Every couple of weeks we send out a Project Update from NOISE but we know that there are a lot of other people and organizations interested in the work we do… so we’ve decided to start posting our updates on our blog!
Project Catch Up
A lot of time and energy has been devoted to preparing for OMG: Private Pain in Public Schools on October 28th. We are co-sponsoring this production with York’s School of Social Work. Tickets are free for members of NOISE and the Social Work program- if you are interested, we have a small waiting list and the possibility of getting a few more tickets. We also offered spaces to some of our community partners- The Spot, PEACH, Success Beyond Limits at Westview and extra tickets for Emery teachers and students.
![OMG 11x17 FINAL 09-13 CMYK V2[1]](http://noise.info.yorku.ca/files/2013/10/OMG-11x17-FINAL-09-13-CMYK-V21.jpg?x99058)
On October 16th, Anne Cooper (School of Social Work at York) held an information session for our Seneca Interns who are considering transitioning into the BSW program here at York. We look forward to further supporting our incredible interns in this process, should they want to consider the BSW option.
On the 21st of October we held our first GA/Intern Breakfast meeting- it was great to connect with our pod co-facilitators and hear more about what happens inside of the pods. In the future, GAs and Interns are interested in having these breakfasts be a space for sharing their pod experiences, connecting with their peers and also accessing some new learning opportunities.
On October 24th we visited Emery CI. Student Success teacher Mr. Lewin invited us to connect with the school’s principal, Ms. Elliston. We saw some familiar faces in the hall- it was great to catch up. Emery has some exciting partnerships with York and Ms. Elliston said these relationships have been critical to the success of many Emery students.
We have two very exciting final updates. First, NOISE is very proud to announce that the Sir Lincoln Alexander Memorial awards committee has named NOISE Research Intern Talisha Ramsaroop as the recipient of their Community Award! It reads, “Since 1993, the Lincoln M. Alexander Award has recognized young people who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in eliminating racial discrimination“. This is a $5000 scholarship and, as we all know, Talisha is very hard working, creative, dedicated and deserving of this honour. We were very happy to nominate her and are thrilled to hear this news. Congratulations Talisha!
Finally, many of you have been curious so we are excited to share that Rebecca and Sam welcomed their baby boy, Asa, into the world last Wednesday. Everyone at NOISE is looking forward to meeting Asa in person! We wish the three of you much love and congratulations. We have Talisha to thank for this amazing ‘onesie‘.
We put her in charge of youth recruitment for a reason– she doesn’t waste any time!
Pod Updates
Key themes in the pod meetings over the last two weeks have been youth leadership, power, agency, the gap between rich and poor, well being and health- particularly advocacy in these areas. HUGE topics that have been covered in really interesting ways. The pods are continuing to explore Toronto’s Vital Signs from Toronto Community Foundation.
Fulbright Scholar, Alicia Richardson, held a workshop on Voice and Speech for two Pods on October 17th. She will be rotating through the all of the pods over the next couple of months. Alicia is doing her MFA here at York in Theatre.
Last night (October 24) members of the Winters College Art Club came to the pods to discuss some of their initiatives in using the arts to communicate and create change.
A few pods have been enjoying a change of scenery this week! Trips to service clubs, the food bank, student associations and even a Tim Horten’s planning meeting all happened this week. Thomas wrote a blog about his NOISE impressions and we have also included some of the Community Issues maps from the Summer Learning Retreat.
What’s Coming Up?
As mentioned above, we have OMG happening tonight! We are all really looking forward to Dr. Elaine Brown Spencer’s production and discussion with the cast. We are also hosting a pizza supper during intermission for NOISE youth, School of Social Work students and all of our community partners.
We are still busy planning Take Your Child to Work Day opportunities throughout the city for our grade 9s (it is a grade 9 initiative) but we are also trying to connect our grade 10s, 11s and 12s with similar experiences.
On November 15th a group of our NOISE fellows is heading to U of T for a talk on creativity and consciousness with GZA/Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan. This event is being sponsored by Project Freedom “FREEDOM is a youth-generated conscious movement founded on the 7 Elements of Change: Freedom, Critical Consciousness/Truth, Resistance, Creativity, and Knowledge of Self, Self-Determination and Personal and Social Healing and Reconciliation. We aim to awaken and emanate these elements by cultivating and building socio-political and economic literacy of youth using the arts and literature“.
If you have any questions or suggestions- please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Jen