The OCC Blog

Sanaaj’s project grew from a vision to celebrate Black youth, culture, dance, and pride in Durham Region. When noise complaints ended the original waterfront plan, Sanaaj pivoted and created the region’s first African Caribbean Youth Showcase at the Regent Theatre.

Zwena’s project helped people see the inherent queerness of the land around us. This past year, they grew their team and engaged volunteers to provide skill-building and knowledge-building workshops to their community.

Feathered Futures: Bird Friendly Peterborough  Britt Zeus  Peterborough  Britt set out to make bird conservation truly accessible by bringing hands-on education into the heart of the community. Through backyard bird workshops to new partnerships that transformed invasive gardens into habitats, the project helped people connect with nature and understand the choices that protect local species….

I Belong Here is a community-based oral history project in Cobourg, Ontario, that brings forward the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. Conceived and led by David Sheffield, a local community artist, the project involved working with nine individuals to record in-depth oral histories that reveal the fullness of their lives beyond negative labels.

Monica’s project was a community-driven mural project that invited participants with lived experience of homelessness and addiction to take up space, build connection, and challenge stigma through the power of public art. 

Nicholai’s project aimed to document and promote the diverse range of local, independent food providers in a fast-growing city with limited community resources for newcomers.

Over the past year, Your Story Matters (YSM) has evolved into a powerful platform for racialized youth across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area to express themselves, build confidence, and take ownership of their stories.

Sureya’s project worked to address parents’ grief, isolation and trauma following the loss of their children to gun violence. Through storytelling, parents gained healing, empowerment, and connection.   

Her motivation was straightforward: newcomers deserved tools rooted in lived experience, not scattered links or informal chats. Many community members were navigating housing precarity, employment struggles, complex health systems, and immigration steps at once. Asya saw an opportunity to turn informal knowledge into something practical, accessible, and empowering. 

Victoria’s project provided meals and support for houseless community members in her church’s courtyard.

Nithya’s project brought together Toronto residents who felt unheard in conversations about major Metrolinx construction, creating joyful community gatherings while pushing for stronger consultation and safer pedestrian connections.

Robel’s project created a powerful cultural space for Ethiopian and Eritrean artists in Toronto, offering representation, pride, and community connection in a city where these traditions are often unseen.