Recording youth potential

By David RosPEACH-4-copy PEACH, who have been transforming the lives of marginalized youth in the Jane-Finch community through their innovative approach to education have added a new program which teaches youth how to professionally create, record, mix and master their own music. The organization, which stands for Promoting Education And Community Health, will run a recording studio program which connects youth from priority neighbourhoods with professional musicians and studio engineers. “We're teaching them the basics and if this is something that they want to pursue, they will already have the foundations,” said Zino, a recording artist and the program's instructor. “The facilitators that we're going to be bringing into the space aren't just engineers, we're bringing in managers, we're bringing in promoters, we're bringing in A&Rs, we're brining in people from every aspect of the industry down to the producers and the artists.” PEACH has held a drop-in recording studio program on Thursday nights where youth can have their songs recorded on a first come first serve basis for nearly a decade, but Zino said the new program is a step up from what the organization had been doing before by providing a fully accredited educational program. PEACH-3-copy During the course of the 16 week program, youth will not only be taught how to record, mix and master music using professional grade equipment, they will also be taught a musical theory as well. The program is available to youth free of charge, and 10 participants will be selected based upon an application process. “Some of the [selection] criteria will be basically, general interest and potential in studio engineering and just basic artistry, there is a particular feel that people normally have when they're really interested in something.” Zino said. “We're looking for commitment as well.” According to Zino, the program's participants will be decided based on interviews of the applicants. He also said that there is a possibility of running an additional program for another 10 participants following the initial run. PEACH was formed in 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Creek Anti-Drug focus group, is a charitable organization dedicated to helping marginalized youth to achieve their full potential. In addition to their youth-centred social and educational programs, PEACH also has provides support programs for families as well. These include the wraparound program which connects youth and their families with community outreach workers and the mom's group which provides support for mothers to become active participants in their children's education. If you would like to more information about PEACH, or the studio management program, you can contact them at info@peachyouth.org. 

New murals carry powerful message

by Yasmin ParodiYP_EssenciaArtCollective_WaterMural_2014-15This summer, the Jane St., and Highway 400 underpass underwent a beautiful transformation.On Aug. 28, The Essencia Arts Collective completed an 8,000 sq. ft., mural dedicated to water, the Earth's most precious resource.The project was a massive collaboration between 18 local and international artists, part of the International Essencia Water Festival.The festival, co-directed by sisters Fiya Bruxa and Shalak Attack included a speakers conference and closing exhibition and concert to bring attention to the need to protect and conserve our water supply. Yasmin_mural-work-in-progress-5Bruno Smoky, the artistic co-director said the goal was to use art as a means to spark a conversation about our connection to this most essential compound.“Without water we don’t exist,” said SkratchWon, an Alberta hip-hop artist who contributed to the mural. “It’s something we need to pay homage to and give respect to, and not take it for granted.”The mural is located in close proximity to Black Creek and the Humber River, two extremely polluted waterways which flow directly in to Lake Ontario, which provides drinking water to more than 6.3 Million people.Yasmin_-Otter-by-Montreal-artist-Kevin-Ledo--3According to Cathrin Winklemann, a project manager for the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, the speed and intensity of the more frequent and intense rainfall we have been receiving due to climate change, has increased the amount pollutants such as garbage, chemicals and oil from city streets in our creeks and rivers and has caused their banks to erode more rapidly.Shalak said her contribution to the mural shows a mother and baby polar bear walking on drought plagued land caused by climate change.“This is a prediction of what may come if we continue to put a blind eye to mother Earth,” she said. “We are not above her, we are part of her and must treat her with conscious respect.”More than 70 local, First Nations and international artists participated in the festival.For more information on how you can help keep our rivers and lakes clean, please visit trca.on.ca.