Regent Park Focus

Hi my name is Iman Zein. I am 12 years old and a grade 6 graduate from Regent Park Duke of York Public School. This is my 3 rd year in the Diva’s program. It is held every Friday from 4:30 p.m to 6:00 p.m at Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre. The main idea of this program is to have positive self- esteem and develop a “sisterhood” with the other girls in the program. This year, Focus moved to a different building. It is now located at 38 Regent Street. Due to that change, the program was put on hold. Instead of starting in September or October, the program started on Friday, March 4 th , 2011. We did not have as much time as usual in the program but, we had a very good time. One week we screen printed. Using a fabric screen, glue and some paint, we customized our own t-shirts. We got to express our own creativity and personal style. Each T-shirt turned out unique at the end of the day. It was fun trying something new. Another week Focus invited a guest to teach us about...

There are many different things that Focus provides. Like the radio show, the Divas program, photography and video programs. One of my favourite things that Regent Park Focus provides is held on the last Friday of every month. What better name to call it than ‘Last Friday’, of course. It’s a time to enjoy, dine on amazing food, and watch fantastic performances, and most of all HAVE FUN. June’s Last Friday was very special. It was going to be the last one before September. I have been to many of them but this one would be one that I would remember forever. We had the Regent Park Focus House band, MPP Glen Murray was there, Marni Levitt, Snooky Tynes, South Side Swagg, and even I performed.   The first performance was the Regent Park Focus House Band. They performed one of my favourite songs “I’m yours” by Jason Mraz. They also sang some of their own songs. One of their songs was called “Wait another Day”. Another one was called “Love is by my Side”. I think that the audie...

Tuesday's show was intense! Omar, Fenide, and Isaac all spoke their mind about Brigette DePape, the university student working as a page for parliament, who protested the PM in her own creative way. Was her belief worth more than her job? Apparently she got offered a job from Michael Moore afterwards, who commended her on her actions. Her popularity shot up in waves, from several Facebook pages of support as well as an interview with the CBC. 

Oh gosh, we are so close! Thanks to the writers, photographers and artists for contributing to this long awaited issue of Catch Da Flava magazine! And a big thanks goes out to Sarah, we miss you! As I am just finishing up some final changes, we've also started writing for the next issue which will be released hopefully around mid-summer! We're already collaborating with Luminato to help us in our writing and research, as well as we're contributing to Luminato's own magazine as well! You'll be able to read all about it this summer! -Terence

 Youth set up Mobile Media Lab aka the MAMMAL outside focus for Jane's Walk stop at Focus Diva Girls Group participants talk about the impact the group has had on their lives and how more young girls should get involved.  Youth wait outside Focus to present the MAMMAL to visitors  Visitors from Jane's Walk at Focus.  Visitors watch RPTV videos created by youth at Focus.  The Mammal display.  Tresvonne from the Regent Park Focus House Band and Catch da Flava Radio Show participant explains his participation at Focus.  Youth inside the computer lab doing their homework and working on articles for Catch da Flava Magazine.  Youth riding the Mammal in the community for the Jane's Walk community event.  Some of the youth who are involved in the radio show every Tuesday night talk about the importance of having youth's voice heard and their perspective on social issues and hot topics.  Michele, Youth ...

 M.C Michele and Adonis start the show Regent Park Focus House Band represent as usual at every Last Friday Siblings Loyal and Layia perform and support each other The Mammal arrives at Last Friday and youth involved in the Mammal project speak at Last Friday Ruth Mathiang and Amelia LeClair perform a duet  Ruth Royes and band member perform a soulful jazz set  Youth involved in creating the Mammal give a speech at Last Friday  Young dancers from the Regent Park community put on a surprise performance  Preparing the Mammal the Mobile Media Lab before entering Last Friday Regent Park Staff and volunteers at Last Friday! Last Fridays is back! Thanks to Daniels Corporation, we are able to bring back Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre’s Last Fridays event for the next 3 months. Our April Last Friday was a success! We had an array of diverse young talent who performed at 246 Sackville. As always we provided free ...

Our new media lab has been running for a few months now, and just recently, we were outfitted with new MACS. We're trying to get the ol' Adobe programs running on them, but for now they have Word. The Catch Da Flava Environmental issue is still in the process of being printed, but we are already working on new ideas for the next issue, which will hopefully come out in the summer, after the Luminato festival. It will be a special Luminato-based issue, with a strong emphasis on the arts and its connection with multiculturalism.

Hi, my name is Fazeela and I am one of the students in the Divas girls program and I am in grade 8 and I go to Lord Dufferin Public School. Here at the diva girls’ program we support each other and share are ideas. Diva girls is all about learning new things and having fun. At the Divas girls program we do different activities every week, and each activity has a lesson to it. Like one of the previous activity that we did, was based on our community witch made me realize how lucky I am to have a great and giving community. Another week at the dive girls we had a guess come in and teach us about healthy living. She also thought us what we need to live a clean and healthy life. She also thought us how we all should interact with each other. She also thought us what kind of food our body needs to live a long a healthy life. Just like these two activities that we did, every week we do different activities like cooking, tai dia, healthy living, our community and many more. They also pr...

Lesson: Healthy Eating/Cooking Hey my name is Alyssa, I’m a placement student from George Brown College, and one of the programs I had to run was the Healthy Eating & Cooking class. On April 1, 2011, the staff and the placement students took the kids’ to the community center to use the kitchen to make smoothie & mini pizza. We divided the girls’ into three groups to make the mini pizza by vegetarian pizza, pepperoni pizza and cheese pizza. The girls’ took turn to share the toppings; next, while the mini pizza was cooking, I started to make the strawberry & banana smoothie for the girls’ to drink while they are eating the pizza they created. The program went good, all the girls’ who participated in the activities enjoyed the program we held for them on April 1, 2011. They learned by eating a variety of foods and a balanced diet is one that includes all the food groups. In other words, have foods from every color, ever day. ...

Interviewing Diego Gomes winner from season 3 of YTV's 'The Next Star' Diego performed his hit single 'My Best Friend's Girl'. The audience and students absolutely loved him! Diego even brought along his dad who was their to support him. Thank you Diego for teaching the student the importance of using your talents and to stay away from drugs. Diego also helped out by being one of the guest judges! He thought everyone was equally talented. Students above present their poster on the drug, CAFFEINE Student above presents his banner to 'Say No To ALCOHOL!' Students brainstorming ideas and researching on drugs Students recording their Public Service Announcements Student sends a message through his Drug Awareness poster that 'There Are Always Good Solutions. Drugs Aren't One of them!' Above: MPP Kevin Flynn, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education came to support the Drug Awareness P...