areas, including CPR, first aid, and digital skills.
- Enhanced cleanliness and aesthetics of public spaces.
- Increased social inclusion and sense of community belonging.
Implementing her project has also brought personal wins and learnings related to leadership and coordination: “I managed multiple events and activities honed my leadership and organizational skills. I learned to coordinate a diverse team and manage resources efficiently and effectively.” In the community engagement field, the changemaker gained relevant experience in building strong relationships within the community.
I discovered the importance of active listening and adapting approaches to meet the unique needs of different community members.
Some project-related learnings Aizenose has shared:
- Skill Development Impact: Providing practical skills like CPR, first aid, and digital skills significantly empowered teens, boosting their confidence and readiness for real-life challenges.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborating with local organizations and volunteers enhanced the project’s reach and effectiveness, demonstrating the value of strong partnerships.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability are essential for overcoming logistical challenges and ensuring the success of community initiatives.
“To better engage marginalized teens, I would enhance outreach strategies and strengthen community partnerships. Introducing a mentorship program and more diverse workshops, such as entrepreneurship, would enrich the program. Implementing regular feedback mechanisms and using insights for continuous improvement would ensure responsiveness. Improving logistical planning and providing comprehensive volunteer training would streamline coordination and enhance support during events”, she reflects.
The best part of being a changemaker was witnessing the tangible impact of our efforts on the community. Seeing teens develop new skills, build confidence, and form meaningful connections was incredibly rewarding. The gratitude and positive feedback from participants and community members affirmed the value of our work.
About Aizenose
Aizenose is a passionate young Ontario, Canada resident dedicated to making a difference in her community. Through volunteering with numerous organizations, including food banks, homeless shelters, and community centres, Aizenose witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community events in promoting social inclusion. Her unwavering commitment to equality and diversity shines through as she actively works towards breaking down barriers based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, age, and sexual orientation. Her efforts have demonstrated the positive impact individuals can have in creating a more inclusive and accepting society.
#socialinclusion #civicengagement #publicspace
S.O.C.I.A.L. (Supporting Outreach and Community Involvement for Active Living)
Saif Ahmed, Ottawa
Project Description & Goals
S.O.C.I.A.L. – Supporting Outreach and Community Involvement for Active Living is an innovative project to engage citizens in the transformative world of modular hydroponic gardens. The project will involve building modular hydroponic gardens in accessible public spaces like community centres. Saif envisions hosting educational workshops and interactive sessions where citizens of all ages and backgrounds can learn about sustainable agriculture, hydroponics, and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Highlights, Successes, Challenges & Impacts
For Saif, this project has a lot of meaning and has gone on the right path throughout the year of implementation. Some of the highlights he shared are the successful prototype development of the modular hydroponic system, engaging educational workshop at Incubator 13, a partnership with the UOttawa Community Service Program for youth volunteers, creating new partnerships with Arizona State University EPICS program for further development of the prototype; participated in Launch 2030: Global Pitching Showcase hosted by Unite2030 and the discussion with other community partners (Greensboro Community Center, Riverside South community center) and planning on organizing events in the Fall 2024 semester.
The changemaker has led this project to various successes, such as increased community awareness and interest in sustainable agriculture, sparking conversations about agritech, food security, and environmental responsibility.
The project has also faced challenges, such as Marketing the workshop and adapting content to different age groups. However, it has overcome these challenges through collaboration with local leaders, community partners, and youth volunteers from UOttawa.
Despite meeting its goals, this project has many more future opportunities. The workshop successfully initiated community engagement and discussion, raising awareness about sustainable agriculture. However, further refinement of the hydroponic system and more workshops are needed to achieve the goals of widespread resource sharing and community resilience.
The project initiated a dialogue about sustainable agriculture and food security, engaging community members in discussions about their role in these areas. It also provided hands-on learning experiences through the workshop, empowering participants to explore sustainable practices. “Through the project, I had the opportunity to interact with approximately 20 community members through the workshop at Incubator 13. The partnership with the UOttawa Community Service Program and Arizona State University EPICS program also engaged youth volunteers, further extending the project’s reach.”
