HORRAY FOR WE DAY!

Over 18,000 youth from across Canada and even the U.S attended the 2011 WE DAY! I was so privileged to cover this memorable movement. We Day is a HUGE event hosted by children’s organization Free The Children. This year the aim was to focus on the drought that happened in East Africa. Founder Craig Kielburger, who started the organization in 1995 had the support of his brother Marc and Degrassi Veteran Nina Dobrev, singer Joe Jonas and Much Music VJ Jesse Giddings. Other guest hosts included current Degrassi Stars Munro Chambers and Aislinn Paul. Performances included rapper Kardinall Offishall who perform his ode to T.O with his song, 'The Anthem'. Shawn Desman taught everyone the ME TO WE dance and songstress Nelly Furtado was there not only to perform her hit song ‘Powerless’ but to also share her experience with Free The Children on her trip to Kenya and also to make a special announcement, which you will find out below. Other exciting performers included; City and Colour, Classified, Neverest and Nikki Yanofsky. Movie star Danny Glover even came to give a speech and show support. There were other empowering guests including child soldier Michel Chikwanine who had everyone in a moment of silence as he revealed his story through story boards. Another moving motivational speaker was Spencer West, who lost his legs at the age of 5. I ran into Spencer at the Free the Children store downtown and he is super nice. Spencer shares his story to other and how his trip in building a school in Kenya continued to help him overcome his challenges and be a motivator for children in need and for communities to get involved to make positive changes. Nelly Furtado also made a surprise announcement and that was that she donated $1 million to Free The Children. The donation will fund two new Free The Children programs supporting girls. Nelly was also surprised by a girl named Susan who she was touched by in Kenya. Nelly said that she loved being with the girls in Kenya and they even sang along to her songs she taught them. An emotional Nelly stated that ‘She believes in children and she believes in empowering girls.” This was the biggest We Day and it was a remarkable day!

RIP Jack

In 2011, we lost many people we loved. I lost my cousin who I met for the first time this past summer in Sri Lanka. She was so young but I know she's in a good place now. Canada also lost Jack Layton who is an iconic politician. I had the chance to meet Jack and his wife Olivia for the first time at the 2008 Much Music Video Awards. Jack was so hip and he was an ally for young people and stood for numerous causes including, homelessness. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011. No one can replace his greatness in the NDP party. In the 2011 federal election, Layton’s NDP party won a lot of seats including a Scarborough seat for the first ever Tamil female politician MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan. Mr. Jack Layton ended his battle with cancer when he died on August 22, 2011. His legacy in Canadian politics will be remembered and respected by many forever.

Yo Its Manifesto

Manifesto is a hip-hop music and cultural arts festival that celebrated its 5^th Anniversary this year in Toronto! Manifesto is a non-profit grassroots organization working together in order to bring together, and support Toronto’s multi-cultural and diverse music and arts community. The 11 day festival had over 100 artists and people interested in hip-hop and music participating in art project and exhibitions, movie screenings, summits, concerts dancing and so much more! This year the main show was hosted by legendary Canadian hip-hop icon Michie Mee. The show featured so many great artists and group performances including Michie and the best part was that it was all free at Yonge and Dundas in T.O. It also gave a chance for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and merchandise.

One of the projects I played a small role in was the Inside Out project, which is a global initiative that brought public art to certain communities in Toronto. Public Arts is a form of communication, interaction and it helps to see the diverse people living in Toronto. Through their individualistic face, each person has a story to tell. There are photographs featuring people of all ages, ethnicity, cultures, sexuality and religions. The people are not trying to sell anything in these photos, instead the art project aims at displaying the vibrant creativity of people in Toronto. I was lucky enough to be asked by Manifesto Executive Director Che Kothari to have my picture taken for this project. Che mentored student Sheeba on photography. Sheeba is from the Regent Park community and is a youth who I already knew from working together in art programs. She took my photographs and I was happy to be there when they were plastering the photos including my face in the Regent Park community. I am so proud to have been part of this unique experience because as an artist myself I truly support everything art!

To learn more about the Inside Out project and Manifesto, visit their website. http://themanifesto.ca/

LMFAO YO!

I’ve always wanted to see the party hip hop/pop/electro dance group LMFAO perform in concert just because I know it would be a fun show to go to. Redfoo and Sky Blu lead the group LMFAO and are known as party animals on and off stage. I missed them a few times when they came to Toronto and I also saw them perform on a very fitting season of MTV’s ‘Real World: Cancun’. Everyone was talking about the show in Toronto happening on November 14, 2011 at the ACC and that made me want to go even more but I was broke. I really enjoyed listening to their radio hits ‘I’m in Miami Trick’, ‘La La La’, Shooting Star, Gettin’ Over You, Party Rock Anthem and Sexy and I Know it’. The boys even have their song ‘Get Crazy’ featured as the theme song for the hit MTV show ‘Jersey Shore’.

