SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024
1 pm – 4 PM
NEXT GENERATION ARTS, 1121 BELLAMY RD. N, #10
HEAL YOUTH SHOWCASE
Next Generation Arts invites all youth and community members in Scarborough to the HEAL Youth Showcase on Saturday, November 23!
HEAL (Health Empowerment and Arts Leverage) is Next Generation Arts’ year-long arts-based program to explore youth voice and build resiliency for mental health and well-being. The HEAL Youth Showcase is a free event that marks the culmination of the HEAL Scarborough program and celebrates the achievements of youth participants in music and spoken word.
Witness live performances by HEAL participants Angelic Goldsky, Cat “Catalyst” Turcotte, Mark Anthony, Mighty Mint, and Samantha Lu. The event also features special guests Dwayne Morgan, hailed "the Godfather of Canadian Spoken Word", and Athena Wong, Founder and Executive Director of Blackstone Foundation Library.
All youth who attend will receive gift cards and exciting gift packages, plus a chance to win raffle prizes worth over $100!
Spots are limited; registration is required.
ARTIST + PERFORMER BIOS
ANGELIC GOLDSKY
Bio to come!
Cat “Catalyst” Turcotte
Cat is a dedicated community worker, cold exposure guide, dancer, poet, and herbalist whose writing was once a private pursuit. In 2020, they leaned into vulnerability through spoken-word poetry, embarking on a journey of continual learning, practice and storytelling.
She has performed on stages hosted by Unity Charity, Right Beside You Projects, and RISE Edutainment.
Her aim is to share honest reflections that foster connection, particularly for those navigating chronic pain and mental health challenges. They hope to offer a sense of acknowledgement and encouragement on the nonlinear journey that healing can be. (@_catalyst4)
MARK ANTHONY
Mark Anthony is a dynamic voice from the Caribbean, currently making waves in Toronto’s spoken word scene. As the 2024 champion of Brampton's Flower City Poetry Slam, Mark’s work explores the intersections of identity, resilience, and culture. Specializing in mental health and motivational speaking, he draws on his Bahamian roots to weave together vivid imagery and heartfelt narratives that inspire and empower. Whether delving into the complexities of mental health or celebrating everyday moments, Mark’s poetry resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impact on his audiences (@leavemymark242)
MIGHTY MINT
Sarujan, AKA, Mighty Mint is a Toronto-based singer, song-writer, and rapper. With his roots in Malvern, otherwise known as “Vern Block”. Mighty Mint has been in the game for over a decade. He has strong versatility; he kills bars whether it be singing or rapping. Influenced by Dancehall and Vybz Kartel, he tries to make the next song better than the last. He has two solo albums named hearts & diamonds and Good Vibe & Euphoria and dozens of singles. Peace world! You can find Mighty Mint on all platforms. (@mintbuilding | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music)
SAM LU
Sam Lu is a self-taught photographer, program coordinator, and emerging poet based in Toronto. In 2023, she received the Juror’s Choice Award for her photography-based installation The Restaurant Kid on Finch West at the DesignTO Youth: Blueprint exhibition as part of the DesignTO Festival. This year, her photography highlighting Scarborough sights was in the 2024 CONTACT Photography Festival, in partnership with Next Generation Arts. (@s.samanthalu)
DWAYNE MORGAN
(GUEST PERFORMER)
Dwayne Morgan began his career in the spoken word in 1993. Affectionately called the “Godfather of Canadian spoken word” by his peers, Morgan is the author of 14 published and 10 audio collections of his work. Morgan is a 2023 Appointee to the Order of Ontario, the 2022 winner of the Toronto Arts Foundation Celebration of Cultural Life award, a 2016 finalist for the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and a 2013 inductee into the Scarborough Walk of Fame. To date Morgan has shared his work in 18 countries internationally. (@dwayne_morgan on TikTok, Instagram, and X | dwaynemorgan.ca | Facebook | YouTube)
ATHENA WONG
(GUEST SPEAKER)
Athena Wong is a dynamic leader dedicated to empowering the Black community with a focus on youth through cultural knowledge and resilience. With over 15 years in community development and a background in non-profit and project management, Athena has been the driving force behind the Blackstone Foundation Library in Toronto since 2012. Her mission: to create spaces that celebrate heritage, inspire change, and open doors to opportunity. Athena’s work lights a path for young voices to rise and thrive. (@blackstnlibrary | thebfl.org)
PATRICK DE BELEN (EMCEE)
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, and 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_debelen | patrickdebelen.com)
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
