Join Next Generation Arts at the first-ever HEAL Youth Showcase and Summit, a free two-day event exploring youth mental health and wellness through the arts. Taking place in Scarborough and in York Region on November 18 and 19, 2023, the HEAL Youth Showcase and Summit celebrates achievements and artworks created by youth participants during the year-long HEAL (Health Empowerment & Arts Leverage) program.
At the event, experience live music and spoken word performances, see new visual artworks, listen to inspiring speakers and panel discussions, and participate in fun interactive activities. Connect with fellow youth and your local community while enjoying free food, prizes and giveaways, and good vibes. Free and all are welcome!
Registration is required. Due to limited capacity at both venues, we will not be able to accommodate drop-in guests.
HEAL Youth Showcase
(Scarborough)
Saturday, November 18
1pm–3pm
Next Generation Arts Youth Hub
1121 Bellamy Rd N Unit #10
Scarborough, ON M1H 3B9
HEAL Youth Summit
(York Region)
Sunday, November 19
1pm–3pm
Aaniin Community Centre
5665 14th Ave
Markham, ON L3S 3K5
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
SPEAKERS
Patrick de Belen
Patrick de Belen is a Filipino-Canadian storyteller, arts educator, spoken word poet, writer, and filmmaker. He is most known for his collaborations with the Toronto Raptors, the NFL, CBC, and his three spoken word EPs and multiple cine-poems he wrote and directed himself. He was the youngest poet to win a national poetry slam championship, awarded both the national Canadian poet of honour and youth poet of honour title, and a few more storytelling accolades throughout his career.
When he is not writing or sharing, he is an educator and youth mentor, partnering with many institutions like addiction centres, mental health focused organizations, libraries, schools, jails, and more—advocating for storytelling opportunities in as many spaces as possible.
Patrick is also Next Generation Arts’ HEAL youth facilitator in spoken word poetry.
CAL CAMPOS
Cal Campos (they/them) is a self-employed Digital Media Producer and Inclusivity Public Speaker from Toronto, Ontario. They have been speaking openly about their story as a racialized, queer, gender non-conforming person since 2013 and has continued to centre the voices of marginalized communities in media production. Campos has shared their lived experience/produced content with CBC, On Canada Project, Kids Help Phone, Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce, City of Toronto, the University of Guelph-Humber, Humber College, Marching Arts Education in the US and the Get REAL Movement. They hope to create more spaces where people can feel less alone, whether that's on a personal level or within their career.
FLORA XUE
Flora is a creator, educator, entrepreneur, founding member and Head of Operations at UpSkill. With a background in finance and marketing, her professional canvas spans F500 companies to startups in sectors like banking, venture capital, and fintech. As a creator, Flora's passion is creating equal opportunities for all—to disrupt education and to empower, give insight and vision to the next generation of artists and humans.
DAN-E-O (HOST)
At the age of 13, Daniel Faraldo, known professionally as Dan-e-o, won a rap-off contest on Toronto’s “Electric Circus” dance show. Five years later, his first single “Dear Hip Hop” was featured on Beat Factory’s Rap Essentials Volume One compilation. The Canadian hip-hop classic would launch Dan-e-o’s future labelling as ‘legend’.
Dan-e-o’s greatest accomplishment, however, took place on April 23, 2014, when he became a father to his wonderful daughter, Melina. His fifth solo album, The Day It All Changed takes listeners along with him on his new fatherhood journey.
YOUTH ARTISTS
Live musical performance by Jaisy
Spoken word poetry by Treymar
Spoken word poetry by Michelle Tan
Live musical performance by Cazey Campos
Spoken word poetry by Mahnoor Khan
Spoken word poetry by Ivana Petitti
Visual art by Zoe Lam
Visual art by Rakshanya Rajbavan
LIVE PERFORMANCES
LIVE PERFORMANCES
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES
RAFFLES + PRIZES + GIVEAWAYS
RAFFLES + PRIZES + GIVEAWAYS
NEW VISUAL ART
NEW VISUAL ART
ALL FREE
ALL FREE
ABOUT HEAL
Presented by Next Generation Arts, HEAL (Health Empowerment & Arts Leverage) is a series of free arts workshops for youth ages 14-29. Led by arts facilitators with trauma-informed training, HEAL provides a safe, supportive space to try new art-making techniques, discover tools to unpack emotional trauma, and promote healing and mental wellness through creativity.
For more information about HEAL, contact heal@nextgenerationarts.ca