The radio station Virgin 99.9 was having a contest to see LMFAO in concert with special guest, including the rising Asian hip hop persuasion of the group ‘Far East Movement’. I tried calling the station the whole weekend and on the final night of the contest I gave it one last shot. I’ve won tickets before but lately I’ve been having such bad luck with winning. At first I got a busy signal and than on the second dial, it rang! Finally, a radio host picked up and I begged him to pick me. He gave me the good news that I won and I may even get the chance to meet the boys backstage! I got so excited! On the day of the show around 7 am in the morning, I finally get a call from morning radio hosts, Mad Dog and Kela screaming saying that I was going to meet LMFAO backstage! I screamed and when I got off the phone I went back to bed because it was waaaaaaaaaaaay to early. Nevertheless, I was stoked fort the show and the backstage meet and greet! I took my best friend to the show as my guest and after a long wait we finally got to meet LMFAO and Far East Movement. Redfoo and Sky Blu seemed a little sober. However, the boys from Far East Movement were feeling me. They said they liked my shades and my friend kept touching member J-SPLIF’s furry white coat and telling him how much she liked it. We were not allowed to take our own pics and had to pose in pictures with random fans but I just couldn’t do that....because it’s me...come on now. So, I asked their crew for a photo of me and LMFAO and Far East Movement with me for my blog and it was done! I also gave the bands my Crazy Mofoz Show card and they liked it.

The show was a blast! Everyone was shuffling as there were blow up animals and glow sticks being tossed around. The annoying part was being sprayed by beer and champagne. I don’t really mind champagne but beer smells bad and I hate getting wet! LMFAO were getting crunk chugging beer and tequila on stage with their dancers and even brought on special guests to join in on the drunk fest like Far East Movement, Colette Carr and Natalia Kills. However, I don’t know if the show was appropriate for the 10 year olds who were there. Of course, people are saying LMFAO is novelty group and that their music cannot last in the music industry. Even if this were the case, the boys with the their funky fashion and music have made their mark as the Party Rock music crew. Check out one of my favorite tracks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clSv4TzbRCs

Thanks Virgin 99.9 for hooking up the tickets!

DEGRASSI DOES DRUG AWARENESS

Regent Park Focus and the 2011 Drug Awareness program has started. This year we collaborated with Sprucecourt Public School and it has allowed students to not only develop knowledge and awareness about drugs but also expand on their creativity. The aim of the program is to inspire local schools such as Sprucecourt to engage students in learning more about drugs using participatory arts based approach. The program aims to promote awareness of the negative harms associated with drug abuse to students living and attending school in the Regent Park community. Similar to previous, we started the program with a school assembly featuring a panel presentation of speakers who talked about their experiences dealing with drugs.

There were motivational panel speakers including Caroline Swinson from MAAD, (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Carolyn, her husband Richard and daughter Emma became involved in MADD after the death of Rob, the eldest of their three children. Rob was killed on February 12th, 1993 almost 12 years to the day Carolyn’s father had been killed, also in an alcohol-related crash. Carolyn continues to make a huge difference in the lives of many people from her tragic situation. It was interesting to see the effects of alcohol such as vision impairment when Carolyn brought special goggles. Two teachers wore the glasses and could not walk in a straight line. The goggles are a great example of the effects of alcohol.

The students were really amped when they were able to watch an eclectic performance by the first place winners of the City of Toronto Stomp completion, Bucc N Flvr. The dance group did not only perform but also gave an inspirational message about how important it is to do things you are passionate about such as dancing and stay away from drugs. Thanks to Bucc N Flvr for giving away their official t shirt to a lucky student.

The students were extremely star struck when they received a visit from two cast members Sam Earle and Jahmil French from Degrassi. I am a HUGE fan of Degrassi, a hit Canadian show, that has shown many episodes related to the affects of teen peer pressure, drug and alcohol use. Sam and Jahmil who are currently on the 12^th season of Degrassi spoke about the importance to keep busy doing things you love doing because that way, you won’t have time to get into things can hurt you such as drugs. They share a passion for acting and have no interest in doing drugs. Jahmil is also in a dance group troop called, 'Moon Runners.' He not only showed us some of his moves but also helped a young student to have the courage to get up and show his dancing abilities in front of everyone! The boys continue to inspire to be good role models in the media and television for youth.

The students were inspired and moved by the experiences and stories of the speakers. This year, the students were able to participate in a deep discussion and ask more questions because the speakers went to visit the students in their classes after the assembly. The students were also filmed as they work on their Drug Awareness art projects. The students also worked on a wide array of student led fun and creative projects such as; skit making, poster making, dance, raps, song writing, poetry, creative writing, radio public service announcements, and video production. This competition also incorporated the theme of drugs and healthy living. After the projects were completed, students performed and displayed their projects at the Drug Awareness Community Celebration assembly, where family members, dignitaries and members of the community came out to support the students work and hear what they have to say about drugs.

A special thanks goes out to Diego Gomes who is the winner of YTV’s The Next Star. Diego beat out thousands of Canadian youth who auditioned in a nationwide search for Canada’s best teen singing star sensation. Diego not only performed his hit single ‘My Best Friend’s Girl’, he encouraged students to not use drugs and to utilize their talents to showcase their artistic abilities. Diego stands an exceptional role model as he uses his musical gifts to send positive messages and encourages youth to do the same. I also interviewed Diego for RPTV, so look out for that soon. Regent Park TV also filmed the process of the students work including research, practices, rehearsal and the assemblies.

To watch Degrassi boys Jahmil and Sam at the Drug Awareness Assembly and to watch Diego’s performance and my interview with him click on the link! Fast forward to 14:02 to watch Sam and Jahmil and fast forward to 12:32 to watch Diego from YTV’s the Next Star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0xwT-XJmo0&list=UU1VRAGe6jDQqJb5XM2EfK9Q&index=3&feature=plcp

Season 12 of Degrassi is starting soon so make sure to catch it here http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/degrassi/episodes/