Relevant Data:
● 1 educational workshop at Incubator 13
● Ongoing meetings with the UOttawa Community Service Program for volunteer coordination
● Ongoing meeting with Arizona State University EPICS program
● Internal project development meetings for prototype refinement
Saif’s significant learnings have been the importance of tailoring educational content to different demographics for effective engagement, the power of collaboration with local leaders and youth volunteers to reach a wider audience, and the value of iterative feedback from the community in refining project prototypes.
While evaluating the success and impact of his project, Saif would have allocated more resources toward marketing and outreach efforts to increase workshop attendance and started the youth volunteer engagement process earlier to allow for more collaborative content development.
The best part of being a changemaker was witnessing community members’ enthusiasm and active participation during the workshop and realizing the project’s potential impact in fostering a more sustainable and food-secure community. There is a huge opportunity for this to be expanded and become a regular part of the agritech community.
About Saif
As the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at NL Eats, Saif is passionate about inspiring and empowering others. He is working on projects that enhance participatory knowledge-building and building resources needed to create equitable and inclusive spaces. With a diverse background in process engineering, data science, and project management, Saif combines his expertise to drive positive change and work on projects prioritizing sustainable agriculture and food security. Saif’s dedication lies in empowering the next generation of change-makers and building sustainable communities where everyone can access nutritious food and an active lifestyle.
The Poet’s Project
Andrina Lewis, Barrie
Andrina Lewis has developed a project idea called The Poets’ Project. This was an opportunity for community members of Simcoe County to partake in a creative mentorship program guided by three established poets, artists, and performers in and around Simcoe County. The participants would write their poem or spoken word and create a relevant art piece with it. Their poem would be performed in any form necessary to a live audience in person, and their artwork would be presented simultaneously at the end of the program.
Beyond this, they could participate in group exhibitions touring Simcoe County for the following 9 months.
The highlight of this project thus far was the amount of interest from organizations around Simco County who were interested and ready to support the project. Some examples were Innisfil IdeaLab Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, Quest Art Gallery, and Uplift Black. They were all willing to provide space and extra tips for the program. “Unfortunately, I could not run the program due to scheduling conflicts with myself, organizations, and participants. This was a small, unexpected, impactful challenge as there was no working around it for this summer 2024,” shares the changemaker.
“It’s not all bad, though, because I have a complete ready-to-go program, a list of partners and sponsors, and a fantastic waitlist of community members interested in participating next year,” shares Andrina.
Although the project did not occur this year, I brought together five organizations, two new partners, and one other sponsor to help with the program. “I had 15 people interested in the program, but setting times/dates for workshops, rehearsals, and performances became tough. Still, in the meetings leading up to what would have been the program, I was able to organize and develop a solid program that will be ready for next year. Beyond this, I was able to schedule 5 workshops this summer that are more spontaneous at some of the organizations mentioned above. This will be a test drive to see how community members respond to learning and practicing poetic art performance and any new changes/additions I could make to the entire program for next year,” reflects the Barrie-based changemaker.
I must admit that I was surprised that many people and organizations were interested in supporting the program’s development. I was a little insecure about that aspect as it seemed like “ my idea,” but I realized from this experience that it is a much-needed project, and I cannot wait until it comes to fruition.
I also learned that contacting potential partners and advertising should always be as early as possible, even a year prior, to measure interest and the best times for occurrence. This is something I would do differently for next year to ensure the project is executed as smoothly as possible.
I am glad I was offered the changemaker role and could partake in OCC’s mentorship program. I loved going back to Kensington Market with everyone – core memory, for sure!
Website: www.lewistheartist.com
Instagram/Pinterest/Patreon: @poetryandcanvas
About Andrina
Andrina (Lewis, the Artist) is a multifaceted Black artist, poet, performer, and storyteller. Influenced by her poetry and prose, her artwork is colourful, bold, and wild, embracing Afrocentric hairstyles, tattoos, scars, and outfits. She aspires to develop creative workshops and public art that unite community members of all ages. The ultimate goal of her practice is to grasp and emit vulnerability, transparency, and humanism. She believes artistry is the foundation of community strength and resiliency.
#socialinclusion#thepoetsproject