At Young People's Press, we're really impressed by the stuff that they do at V.O.I.C.E. So we're giving over a bunch of space so they can tell you about their concerts, CD and workshops. After all, one good turn deserves another.
1) WHO THEY ARE
V.O.I.C.E. = Violence Overcome In Creative Ensemble
V.O.I.C.E. offers hope, healing, empowerment and change through creative expression in theatre, video, music, art and multimedia.
V.O.I.C.E. encourages women and child survivors of violence to use the arts and media to end the cycle of violence in their lives.
V.O.I.C.E. gives women, children and youth survivors of violence a means to express their own voice and a place to be heard.
V.O.I.C.E. conducts workshops for:
· Young people in schools and social service agencies
· Service providers and teachers who work with youth at risk
V.O.I.C.E. educates for social change by producing films, videos and CDs made by survivors of violence. Their products are distributed to television, radio, public libraries, schools, community service groups, youth outreach programs, shelters for homeless youth, women's shelters, government ministries, departments of mental health, and conferences.
V.O.I.C.E. works in the community with a variety of creative professionals such as recording producers, video makers, theatre groups, musicians, artists, animators and web site designers, who are dedicated to support youth in their struggles for non-violence.
V.O.I.C.E. stands for the right of women, children and youth to live violence-free lives.
2) WHAT THEY'VE DONE
Produced:
- Three original plays that were written collectively and performed by women and child survivors of violence at schools, shelters and community centres, plus for the general public at venues such as Young People's Theatre in Toronto.
- Two award-winning documentary films, Fires of Transformation and The Children's Voice broadcast on national television.
"Fires of Transformation is a documentary film that will make you squirm in your seat, flinch in horror, rejoice, marvel and cry."
- Michele Landsberg, Toronto Star
- National tours of the Women's VOICE play and the replication of the Children's VOICE program model for educators and service providers working with youth.
- A Children's Rights poster series displayed in Toronto subways, buses in Southern Ontario, schools, agencies, and in Today's Parent, a national parenting magazine.
- A public service announcement, Children Are People, and two music videos - Listen to the Children & What U Gonna Do?
- A Children's Rights as Human Rights Art and Media Festival at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
3) WHAT THEY'RE DOING
3a) CONCERT
VOICE is hosting: YOUTH VIBRATIONS 2000
An all-ages summer benefit concert to recognize and celebrate the efforts of young people everywhere who have been working courageously to break the cycles of violence in their lives and in their communities. Youth Vibrations 2000 is about creating positive vibrations in the media and youth standing up to stop violence.
In response to the shocking increase of reports of youth violence that have been covering the front pages of the media recently, mainstream, grassroots and youth artists for non-violence are spreading the message that there is nothing cool or glamorous about violence. "The media contributes so much to violence," says L.A. Wade of Blueprint 4 Life. "We as entertainers have to take responsibility for changing this by assisting the efforts of young people who have been working to break the cycles of violence in their lives and in their communities."
Hosted by Blueprint 4 Life, Youth Vibrations 2000: A Celebration of Youth Right's to Live Violence-Free will be held at the Great Hall (1087 Queen St. W at Dovercourt) on June 23rd, 2000.
Other artists on the roster include: 360º & Ca Sandra, hip-hop producer and jazz great Eddie Bullens, Juno award winner Carlos Morgan, rap powerhouse Motion, pop sensation Kelly, and the accoustic sounds of Sweet Grass, to name but a few.
3b) CD RELEASE
V.O.I.C.E. & Contraband Music Inc. present, What U Gonna Do?, a CD compilation of Youth Survivors and Artists for Non-Violence.
What U Gonna Do? features jazz and hip-hop artists spreading the message that "violence is not cool". "[It] represents an example of the power of collective efforts says jazz musician Quammie Williams. "When we come together and educate ourselves as a society we can end the horror that is violence against youth and children."
What U Gonna Do? is the question raised by the youth survivors of violence who collectively wrote the title track of the CD compilation. The compilation will debut in June 2000 as a companion to the Youth Vibrations 2000 benefit concert. Together, the concert and CD recognise and celebrate the efforts of young people everywhere who have been working courageously to break the cycles of violence in their lives and in their communities - across barriers of race, gender, class and religion.
The Line-up of Artists includes:
Eddie Bullens
Carlos Morgan
Motion
Kelly
Sweet Grass
Blueprint 4 Life
Kardinal Offishall
Choclair
Monolith
Solitaire
Quammie Williams
360º & Ca Sandra
& More…
We await confirmation of top notch musical talents: Branford Marsalis, Jewel, Shania Twain, Lauryn Hill & Stevie Wonder, as well as local greats like Michee Mee, Rascalz & Maestro.
Proceeds from What U Gonna Do? will go to support V.O.I.C.E.'s programming initiatives
3c) WORKSHOPS
Dynamic, Fun, Creative & Innovative Workshops 4 Youth by Youth
- Are you a young person who has issues to voice? v Interested in learning creative ways of expressing yourself around the issues that are important to you?
Then these workshops are for you, come and get involved!
- Learn amazing theatre techniques to empower yourself and others
- Deal with and creatively express yourself around issues of violence, power and control and other issues important to you
- Build self-esteem / communication skills and assertiveness in yourself and other
These are just a few of the exciting workshop elements:
- Peer education video
- Circles
- Warm-ups
- Trust exercises
- Theatre games
- Role-play
- Body sculptures
- Create your own graffiti wall
- Music & percussion
- Youth power circle option
Thanks to funding from the Zukerman Charitable Foundation and the Raptor's Foundation, V.O.I.C.E. is available as a free resource to provide the following:
- Theatre & Role-play workshops
- Campaign Info Sessions
- Creative expression in multi-media
We are booking now for our Fall 2000 local and provincial workshop series, which is scheduled to begin in October 2000 and run until March 2001.
These role play or multi-media session also offer the opportunity for youth to explore issues on:
- violence at home
- violence at school
- violence in society
- racism
- sexism
- sexual harassment
- homophobia
- class issues
- ageism
- & other forms of power imbalances.
Interested? Contact Natisha Ryner or Katherine Marielle at:
V.O.I.C.E. 148 Arlington Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6C 2Z2
Phone: (416) 656-4949 Fax: (416) 658-0891 E-Mail: voice@canoemail.com
