Diva Girls Meets U of T!
Throughout the last four winter months, Regent Park Focus’
Diva Girls Group has been collaborating with University of Toronto professor
Aditi Mehta, and her urban policy seminar students.
An objective of the class (which looks at youth, art, and
engagement in cities) was to explore urban experiences from various identities,
and thereby critique urban policy and plans accordingly. As such, the
partnership was intuitive, given Regent Park’s initial goal to combat negative
stereotypes about the community and to provide media literacy and production
programming for youth in the area.
Together, U of T students, along with the Diva girls, have
been learning about media projects initiated by young people across the world,
and analyzing how various creative forms of expression were able to spur change
and social movement in their respective communities.
Moreover, the Diva Girls were able to teach and share their
own unique experiences to the U of T students, and in groups, create media
projects of their own addressing specific issues in Regent Park. These projects
varied in styles and platforms, including radio, television, photography, and
print. The groups included; “The Legacy Leavers’” photography project which
featured Sumeya and Fazra; “The Social Fixer’s” timeline project featuring
Samira; “The On Air Police’s” podcast project featuring Faduma; “Remembering
Regent’s” zine project featuring Sahara and Huda; and “Space Jammers” featuring
Sumeya.
On the evening of April 8th, their hard work
culminated with the opportunity to present their creations at the Pam McConnell
Aquatic Centre to their friends, families, colleagues, and other interested
members of the community.
See below for some lovely photos from the event.
Comments